Evening star., 1945-10-02
ST. John S Insists
Navy Prove Ifs
Need for. Land
College Official Says
School Is Not for Sale;
Asks for Full Probe
BY NORMAN A. KAHL,

The House Naval Affairs Commit
tee today was told that officials of
st. Johns College in Annapolis, Md,
will never willingly give up their in
stitution at any price without 'un-
equivocal" assurance that the land
Is needed for the Naval Academy.
Richard F. Cleveland, secretary OF
the college Board of Governors and
Visitors, told the committee the pub
lie demands full consideration by
Congress of the necessity for taking
over the site.
Both the Navy and Congress are,
in different fields, guardians against
the burning of books" Mr.. Cleve-
land said.
He denied rumors the trustees
wanted to sell the college to the
Navy.
Il emphasize strongly that this is
not true and never has been true, !"
he said.
Would Pull Down Buildings.
Mr.. Cleveland testified after high
ranking naval officers said the his
toric school buildings would be razed
for a new dormitory if Congress
permits the Navy to seize the college.
1t was recalled that previous
statements had been made that the
buildings would be preserved.
Vice Admiral Aubrey Fitch, super
intendent of the Naval Academy,
said all existing buildings at st.
Johns would be razed. At the same
time Vice Admiral Ben Moreell,
chief of the Bureau of Yards and
Docks, said $l5,000,000 dormitory
was planned for the 32-acre tract to
relieve overcrowded conditions in
Bancroft Hall.
Mr.. Cleveland, a Baltimore attor-
ney and son of President Grover
Cleveland, proposed the committee
get the opinion of civilian architects
to determine whether razing st.
Johns is the only solution.
Convenient Solution"
1T may be the Bureau Of Yards
and Docks has not yet exercised the
ingenuity on this problem which the
Navy has shown during the war"
Mr.. Cleveland told the committee
the fate of this little college and
of liberal education in a democracy
rests in your hands"
DR.. Stringfellow Barr, st. Johns
president, asserted his belief the
academy can be expanded without
dispossessing the college.
The proposal to buy the college
is nothing more than a convenient
solution for the Navy" DR.. Barr
said.
He pointed out that both institu-
tions meet the educational needs
Of the Nation In different fields and
for years have remained good
neighbors."
Admiral Moreell said appraisers
for the Bureau of Yards and Docks
estimated the 300-year-old college
to be worth between 1913 900 and
$875 900.
Admiral Fitch pointed out the
academy had acquired only 10 acres
Of land since 1895. In that time, he
said, midshipmen bad increased
from 800 to 5000.
Suggests Other Academies.
representative De Lacy, Democrat
of Washington suggested the COM
mittee decide whether there should
be additional naval academies before
discussing the acquisition of ST.
Johns.
This is not the psychological time
to bring UP the question of an
academy on the West Coast" said
Mr.. Vinson. 1T is too far from
election time"
Chairman Vinson said, however
that virtually all members of the
committee were agreed that ul-
timately naval officers should be
trained in single academy so there
would be no more criticism OF
favoritism toward Annapolis men.
A delegation from Baltimore and
Annapolis was prepared to testify
before the committee.
The same witnesses are expected
to appear at hearing of the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee this after
noon.