Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17
70 ABANDON FORTS
RADICAL REPRESENTATIONS By
GEN. SUMNER.
Would Give Up out-of-the-Way Posts
and Establish Others Con-
nected by Rail.

Major General s. s. Sumner. commanding
the southwestern division. comprising the
Departments of Texas and the Coioraoo, IN
his annual report makes some radical rec
concentrations looking to the ABANDONMENT
of military posts in that division, regarded
as of the greatest Importance in the old
days of Indian warfare. Some posts ne
wishes to be brought up to date in the
matter of water supply and other conven-
iences as In the case of Fort Huachuca.
He wants that post enlarged, and If that
is done he suggests the abandonment OF
Fort Grant, which Is too distant from tne
railroad. Fort Clark is said to De IN
tumble-dewn condition, ten miles from the
railroad on limestone ledge, ana In a
most uncomfortable position. so General
Sumner says that for strategic reasons II
would seem we'll to abandon the site OF
Fort Clark and establish a post of IKE
size near the present site OF camp Eagle
Pass.
Touching Fort Ringgold, on the Rio de
Grande opposite Camargo IL is salu tLa.
the tweny-mile road connecting It with
Havana on the railroad, is practlcally I'M
passable in wet weather, so Gen. summer
recommends that Fort Ringgold be aDan-
doned at an early date and the garrisons
at Fort Brown and Fort Mcintosh be cor
respondingiy increased.
Posts Along the Border.
If these suggestions are adopted there
will be line of posts on the Mexican bor-
der covering all rail communication be-
tween the United States and Mexico. Other
posts that might be abandoned are Forts
Wingate and Duchesne. while Fort Apache
ia said to be too remote and expensive to
maintain at full strength ana shoulu DC
reduced to a two-troop post
Military Instruction at Colleges.
General Sumner thoroughly indorses some
strong recommendations made by ms IN
spector general as to the agricultural col
Ieges in the division. The inspector general
says that the military colleges 90 not carry
out the orders OF the War Department'
they do not allow necessary time Tor mill
tary instruction in one case but three
hours per week are given--the professors OF
military science are not always aIoWeo 10
enforce proper military discipline, and, as
these schools obtain large sums OF money
annually from the government on condltion
of including military tactics in their cur
ricula, the inspector general recommends
that no army officers be hereafter permit
ted to attend these colleges unless the pro-
visions of the War Department orderS are
complied with.
In indorsing that recommendation Cen
eral Sumner says that while the dement's
Of military training under the depart
ment's order are admitted, anything in con-
fdct with 1t would result in travesty OF
the serious work intended.
Proposed Maneuvers.
General Sumner says that he intends to
have maneuvers next autumn on an ex-
tensive scale in the division and is prepar-
ing to submit problems for the same to the
War Department. He mentions Forts Sill
and Fort Reno reservations as desirable
fields for the maneuvers, but II 1t is consid-
cred advisable to go further south, then
the country north of San Antonio, general
ly known as Leon Springs. is said to pos
sess many advantages.