Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-08
Final Action to Be Taken.

F1nai action regarding these posts Will De
taken a week from next Monday, when Sec
retary Taft will make a second visit to
Oyster Bay.
The necessity for the formulation of
complete plan at this time in the develop
ment of the scheme is occasioned by
the requirement in the urgent deficiency
appropriation act of the last session which
is that all appropriations shall be appor-
toned so as to last throughout the year
for the purpose for which they We're made
without causing a deficiency. The army APP
propriatio act carries Ss00,CoO for the cree
ton OF army posts. 1t also carries So. .00O, 600
for barracks and quarters and $12, 600, 600
for transportation of the army.
Before this money can be expended
complete plan TO what IT shall be used
for must be made and the lump sum appro-
priations so apportioned that no deficiency
VIII be created In attempting TO carry
out his plan the President is simply fol-
lowing the line he indicated to Congress
IN his message. II is his firm belief that
the army should be trained above all else
10 act In a mass. To this end he suggested
that provision be made for maneuvers of
a. a-practiCai kind. on this plan. he saws the
generals and colonels would have oppor-
tunity TO handle regiments, brigades and
divisions. and the commisSary and medical
departments would be tested in the field.
What he added regarding the establish
ment of larger army posts was that no
local interests should be allowed to stand
in the way OF assembling the greater part
OF the troops which would, at need form
our field ermies in stations Of such size as
will permit the best training 10 be given
10 the personnel of all grades, including
the high officers and STAFF officers
Larger Garrisons.
TO accomplish this end" he said. I'VE
must have not company and regimental
garrisons. but brigade and division garri-
sons
The President follows this with comment
on the weedng-out process the West Point
Military Academy does on prospective
army officers. and says there should be
some process in the army that would
achieve the same end.
After a certain age has been reached"
he says the average officer is unfit to do
good work below certain grade"
Provision. he maintained should be made
FOR the promotion Of exceptionally meri-
torious men over the heads of their COM
redes and for retirement OF all men who
nave reached a given age without going
beyond given rank. The plan now being
worked out by the President and the Sec
retary OF War, II is intended, will achieve
much that the President has expressed
desire for III the foregoing recommenda-
tions TO Congress. The locations selected
are all places where the government has
large reservations and where troops may be
mobilized oadvantage for maneuvers or
other purposes. At Ogle thorpe, Ca. the
post is adjacent TO the Chickamauga Ma
tional Park.
Taft's Short Visit
Secretary Taft spent but two hours with
the President today. He arrived from
Washington at 1915 this morning and left
on the noon train This was Secretary
Taft's first visit to Oyster Bay Besides
going over the army post matter the Secre-
tary discussed the speech he Is to deliver
70 me republican state convention of North
Carolina at Greensboro Monday night The
Secretary has one more speaking engage
ment. an address before the Ohio bar as
ISOLATION at Put-in-Bay, after which he Is
TO take two months rest at Murray bay
eighty miles below Quebec, on the St Law
renee river. Canada
The Secretary will accompany the Presi-
dent to Panama and said the start for the
isthmus would be made Immediately after
the November elections that the President
might be In Washington before the OPEN
Ing of Congress.
The Army Bill.
The army appropriation bill for this year
has Nan appropriation OF $4,000 for the
establishment of army posts. II also car
rieo IS, S,OO0.O 900 for barracks an.y nua rfors