Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-16
Fine Slippers, SOC to $500.


to determine which of the minor posts can
best be dispensed with. AS n result of this
tour it is announced that there will be es-
tablished eight or nine posts for brlgades,
md that there will be abandoned from 100
to $50 OF the 275 posts now in existence.
THE purpose Of these changes" said an
army officer, 'is in accordance with the
general plan of army reorganization. II
viii be much less expensive to maintain
large bodies of men at central points than
1t is to maintain small scattered garrisons
which are often 10 or 200 miles from the
railroad and where the supplies must be
transported by wagon.
Furthermore, discipline can be much
better preserved and an army raised to a
higher degree Of proficiency when the men
are held in large bodies. 1t is believed,
too, that the soldiers, having more COM
panionship and more commodious quarters
in a large fort will be less likely to desert
than when stationed in lonely and remote
places.
Fort Ethan Allen, about six miles from
Burlington, VT, which was established
principally through the influence of Sena-
tor Redfeld Proctor, will probably be made
one of the brigadier posts Of the east The
present reservation contains $50 acres, and
when the proposed additions are made to
enlarge the drill grounds it will cover 1900
acres. Since its establishment about ten
years ago, the government has spent close
on to $20O0,OO0 on this post.
Secretary Taft was very favorably i'm
| pressed, too, with Fort d. A. Russell,
Wyo., which is the home of Senator War
en-, chairman of the senate committee
on military affairs. He also inspected an
other important post, Fort Robinson, in
Nebraska. The selection Of a large post
| for that part Of the country will most prob
ably be made from these two. On the
Pacific coast Vancouver Barracks, Wash
| ington; the Preside at Monterey, Cal, and
some fort In southern California will likely
be retained. Fort oglethorPe, Ca; Fort
Douglas. Utah, and Fort II. d. Wright,
Wash, are also mentioned favorably as
candidates for brigadier honors.
The secretary was especially impressed
with Forts Leavenworth and Riley in Kan
sas. Fort sin in Oklahoma. and Fort Sam
Houston, near San Antonio, Tex.
"Of course these brigadier posts will not
be the only army posts that the country
will maintain. Smaller garrisons will be
| continued at such forts as Smelling, near
! st. Paul. and important points IN the in
! terror and along the coasts. But leaving
these out there stil remain nearly $50 posts
/ that can be dispensed with without injury
! TO the service"
| Important Posts.
Fort Sill has for a number Of years been
considered one Of the most important posts
| OF the Indian Territory. The reservation
contains 5000 acres, and adjoining this Is
900 acres more which may be used for
military purposes. The department plans
TO make this especially a post for the in
struction and training OF field artillery.
Both Riley and Leavenworth' the two
Kansas forts. have figured not only in th'
history OF the state, but also I'm the oe'
yelopment OF the west. Riley, near juno
lion City, has ;or the last few years beer
he scene Of extensive maneuvers OF reg
ulars as well as OF the militia Of Kansas
and neighboring states. The reservation
Is extensive and is considered by army
.oficers as especially adapted 70 the drill
ing OF large bodies OF men. The depart
ment has kept up here for several years g
school OF instruction in army cooking
The best known OF all these forts i'
eavenworth. II was established In lsf
on a blum overlooking the Missouri river
and during the years OF the settlement o.
lhe great west that lies between the Ms
souri, and the Rocky mountains It was th'
principal depot Of supplies for the posts
that sprang up on the plains for the pro
lection OF the settlers.
From here also were sent out the military
escorts for the wagon trains that crossed
TO the sold fields Of California and Col
orado and 10 the silver mines OF Mexico
that guarded the wagon trains along th'
old Santa Be trail and the pony express