Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-08-04
TO BE A SPIRITED FIGHT
Administration Determined 10 Con-
centrate the Army.
is NOW WIDELY SCATTERED
President Believes Better Res ults
Could Be Secured BY Abon.
doning Many Posts.


Washington, D. Ct. July %, "A
spirited fight in congress is practically
certain to result from the determine.
tion of President Roosevelt and Score.
tary Taft to house the American army
in seven or eigth posts. Interest has
heen aroused througt ont the country
in the decision Of the president and
his secretary Of war to establish four
of the brigade posts Immediately.
Since his first visit TO the president
e Oyster Bay, Secretary Taft has
received an inquiry from nearly every
member of congress who has mill
tary post in his district. Efforts have
been made to allsy the excited inter.
est over the policy of the administra-
ton to establish few great army
posts. bat members of congress are in
sisiing ON knowing just what the
policy means. Congressman point to
the fact that the last army appropria-
tion law does not contain authoriza-
tion for che choosing OF posts to be
brigade quarters. The subject Of GEN.
tralizing the army was discussed in
the committee, but no legislation was
proposed and no decision was
reached. The army bill authorized
the secretary OF war to purchase 80
acres of land adjoining the military
reservation at Fort Sam Houston and
to acquire not less than II, 900 acres
of land near San Antonio to be used
as manoeuverirg ground for Fort Sam
Houston. As to the designation of
other posts as brigade quarters the
secretary was within his rights, as no
expenditure of monev is required.
An interesting contest is yet to
come and congress probably will be
in the midst of things when the time
arrives. because 1t will have to pro-
vide the money for the purchase of the
necessary land around the post select
ed for the brigade quarters. II ths
policy of the administration is car
ried ont, the east will get one of the
remaining large posts. the central
west one, and the Pacific coast one.
Years will be required to carry out
fully the policy of concentrating the
army. with the exception of that part
USED to man coast defences. in seven
or eight large posts.
| The records of the war department
show that the United States now
owns 1858 army posts, all but 80 of
them beirg garrisoned today. This
enormous number OF posts is the lie.
suit of policy. followed since the
Declaration OF Independence was
adopted, of estab ishing post when
ever one is needed for local defense.
One hundred and forty of the posts
were established as result of the
governments warfare against the
Indians. As result OF this system,
the regular army, at no time large,
has been scattered TO the four winds.
The president believes the time has
arrived to overhaul this system. By
concentrating the arm in few large
posts, regiments NAV be held intact.
with excellent tactical result from
what may be termed team worK. The
Presidents idea is that the army. if
it is to be effective in time of war.
must be doing things in time of peac
Ii was this notion which led 10 H.
establishment of seven summer con
centration camps this year. Unless
the plans OF the president and Score.
tary Taft are interfered with by con-
gress, it will be possible, in short
time, to have brigade manoeuyers
throughout the year with much con.
sequent benefit to the armr.