Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-18
OBSOLETE STATE POETS
 DOOMED BY WAR DEPT.
Special to The Bulletin


 Especial to The Bulletin
 Washington, May 17.-
 How many forts and military reserFa- tions will Connecticut lose under the re cent determination of the war depart ment to drop off all that are not useful | an dan expense to the government NO one vet knows definitely what VIII pc done. but reconimendstions shave been sent to the house military affairs com mittee by the secretary of war suggest ing that a number of such places be sold or transferred and so set the war oe- partment free from their czre and up- keep Recently published lists seem iI- correct in a number Of instances, as com pared with the list submitted to the mil- itary affairs committee. UHtn tDat com mittee makes some report nothing oitleiai can be stated. but on the best obtatnaple authority few if any places in Connec- | ticut will be affected by the secretary recommendation. The names of Fort Hale. at New Haven. The Light House at East Haven. New London Dock at New London, Fort TFuu1buil at New London, do not appear on the list of re- | commenda tions for sale as filed with the house committee by the secretary or war and it is doubtful if these forts and reservations will be disturbed
 Fsrt GriswsId at New London. now being used as a public park is Of great historic value and no expense to the government Fort Hale at New Haven acquired in 1909 consists of 20 acres and 1 is regarded of great historic value. It Is now used as a public park and apparently will be undisturbed. Light House at East | Haven dating back to 1894 IS now used Eby the weather bureau for day and night 4A~ L #er-s( val if fs exceedingly useful The New Lon I dnn dock are the base for supplies for all the neiehborinx forts and are very val | ua,ble for that purpose and could not well be shared Fort TrunbuE at New Lon don harbor acquired in 1775 is used by the coast guard revenue cutter service and is both historical and useful. So 1t doesn't seem likely that any of these lplaces will be thrown into the discard by recoumenda ton of Secretary of War Weeks. in his effort to cut down all un- necessary expenses or keep in the name of the department useless land and build- ings.
 The whole movement started Several years ago when the house military snairs committee of which Congressman John , O. Hilson or New Haven was then 2 member. felt it a wise step to ascertair ir
  ernment held in the' name Of the wal department. So a group Of experts va:
 sent out over the country to take an in f ventory of all forts. posts and govern i, rnent reservations and return their find , | inSs to the military committee. Ina . has now been completed so far as thu first corps area. which forms the New
 England area is concerned. and he find z iflgs have been submitted to the commit ' tee and to Secretary of War Weeks. re
 commentators followed and it now resi- ' with congress to decide what if any ac
 tion shall be taken. When such propertl 7 is found not be useful to the war depart
 ment. but that 1t might be of value Il
 some other branch of service recommen
 tfations for transfer in stead or outsid
 sales may result New Haven proteste, r vigorously over the prospect of losinl Fort Hale reservation for s public parl U and the park board of the city wr0t - Congressman Thson urging him To talk whatever action might be proper to secur '' for the city an opportunity 10 secure tn ! land if 1t were to be disposed of But g - far nothing here goes to show that it ! the intention of the war department ( Fl sell the reservation at present.
 Secretary Of War Weeks said today ( if The Bulletin correspondent T am in fu q sympathy with the idea or pTeservi in is historic spots but feel if property Is DC e useful now or seems likely 10 be In th n future. to the war department. fl shoul is be either transferred or sold. We hay
 already transferred three reservation ! e the middle west 10 the public health sei II vice and it Is likely other forts or reser Y vations can be cared for by such tran. s fers or by the cooperation Of states so e cieties or organizations desiring 10 O
 tain them for parks or preserve them ia a their historical vslue. But the war ds s. pertinent cannot afford to keep them m s. less they are Of value for war depsr- le ment purposes" It Is been suggest ? T, that the vocational education branch ( l. the government as well as the publ l, heath service may find transfer k their branches very desirable in som d, inssRces. At any rate unless the ii. D. submitted Is not complete Connecticr
 will not he greatly disturbed. in spite , al rumors to the contrary.