Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-20
REGARDRDIAS MISTAKE
PROPOSED fTRANsFER OF THE
18TH CAVALRY CRITICISED.
It is Claimed That the New Quarters at
Fort Ethan Allen Will Not Be
Ready far Months to Come.

The orders that were issued from the
War Department transferring the squadron
OF the 10Th Cavalry, stationed at Fort
Myer. to Fort Ethan Allen, Vt. appear to
have been little, premature. and there Is
reason to believe that the troopers OF the
10Th Will not get away as soon az was at
first supposed. Although there has as yet
been no change in the original program.
and as far as official instructions are con-
cerned the 10th is scheduled to leave Octo-
Der 20, there is believed to be ground for
conjecture that the regulars will not de-
part on that day nor for many other days
to come.
Condition Of New Quarters.
The ordering OF the 18th Cavalry to Fort
Ethan Allen is looked upon by those VINO
are fully acquainted with the situation as
mistake. 1t is claimed that the contrac-
tors have never promised that the new
quarters at Fort Ethan Allen would be
ready before November 1, and. knowing
the ways OF government contractors It is
claimed that implicit faith in their promises.
is the only possible thing that could induce
those In authority to believe that the build
ings would be finished at that time. Elk
perfence would place the date month or
two. preferably two, later. AS it happens.
and as the reports from the Vermont
post indicate, the quarters for the
men will not be finished IN time.
Numerous unforeseen delays have block
ed the work of the builders. and 1t Is
probable that the Christmas moon will wax
and wane and the advance notices of
st. Valentines day will be appearing In
the newspapers before the buildings are
really ready for the occupancy Of the troop
ers. In the meantime If the men are sent
away from here October 20 the soldiers of
the 18th Cavalry, who suffered intensely
with the cold in this mild climate after
serving three years in the tropics. will be
camped on bleak Vermont plain with the
mercury rafting around in the bottom of
the tube. From the statements of officers
who have been stationed there In winter 1t
is learned that the thermometer takes sta
ton about 10 degrees below zero around No
vember l and goes no higher until April.
although 1t might occasionally sink much
lower. The latest promises from Vermont
are that one of the barrack buildings may
be ready for occupancy by November i.
but 1t will be at least thirty days later be-
fore the other can possibly be ready. 1t
has been suggested that the headquarters
and band of the regiment. now stationed
at Fort Myer, may be moved north COM
fortably now, but that it will be wiser to-
wait until spring for the transfer Of the
squadron of soldiers.
. The 7th Cavalry on the other hand, Is
fully accustomed to sleeping and having its
being in the open. for the very simple
reason that 1t has lived that way at Chicka-
manga during the last three years, and
there is not much difference In the climate
here and at Chickamauga. The first squad
ron of the It'll, which Is stationed here,
is even now comfortably camped on the
parade at Fort :Myef and the men declare
they are just las warm and dry in their
tents as they epuld possibly be in the bar
made them very much attached to the c aane
vas dwellings,, and they would feel out
of place anywhere, else.