Smyrna times., 1918-07-24
MFR FORTS NEEDED TO
PROTECT DELAWARE BAY
AWARE, FORT DUPONT
fV ~ eoRT MOTT INADEQUATE
Qualifications Needed at Cape
''o.I ny.Ioosn and Cape May to Protect
r..,.oce Says N. j. Senator

u.,lonen and Cape May 20 T'o'eC'
e,trsnce Says N. !. Senator
.orsnd for the immediate ere"-
~ adeouate fortifcations at the
'0u .nce y, of Delaware Bay fOr the pro-
'D'' w., of cities and war industries
'''' 'd wilmington, Chester and Phil
S'I aInbia and especially the Philadel-
's'.' u. ysyy Yard. was voiced on Sat
~. ,,5sr BY Senator Joseph S, Freling-
'.an "-sa Of New Jersey. Senator
rD1.rngbuvsen's attack on the War
n...rtment r's for its failure to act for
~ defense of Delaware Bay was
.,onted y, by the destruction of the
.,;ssr San Diego at the gateway to
T.r York. following so closely on the
...I. of the submarine operations at
~. ~ moutb of the Delaware. He de-
I.,ai his hope to be that public
.,,;or would be aroused sufficiently
: demand immediate action. He
lain mart: The mouth of Chesa-
,..Ee Bav is about as wide as that of
~ delaware. Heretofore Hampton
pos3s has been protected solely by
ro,t Monroe. which is situated on the
r.inlsnd SIDE and not at the entrance
tho harbor. Now. however, the
Government is constructing a modern
,paem of forts at Cape Henry, where
bv the entrsEce TO the bay Will be
,ommsnded by our guns, as WI the
adjacent waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Ebv should not the entrance to Della
ware Bay be similarly protected? 1t
seems amaz pg to me that no question
has heretofore been raised, especially
by Philadelphisns.
Forts DUPONT and Mott Inadequate
"Whle Forts DUPONT and Mott are
undoubtedly equipped with modern
armament. feel persuaded that the
location Of these forts is not sufficiently
fer away from the stupendous indus
tries on the lower Delaware to meet
twentieth century conceptions of war
fare, especially the increased range
Of modern guns. Aside from the
efficiency Of our nsvy-largely 3, OOC
miles awsy-there is nothing what.
ever tC prevent a hostile feet, with
or without en- accompanying army il
transports. from entering Delaware
Bsy and operating from t5st bRst
without hindrance. Adequate forti
fcatiOns shOnld be erected at tn,
mouth Of the bay which would sweel
the ocean for twenty or more mile
seward would defend the Delawar
Bvsakwater and thus protect the cite
or the Delaware River and the i'm
mense plants s tuated thereon. inclGd
ing the Philadelphia Navy Yard
whose preservation is so essential I
the very life of the nation.
FOrtScatiOns at Henlopen lnade9uai
Even though previously any eueI
ton existed concerning the necessit
for action in this direction, all. doui
was removed during the recent Wis
Of the German U-boats to this coss
Almost within range of human visiC
these vessels sank ships off Cape Ma
an1 Cape Henlopen and planted milu
actually within the mouth of the b,
Itself. Had the meuth of Delawa
Bay been adequately fortified wi
long'Fsnge guns and other appliance
mere might have been a differel
story to tell. This is a matter
vial concern to the State of Pennsy
Vsnla, New Jersey and Delaware
is TO the nation at large. ShOu
Ae munition plants and shipyards
Inc Delaware be destroyed, this natl
would, as l have already said, Vi
'uaIly cease to be a factor in t
pending war.
seFmans Know Condition Only TOO W
There should not be an hours u
necessary delay on the part of t
war Department in constructing
Ospe May, and possibly at Cape He
.open as well, as complete fortifit
"on as at Sandy Hook. Under I
provisions Of the Notifications bi
approved July 8, 1918, it mas
""er' think, to do this. If it |
lo'' shall, when Congress reasse
o'sS August 26, introduce bill G
lus such authority. / am aware Il
'0ne people think such matters sho
AO' De publicly discussed. This, he
''ef' Is upon the erroneous assun
,'On tnat the Germans are fools,
~ not know every inch of our ch
"a'Oors and every minute detail
Sur defensive plans. 1t is O
"Herlcans who seem not to know tn
""ngs. The ostrich policy l h
1r'e' believed in. 1t fools no
.AVept the ostrich. So far as c
sesnS I'm the protection of the stipend
.uuustries on the Delaware, the An