The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-12
SCOLDS As
TO SMELLING
Mr.Stevens DenounCes Army
Board Decision.
FLETCHER BACKS HIM
Fort Smelling Should Be Made a
% First-C1ass Post. a.
BOARD MADE SOME BAD BREAKS
Post ut CroOkstOn n Mistake-The
Findings VIII He Fought
in Congress.

From The Journal Bureau, Room, 80, Post
Building, Washtn0ton.
Washingt on, Dec. 12.-Representatives
Stevens. and Fletcher do lot hesitate to
condemn the conclusion of the army post
board in so far as they relate to Mime
sofa.
II am very frank to say that do not
think the board has treated us fairly"
said Mr.. Stevens to-day. cit is true hat
it has provided for an increase of Fort
Smelling to four times it's present capacity
by giving us a full regiment of infantry
and two batteries of artillery, but at that
it will only be a second-class post. We
wanted at least a squadron of cavalry,
but the board has not granted our re-
quest. We also asked that Smelling be
made secondary site, but that was not
so material as enlarging the post to make
it one of the first class. ~.- .......
1T appears to me that the fault lay en-
tirely in the fact that the Department of
Dakota was not fully represented on the
board The department has no comman-
der at present, but General Otis, in COM
mand of the Department of the Lakes, has
had nominal charge of our military divi-
sion. He could not be as fully CONVEX
SduL Will our ueeuS DIS al OIIlCer IN charge
Of one department only, and therefore the
board gave us the worst of it, Possibly
1 am wrong in this, but I believe am
right" .-
CrOol1stOn Post an Error
can instance of the boards error is the
location of post. with a battalion of
infantry at Crookston. What earthly
need of it is there? II troops are needed
in that section of the state they can be
sent from Fort Smelling and reach Crook
ston in seven hours. If the trouble is at
any other point troops can get there lust
as quickly from Smelling as from Crook
ston. $40 This emphasizes the need of maxi
ing Fort Smelling a frst-class post. The
esta blishment of a Crookston post is one
of General Miles ideas that troops should
be located in the Indian country, but as T
have shown, it is entirely unnecessary.
See where, the board has put camp
sites. Nearest to Minnesota is Fort
Riley, Kansas. Miltiamen can never he
induced to travel there for three or four
days instructions, and they have not
time TOT any longer stay in camp so far
away as Riley They cannot get away from
their business in summer.zWi such con-
ditions the effort to give the militia of
the northwestern states practical instruc-
lions Will be complete failure That is
the only objection to Fort Riley as far as
It affects us.
To Overturn Boards Findings.
in the south the government owns
land which the board propose to use. hut
in Pennsylvania a site will have to he
purchased and post constructed that
will cost hundreds Of thousands of dol
lars. Returning to Fort Smelling it is
true that if the boards Recommendation
is followed it will result in the ependf-
ture of 100000 or 100000. It is not
what we wanted, and I propose to do nv
part to get what we do want. believe
congress will overturn the findings of the
board and will provide for making Fort
Smelling frst-class post, second 20 none
In the country"
Representative Fletcher indorsed every
thing Mr.. Stevens said about the report
and will back him up in the fight for Fort
Smelling.
w. w. Jermane.