The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-07-26
NEW SYSTEM OF POSTS
The Government to Abandon
Many Smaller Ones.
IN LINE WITH GEN. SCHOFIELD.

The Troops Now Gathered at Chicago
Will Constitute Fort Sheridan's Per-
manent Garrison-The Commander on
His Way to Bar Harbor.
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-Daily reports
received at the War Department from
troops engaged in preventing disturb
ances on the railroads in the West show
that the disturbance of the strikers has
generally diminished from formidable
rioting to petty operations and obstruc-
tons. General Merritt at st. Paul re-
ports distractions have been encountered
on the Great Northern running north
from St. Paul, likewise at Livingston,
Mont. There is friction on all the Pa
cifc roads. From San Francisco Gen
eral Ruger reports that it will be neces-
eary to send the trains under guard for
some time. General Miles reported the
frightful accident at Chicago day before
yesterday, and will take steps to ascer-
tain how it occurred, and may appoint a
board for this purpose.
As soon as in General Miles judgment
it will be advisable to do so, the regulars
in Chicago will be withdrawn, but until
General Miles SO recommends no sugges-
ton of the outside or request will have
any effect with the authorities. The
history of the Chicago riots has con-
firmed in official circles here belief in
the soundness of General Schofeld's
policy of concentrating troops at great
central points near the large cities. 1t
is the intention now to carry out this
idea as far as practicable. The first man.
Hesitation of this decision will be at Chi
cago, for, although the troops will be
Withdrawn from the city, they will 60 to
Fort Sheridan, fifteen miles distant, and
none of the companies of batteries and
troops that have been brought to Chi
cago from Eastern and Western points
will be sent back to their posts. They
will constitute the permanent garrison
of Fort Sheridan, which, with this pow
erful force so located as to be easily and
quickly marched to Chicago or to any
point of disturbance, will become one of
the first units of the new system of army
posts. Unless Congress shall provide
for substantial increase of the regular
army, this may involve the practical
abandonment of many of the small posts
in the West.
GENERAL sCHoFIELD's VIEWS.
BosToN, Mass, July 18.-Major Gen
eral Schofeld, commanding the United
States army, arrived in Boston last night
on his way to Bar Harbor. In CONVEX
saton with reporter he said that the
late strike in Chicago had caused him to
modify somewhat his views expressed
in a recently published article signed by
him, in which he had taken the ground
that small but well-disciplined army
with better coast defense would be suffi-
Gent to protect the country from inva-
sion. The question of interior disturb
ances had not been reached at that time.
The General said:
81 think upon considering the events
which have recently taken place that an
increase of the army's forces is needed.
Several thousand men should be added
at once. A small army well disciplined
is obviously superior to large one ILL
trained, but a larger army well drilled
is now absolutely required"
In speaking of the massing OF troops
near large cities he said:
cit has been the policy of the govern,
ment to mobilize troops near railroad
centers, and as these centers have been
large cities, the problem has been solved
to great extent. The troops are placed
near Chicago, for instance. | was in
command of that division in 1884. At
that time this mobilization of soldiers
was done. 1t is done yet because Chi
cago is large city and because it is the
railroad center of the entire Northern
frontier. We can send large force un-
der this system to any desired point"