The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-01-09
.MANEUYERS TO BE-
HELD AT Fl. SILL
War Department Asks to
Enlarge Reservation--Ft.
Riley Loses.

Washington, D. c. Jan. 9-The
plans Of the war department to con
vert the Fort sin military reservation
in Oklahoma Territory into a perma-
nent manettsring grounds for the
drilling an hS'ning Of soldiers OF the
regular arm and state militias was
thought before congress today by
recommendation from Secretary Taft
that an appropriation be authorized for
the enlargement of that reservation.
The secretary recommends an ini.ial
appropriation Of $4,000 for the pur-
chase Of part OF the Wichita forest
reserve Immediately and It is his in
tention later to recommend another ap-
preparation for further enlargement in
order to make the reservation the larg-
est military reservation ia the coun.
TRY In his statement to congress
Secretary Taft outlines the action OF
the general stan In adopting the pro
ject for an extensive reservation for
annual maaeuvers and quotes from the
reports OF several army officers who
have visited Fort snl and have gone
on record in favor OF that reservation
for the maneuvers. One OF these re-
ports was made to the war department
by Major Ell D. Hoyle Of the artillery
corps, who by direction Of the general
staff made an investigation of the con
ditions at Fort sill In this report Ma
jor Hoyle says:
There is now military necessity
for a great reservation where an army
could be assembled, encamped at any
season of the year and prepared for
war. Such reservation should be so
far south that the climate will be mild
and that military exercises in the OPP
en- air may be carried on at any time
of the year. It should be healthful and
well watered, with good railroad facili-
ties and so large that an army Of 100
600 men of all arms could be encamp-
ed with space demanded by modern
military requirements. Such a reser-
walton cannot be too large and for
artillery practice with long guns it
must be very large. The military res
ervation of Fort Sill fulflls all these
conditions, except as to size, and now
Is the opportunity to enlarge it at a
comparatively small cost The north
west corner OF the Fort Sill reserva-
tion joins the Wichita forest reserve,
a part of the public domain, which is
an elevated tract sparsely timbered,
broken In part by mountains; in facs,
embracing what are known as the
Wichita mountains; is well watered
and II is useful for military purposes
in that Il affords an excellent terraine
for practice OF marches and maneu-
yers over difficult ground, which Is SO
necessary for preparing troops foT war
1t is especially valuable for the train.
Ing of mountain artillery This tract
should be added to the Fogt sill res
eryation and it is SO recommended.
The land to be secured amouats ta
about 100000 acres, which may be
purchased at 81 an acre II this
scheme is regarded as too preteutious
| recommend that steps be taken tc
secure tha land adjoining the reserya
tion which would make the reserva
imiles, with an area Of about las
square miles or approximately 4i,OOC
acres and would cost about $4,000
The recommendation OF Secretary
Tafe was referred TO the houss com
mittee on military affairs.