New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15
FOR A REGIMENTAL POST.
THE ADVANTAGES OF GOVERNORS ISLAND
AND FORT wADswORTH COMPARED.
cr>.rpAr. MILES AND OTHER ARMY OFFICERS AT
THE FORMER STATION FAVOR THE STATEN
ISLAND RESERVATION FOR SUCH
Pt,RPosE-GENERAL OPPOSITION
10 SHIFTING DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS TO

10 SHIFTING DEPARTMENT
HEADQUARTERS TO
THIS CITY.
General Nelson A. Mil;s. when seen at his nome al
Governors Island by Tribune reporter yes'eruay
afternoon regarding the proposal 10 establish reg
mental post on Governors Island and to transfer
tho DEPARTMENT Of the East headquarters TO New
york ci,v expressed the opinion that such change
v.ouId he iniudiclous transferring the present
he,aouarters 20 New-York." he said. would be an
unvise move In sense il would be imposSlp'e
in that case TO have the officers at command wheh
they are wanted mos. IN case OF sudden call IN
1877 al the time OF the railroad riots. when General
uancock wanted his stan at once and mperatvey.
he could and only single officer. He did sensible
thing in getting the Department transferred mere
and here Il has been found 10 be most Satisfactorily
placed for nearly twenty years, under Generals nan
cock Schoheld. Howard and myself On toVerhoi
Island the officers all live military lives when
:, ,o,,,a ne impossfbe for them % DO y they we're
scattered about In such residences "a their means
would allow II we transferred to New-fork
city Then they at all times available now
and there could be no call for their services on sun
dav or in the night that they would not DE IN COM
Mote readiness 20 respond to and do whatever was
required OF them. Another advantage OF having the
officers ouartered the island here Is thar tney
are AT all times in touch with their men. ana De
sides have access TO fine military library
"Governors Island. too. affords proper place for
the reception Of foreign military officials ana the
best chance OF showing them proper courtesy II
has been found that this Is good place i0r the
general administration OF military affairs az the
s,a.or here is connected by wire with all the mill
,arv nos,s on the Atlantic Coast This island has for
100 wears been a partial defence OF New-fork which
is the malnstay OF the country. IL is still part OF
this defence II forms sort OF third line and wouo
be effective in case extra heavy ships or tor
pedoboa,s got by the lines OF torpedoes and batter
al Narv NOr A
the batteries Of heavy guns stationed mere coud
destrov them and prevent their getting up 10 the
city 10 do further damage. For these reasons THIS
island must always be a station where heavy artil-
lery is kept II might be all well enough 10 station
infantry mere but there must always be heavy guns
here too The artillery would be absolutely neces-
sary."
General Miles said that he did not care 10 discuss
the question OF placing regmental post on the
island Anyway. he said there would be no attempt
TO do away with the artillery on Governors Island.
That he thought. would have TO be there as long
as the Government exists
FORT wADswORTHs ADVANTAGES.
How about Fort wsdsworth as regtmental
post"
Fort Wadsworth is a much larger and should
think every way better reservation for the purpose
Here we have only seventyeght acres there there
are over two hundred A regiment requires GER
tain amount of space for proper drilling. There is
not enough OF II on Governors Island The Gov
eminent has spent $4,000 for additional land in the
last few years II would not be necessary TO turn
the land at Fort Wadsworth into a reglmental post.
but there is talk of establishing large garrison
there"
would not a garrison at Fort Wadsworth be
efficient in quelng a riot In New-York as one on
Governors Island?
II should think so but ! should want TO be care
full about expressing opinions on such subject
do not know the feeling az Washington. and
should not 10 be in conflict with II In any
way"
Lieutenant Colonel Worth said; II do not think
there Will be any attempt to place regimena post
here now. think that what General Schofield says
regarding the importance of the retention here on
Governors Island OF a military post in the East is
correct. General Schohed says that taking into
count the interests of the commanding and other