The Washington herald., 1918-07-12
MEADE WILL BE
GREATEST
| CAMP
$4,000, 900 to Be Spent on
New Buildings This
Summer.
MUCH MORE LAND
WILL BE ACQUIRED
Training of Signal Corps
Troops One Purpose
of Addition.
AVIATION FORCES OFFER
PROTECTION FOR CAPITAL
Hospitals May Be Doubled. Roads,
Water and Sewer Systems
Enlarged.
MUCH MORE LAND
WILL BE ACQUIRED
AVIATION FORCES OFFER
PROTECTION FOR CAPITAL

Arrangements are today being
completed which will make Camp
Meade the greatest military train
ing establishment in the United
StatcA
This fact became known yester-
day when details OF the new ST.
100000 contract for the construc-
tion of new buildings at Meade
were made public. The plans in
-ciudc the acquisition Of vast areas
of new territory near Odenton,
Md, in all directions from the
present site, where District of Co
lumbia and Eastern State troops
are being trained for service IN
Americas national army.
Coincident with plans for the de-
parture OF troops for service over
seas, Camp Meade authorities are
making arrangements to receive
contingents of thousands of new
troops who viii be called into
service by the draft.
New Troops Now Arriving.
The first vanguard of recruits has
already arrived Units of quartermas-
ter construction men, Signal Corps men
and troops from other departments Of
the army have been sent to Meade or
are on their way to the Maryland can
tonment.
Protection for the National Capital
by aviation forces. artillery, infantry
and other types of improved modern
warfare will become available with the
increase in the size of the camp.
Plans have been agreed upon by the
officials of the War Department for
the establishment of a large aerial
force at Camp Meade which will in
sure the Capital from attack by en-
ep1y forces at any future. date during
the war.
Virtual approval OF the announce
nent Of these plans has been given oy
military officials, following the assent
of Camp Meade authorities to let the
facts in the program of Developments
become public.
Camp Has Fine Record.
Members of Congress and high Off
cials of the military establishment
have frequently expressed their unre-
served approval Of the record made at
Camp Meade for the training of troops
for service in France The fact Of a
low death rate at Meade has also coll-
vinced authorities Of the practicabilry
of establishing and concentrating large
military forces at this point.
This announcement has come in the
wake Of the announced plan of the
War Department to train all corn
batant troops in this country for at
least six months before sending them
overseas
Contract Awarded.
A contract for the construction Of
a large addition to Camp Meade, the
size of which will be about one-third
that of the camp at the present time,
has just been awarded to the firm Of
Smith, Hauser & MacIsaac.
The contract for the addition to
Camp Meade was. awarded July 3
to the Baltimore contractors by the
government, and the plans prepared
by the War Department for the ad-
dition call for an expenditure of
about 1900. 300. The same type Of
buildings as are now at the camp
VIII be erected, to be used by 1000
men Of the Signal Corps branch Of
the United States army. who. It Is
said, will be sent to Camp Meade
some time this fall The plans call
FOR the erection OF a number Of bar
racks in which to house these men.
the possible doubling Of the present
number Of hospitals. additions to the
present water and sewerage systems
and a large addition to the present
5ltration plant at the camp.
To Build more Roads.
Extensions are also to be made to
the concrete roads connecting the
roads Of the present camp with those
leading to Baltimore and WASH
fneton. As was the case with the roads
laid when the construction work at
the camp was started last summer.
this part of the contract has seen
again sublet to Claiborne. Johnston
a Co, Baltimore contractors, al
though all OF the rest OF the work
win be done by Smith. Hauser and
MacIsaac.
The question Of whether the pres
ent number Of hospitals at the camp
will be doubled or slightly increased
has not yet been definitely decided.
although II Is thought very probable
that the government win decide in
favor OF doubling the number. II
= this decision II not reached, how
ever. the number will be Increased
BY at least one-fourth. While II
CONTINUED ON PAGE -FOUR.