Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-16
Of the quarter Of a century succeeding its
reorganization in 1870

Of the quarter Of a century succeeding its
reorganization in 1870.
During that period the thirty-five cavalry
and infantry regiments were scattered over
the frontier In small one or two-company
posts. Sometimes there were battalion
posts and less frequently regiments came
there were none. save in 1885 and 1888.
Generals never took actual command OF
troops except when forced to by serious
indian uprisings. most Of which were set
tied by captains and colonies. Company
officers might spend years in the service
and never see a battalion drill. But as the
west was opened up by the railroads and
the Indian wars died out with the Pine
Ridge campaign of 1S90-1S91 there came
to the Washington authorities a realization
that a Encouragement was advisable, par
ticularly as many an old post was tumbiing
to pieces. Unfortunately. the War De-
partment decided upon the regimental-post
policy. which easily fell In with the schemes
Of politicians. Thanks to their influence,
the new posts were often located with far
less regard to their strategical value than
to the benefits to be derived from them by
land Spectators or trades people. Hideous
brick barracks, devoid Of architectural
beauty, began to appear near towns like
Chicago. Little Rock Spokane, Burlington
(Vt), Des Moines. ETC. At Omaha beauti-
full old post was abandoned, and a new one
built to please the city; and at dwindling
Helena the ugly post of Fort Harrison was
constructed to reward certain politicians.
looks to the creation of posts garrisoned by
between 1900 and 5000 men, so that officers
may be trained not merely In battalion and
regtmental evolution, but In brigade exer-
cises as well. Instead Of there being sepa-
rate posts for infantry and cavalry, there
will be garrisons comprising not only horse
and foot, but light artillery as well. Thus
the three combatant branches will drill to-
gether. and each learn not only about their
mutual dependence. but something of their
respective functions. More than that small
posts are uneconomical from the military
point Of view, because Of the many men to
guard duty. and also for punishment or on
account OF Illness. and for performing the
police and other duties executed in England
by the general service corps. In two-com-
pany posts. where the strength was, say,
120 men all told 1t was rarely possible to
parade more than thirty-five men to a COM
pany, with the result that extensive drills
were impossible. Practically many men
are needed for fatigue duty In a small post
as in large one. At least, the concen-
tration OF 5000 men in q post enables a
far larger proportion Of men to turn but
for drill than where there are 40 or go
From the point Of view of the quarter
master or commissary the large post is
also much more economical. Food and
supplies for 5000 men can far more easily
be delivered at one place than at five. partic-
ularIy IL some OF those five are not on any
railroad. Hence the taxpayer should dou-
bly, welcome Secretary Taft's plan. He
should get for his money a more efficient
army and also one more economical; the
War Department should be able to make
substantial savings as soon as the brigade
posts are completed. Fort Leavenworth.
our American Aldershot, years ago proved
the desirability Of large posts from the
strictly business point of view, as we'll as
the military. And IT, as Is to be hoped, the
United States. by withdrawing from the
Philippines. shall be able to reduce its
army as 1t did in 1870 the establishment OF
brigade posts would not interfere with the
mastering out process. Such as are not
then needed may be used by the militia, or
kept up for national emergencies.