New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-04-27
EXTEND THEARMY
Secretary Elkins' Advanced
Ideas Upon Military
Affairs.
Double the Number of the Army
and Have a Large Post in
Every State.

Elkins has views regarding the army which,
although shared by other people. he is the
first man to put IN tangible shape as secre-
tary OF war. In his opinion $4,000 would
not be too large for a military establish
ment in this country. He,thinks the time
has come when each of the larger states
should have large garrison of federal
troops composed either of an entire regi-
ment OF cavalry or artillery, or mixture
of all three. He thinks all the militia or
CARNATIONS OF the various states would be
much improved in efficiency if properly
fostered by the general government, and
that large garrison of troops would go far
by the way Of example to teach the militia
the duties OF practical soldiery.
The secretary has entertained for long
time an idea which has only to be made
known to state authorities when it will be
generally endorsed. 1t each state or some
leading city Of each state would offer to the
general government a tract of ground of
1000 acres at some point suitable for the To-
cation OF q large garrison, he thinks con-
gress would encourage the building OF
permanent post at such place. Already
three such offers have been made, and the
bill for a large post at Helena, Mont, is
now pending before congress. while SIM
liar bill Tor Little Rock, Ark, has already
passed the house. New Mexico has offered
ground at Santa Fe for an. enlarged garri-
son. This does not in any way
AFFECT MINNESOTA,
as Fort Smelling at ST. Paul will always be
alar-e and permanent military post The
secretary holds that the Indian problem
has been settled and in the future large In
dian wars are not likely to occur, and only
a portion of the army need be kept on In
dian duty. Owing to this fact the policy
OF congregating troops in large garrisons
has already practically begun. 1t is now
the policy Of the war department to aban-
don ali the small posts which are inaccessi-
bic and which in reality are OF no particu-
lar account. He believes that the army
Gan be more economically maintained at
large posts centrally located and sees no
reasons why small posts should be longer
maintained. lie goes further than this and
expresses the opinion that an army almost
double the one at present could be sup
ported with very little increase of cost
if maintained ut large and access
IDLE posts. He has in mind the saving in
transportations of supplies to the nunler-
Gus small posts as we'll as Keeping up so
many minor garrisons esta lislct!, and be-
lieves that with troops at I'll the important
centers. the necessity and expense would no
longer exist or changing them from place
10 place at long distances at times Of ciner-
gency. With fifty re-iments OF infantry
and twenty regiments OF cavalry each state
s.otthc Union could have within It's borders
atleast one complete regiment, leaving
ample sufficicncy Tor
GAPRlsONINGe THE INDIAN BORDER
Secretary Elkins is Iir:"ly of the opinion
that the military establishment Of the
United States should be equal in every re-
spect TO that OF the most advanced nations
OF the world. Military men III Washing
ton whose opinion has been solicited ON
the subject regard it as promis-
ing grea: good or the army and
unquestioneil advantages for state troops
Secretary Ell ins says Ills term OF office will
probably be too short Tor him to undertake
any great measures. but hopes to leave
some suggestions that will be O. advantage
greatly Improve the military organizations
and intimate knowledge of the necessities
ordinary insight into the necessities and
best methods Of improving the army It
was Secretary Pro:torswho suggested the
easily acccssiblv by rail along I he northern
part o.. those ihterestedin Ei.ay affairs to
fist class posts in all the important states.