The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-02
A FULL STATEMENT OF THE NORTH
pRN RAMBLER AND YER MONT PI An

A FULL STATEN ENT OE THE NOhTH-
ERN FRONTIER AND VERMONT PLAN.
The sundry civil appropriation act of
the recent session of Congress authorizes
the Secretary of War to establish a mil
itary post at a point near the Northern
frontier, where he may, in his judgment,
deem it for the public COOL" provided
that land sufficient and suitable for the
purpose is given to the United States.
The new fort thus contemplated is the
one which has been planned for a point
in the Northwestern corner of Vermont,
Just East of Lake Champlain and on the
railroad running from Burlington to
Montreal. 1t would probably be placed
between st. Adams and the Canadian
border; and it is generally understood
that a site near Swanton Junction is
likely to be offered to the government
for this purpose.
The general military system of which
this Vermont post will form an impor-
tant feature, has been thus described in
a report made by Gen. Schofield to the
Secretary of War:
GAS preparation for the execution
of harmonious political and military
policy, in the event of any future neces-
sity, it is necessary to maintain at proper
points on the Northern frontier the nu-
cleus of troops of all arms, infantry, cav
airy and artillery, where the forces from
the adjoining States might Immediately
unite to take the initiative in such mill
Uary movements as might be requisite to
prevent the enemy from using their wa
ter-ways to move gunboatS into the
lakes"
Gen. Schofield proceeds to point out
that for this purpose infantry and light
artillery garrisons should be established
at Plattsburgh and Madison barracks;
also cavalry garrison on the Northern
border of New England. At Madison
barracks, Sackett's Harbor, are now
stationed six companies of Col. Bart
let's regiment, the 9th infantry, while a
seventh company is at Plattsburgh. The
last Congress promptly proceeded to
carry out the new military plan by APP
propriating 100000 for the enlargement
of the post at Pittsburgh. Now the
present Congress has done its part by
authorizing the establishment of a new
post on the Eastern side of Lake Cham
plain.
There can be no question as to the
wisdom of this step. The French and
Indian war, the War of the Revolution,
and the Wan of 1912 successfully dem
onstrated the strategic importance of
the Lake Champlain region, in its rela-
ton to Canada. The same line of opera
tions would at once suggest itself in a
fourth war, A garrisonad post at High
gate, ST. Adams or one of the SwantOns
would threaten the Dominion canal sys-
tenn. 1t would be ON the direct railroad
route to Montreal, and could itself be
reached by rail from all parts of New
England and New York. Forces of all
three arms, made up of regulars, organ
lied militia and volunteers, starting
from Plattsburgh, Madison barracks and
Swanton as their points of rendezvous,
would reach these waterways before they
could be used by the British gunboats
and torpedo craft for entering the Great
Lakes.
Under the Rush-Bagot treaty of 1917
the naval force which can be maintained
by Great Britain and the United States
respectively upon the lakes is so limited
as to leave them undefended. Unless
Great Britain can introduce war vessels
into the lakes by sudden movement the
American cities on their shores run no
risk of naval attack, and the new policy
of having force ready to ruin the Do
miniOn locks and canals will make such
movement impossible.
No increase of the army is necessary
for establishing these new posts. All
that is required is to transfer new garri-
sons from forts now no longer needed to
these stations on the Canadian frontier.
Regarded simply as a matter of economy
the present plan has obvious advantages
over attempting the fOrtifcatiOn of in
dividual cities on the lakes. The true
method is to take care that no hostile
vessels shall get there. The War De-
partment will no doubt act with due
promptness upon the authority which it
has received from Congress, to establish
an army post in Northern New England.
-NeD York Sun.