The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-24
GREATER CAMP DIX !
TO COVER 10 MILES
Major Portion Of Five TOWN.
ships Will Be Included in
Reservation.
SURVEYS ARE FINISHED
10000 Acres to Be Added to
Present Site-Advantages
of Location.
s,,c;ar D,spafch 10 The Sun.

Special Despdfch to The Sun.
CAMP DIX, New Jersey. March 3s,-
In the pine barrens OF central New
Jersey. on land practically useless for
any other purpose. Uncle Sam Is def
nitely planning to construct the greatest
training station and permanent military
post in the United States.
Rumors OF the big project. which have
been circulating for weeks and creating
much interest among military men
throughout the country, now have con-
nrmation in the completion OF the sur
veys by war Department engineers. Tina
decision Of army officials Is that no site
on the Atlantic coast Is so logically
situated and so we'll adapted for The
purpose.
State officials who have been in close
touch with the Federal Governments
plan regard the announcement by the
War Department last week that DIX
would be retained as a final assurance
OF an early move for the creation OF
greater Camp Dix, extending from ths
site OF the present cantonment to and
including Camp Kendrick and the chem
ical warfare proving grounds at Lake
hurst.
Surveys an completed by the War De-
partlnent last week for the proposed
greater Camp Dix. cover the major
portion OF nve townships. These are
Hanover and Pemberton In Burlington
county and Plumstead, Jackson and
Manchester in Ocean. There would be
total OF upward OF 10000 acres of
pine land added to ne present reserva-
ton
Major-Gen. Hugh L. Scott, Comnaan-
dant Of Camp Dix and former Chief OF
the General STAFF. has for months advo-
Gated tho use Of Camp Dix as a per
manent post, pointing out that It's posi-
ton between New York and Philadel-
phia makes 1t strategic for coast defen-
sive mannuvres and logical as the best
year round training site in the middle
Atlantic States.
Briefly stated. the advantages OF ths
location as considered by army officers
In addition to those already pointed out
include the small cost at which the land
could be procured, the healthy china 10
of this section, with sandy soil and good
drainage. afrording excellent sanitary
conditions, the absence of mud that
might interfere with the mobility OF
heavy artillery and the fact that there
is sufficient supply of pure water for
the use OF mounted troops in man9u-
wiring.
There are fewer than a dozen houses
on the reservation as surveyed and only
two small swampy areas which ensi-
neers have found can easily be drained.
The artillery sector in the proposed new
reservation would have a direct range OF
$4,000 yards. or more than ten miles,
surrounded by wide safety zone. Mill
tary men say that one of the greatest
advantages OF the location Is that be-
cause OF it's isolation from thickly popu-
lated centres the Government can mora
easily control the area surrounding the
reservation.
The infantry training opportunities
provided at Camp Dix Mt present have
repeatedly been pronounced by inspec-
tor-senerals as among the best to be
found in any cantonment. The size OF
the greater Camp Dix will afford oppor-
tunity for the training OF every branch
of the army. infantry, artillery. cavalry,
engineers and the air service and the
working out OF tactical problems when
desired by all branches in conjunction.