The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-26
HOUSE DIRECTS
: CAMPS FINISHED


! WASHINGTON, Dec. e6.--Aft6r in
I seriihg IN the army appropriation bill
/ Of the extra session a provision which
| matted real estate purchases at various
army camps, the Republican house has
| Just passed a special measure in effect
resembling its action regarding three Of
! the largest camps in The country and
| pleted.
| Meanwhile, because Of the real estate
/ rider on the regular army budget. hun
] urGds Of householders who were COM
| Eeled To give UP their landywhen the
| government took possession Of the areas
| involved, have been denied settlement
| OF their contracts. The validity Of such
| contracts and the value of the camp
| sites selected by the war department
/ now receives belated recognition from
Ile present house OF representatives.
ACTON OF the house directing the
| complexion of purchases at Camp BEN
nlng, Ca; Camp Bragg. North Caro-
| una. and Camp Knox Kentucky, came
only after investigating committees had
| gone TO these camps. These commit
| tees were sent out after the passage OF
| the army appropriation bill of the mast
session and the fact that the nvesti--
| Eaung~c0mmittecs reported in favor OF
the retention Of these three camps.
| which had been subjected to mostiNof
tnc criticism heard IN congress, Is
department In its selection of the three
sites and the construction so far as it
had progressed.
II Is now planned to proceed with the
construction of the infantry training
school at Camp Benning, near Column
bus Ga.
Likewise the special appropriation bill
provides funds for tho completion of a
great artillery training center at Camp
BRAGG, Fayetteville, N. C., and another
aartlliely training school at Camp Knox,
A recent statement from Republican
sources said that the Republican house
'doplored' the action of the war de-
partment in proceeding with the con-
sruction of such camps after the armi-
stice but it had been decided that under
the circumstances it would be wise to
proceed witty the expenditures, ftNSin- |
ing existing contracts and completing
times
Aside from the political issue raised |
by the Republicans Of the house it Is
significant that Cen. John ]. Pershing |
recently made an inspection Of both |
camp Bragg and Camp Benning He |
approved both projects as entirely suit |
-ed to the purposes of the army and |
strongly. advocated the completion OF |
the artillery and infantry schools.
OF the several projects, Camp Ben |
nlng has been most vigorously assailed |
by critics of the war department. II |
was asserted that when the war ended |
construction OF this camp had not pro-
crossed TO a point where II was mad
Nisable for the war department to 'let /
GO" On the other hand, friends of
the infantry school presented figures to
SHOW that the government had entered
INTO contracts an condemnation pro
ceedings, which were made In good faith
with landowners, and that completion
~ nf
Justice but military necessity
On the heels of the final Republican
attack on Camp Benning--made at a |
time when the house was voting, new
ertheless, to retain it-Gen. Pershing N
has written a letter to Senator Spencer, III
Republican chairman of the senate sub
committee in charge of the house bill,
in which the commanding general of
the american cxpeditionary forces says
he has inspected the Benning site and
finds 1t ideal for an infantry school. II
Gen. Pershing says he doubts that
a more available site could be found
anywhere within the United States and
it would be lamentahe mistake should
vote for the abandonment Of
Rennng, which is now more than two
only expresses the opinion that great
infantry school should be built up at
Camp Benning but suggests that the
availability of the site is such that 1t
will be possible TO supplement infantry
training by sending down units of the
aviation service and motor transport
corps. The expert opinion Of Gen Per-
shing, who is moved neither by politi-
cal not section considerations, is eX-
pected to have much weight in the sem
ate.
The commanding general was also
deeply impressed by the availability OF
Camp Bragg. at Fayetteville. Here
there is IA range Of nearly 30 miles for
heavy artillery training and the ter
rain is admirably adopted.
The belated action OF the Republican
house in appropriating for these pro-
ects and resembling Its former action
brought about by the antireal estate
'ider on the last army bill meets with
general approval in military circles.