The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-24
WILL COMPLETE
 WORK ON THREE BIC ARMf CAMPS
Two Artillery and One In fantry Training Center
 Authorized.

Washington, D. C.-After insert ng in the army appropriation bill of ehe extra session provision which halted real estate purchases ct vari- pus army camps, the Republican House has just passed a special meas kre in effect resembling Its action re- garding three of the largest camps ln the country and directing that these eamps be completed.
 Meanwhile, because of the real es- eate rider on the regular army bug get, hundreds of householders who Ehen the government took possession pf the areas involved, have been de- nied settlement of their contracts, The validity of such cor tracts and Ehe value of the camp sites selected by he War Department now receives be- lated recognition from the present House of Representative.
 Action of the House directing the Completion of purchases at Camp Benning, Georgia; Camp Bragg, North Carolina, and Camp Knox, Kentucky game only after Investigating com mitteeS had gone to these camps These committees were sent out af- ter the passage of the army appro-
 
 the fact that the Investigating com mittees reported in favor of the re- tantion of these three. camps, which had been subjected to most of the criticism heard in Congress, is vim dication of the judgment of the War Department in its selection of the three sites and the construction SC far as it had progressed.
 It is now planned to proceed with the construction of the infantry training school at Camp Benning hear Columbus, Georgia.
 Likewise the special appropriation bill provides funds for the compile 6on of a great artillery training cen ter at Camp Bragg, Fayetteville North Carolina, and another artillery training school at Camp Knox, Ken lucky.
 A recent statement from Republi can sources said that the Republi can House "depI~red'' the action O the War Department in proceeding with the construction of such camp after the armistice but it had beer decided, that under the circumstance 1t would be wise to proceed with th' expenditures, fulfilling existing con Ira cts and completing the camp named for use in peace times.
 Aside from the political issue raised by the Republicans of the House Is significant that General John J Pershlng recently made an inspection of both Camp Bragg and Camp Ben ming He approved both projects a entirely suited to the purposes of tn army and strongly advocated the com pletion of the artillery and infantr, schools.
 OP ming has been most vigorously assail ed by critics of the War Department It was asserted that when the wa ended construction of this camp hal not progressed to a point where was inadvisable for the War Depart ment to "let go-' On the other hand friends of the infantry school pre- 5ented figures t9 show that the gov ernment had Offered into contract and condemnation proceedings, whic were made in good faith with land owners, and that completion of tn camp yy.>s not only an act of justic but I Hilary necessity
 On the heels of the final Republi can attack on Camp Remington made at a time when the House wa voting, nevertheless, to 'etain it. General Pershing has written lette to Senator Spencer Republican chair man of the Senate subcommittee i charge of the House bill, in whie the commanding general of the Amer tcan Expeditionary Forces say he ha inspected the Benning site and find it ideal for an infantry school
 General Pershing says he douN1 that a more available site could b found anywhere within the Unite States and it would be a 1amentabl mistake should Congress vote for th abandonment of Benning, which now more than two-thirds complete' General Pershing rot only eXPresss the opinion that ., great infantI school should be built up at Cam Benning but suggests that the ayai ability of tle site is such that it wi be possible to supplement infantl training by sending down units of Il aviation service and motor transpc corps The expert opinion of Gener Pershing, who is moved neither political noI sectional consideration is expected to have much weight the Senate
 The commanding general was al. deeply impressed by the availabiH of Camp Bragg, at Fayetteville. He there is q rang of nearly thirty mil for heavy artillery training and il terrain is admirably adapted.
 The beIated action of the Republ can House fn appropri1ting for the projects and resembling its form action brought about by the anti-re estate rider on the last army b meets with general approval in mi tary circles