Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-01-10
FORT PLAcIzNAC

longer a menace to the welfare and
safety of the settlers has forced upon
the consciousness of the war depart
ment the uselessness of longer main
tanning many of the forts which have
dotted the western plains and noun
tain districts for years. For this rea-
son many historic spots dear to the
novelist and the historian, but really
dreaded by the common soldier, are to
pass away, and of the 275 posts now in
existence from 100 to $50 will be aban-
doned.
This action follows a tour of in
spection and investigation by Secre-
tary Taft of the war department,
which was undertaken for the two-fold
purpose of selecting sites for a chain
Of brigadier posts. and the determin-
ing which Of the minor posts could be
best dispensed with. 1t is probable
that with the abandonment of the
posts eight or nine brigadier posts will
be established.
Only few days ago came the an
nouncement of the abandonment of
Fort Niobrara, Nebraska, around which
half century ago ragged an almost in
cessant Indian warfare and which has
been the scene of many military
romances. For several years the gov
eminent has been abandoning one by
one Of these frontier posts and con-
centrating the troops at the larger
nrfc Lax L1@ oh
doned these posts, once of Importance:
Fort Brown, Texas; Fort Grant, Ari-
IONA; Fort Ringgold, Texas; Fort
Yates, North Dakota; Allegheny Arse
nal, Pennsylvania; Columbia Arsenal,
Tennessee; indianapolis Arsenal, In
diana, and Kennebec Arsenal, Maine.
1.-THE purpose of these changes, F."
said an army officer, 'is in accordance
with the general plan of army reor-
ganization. 1t will be much less ex-
pensive to maintain large bodies of
men at central points than it is to
maintain small scattered garrisons
which are often one or two hundred
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 higher degree of proficiency
when the men are held in large bodies.
1t is believed, too, that the soldiers,
having more companionship and more
commodious quarters in 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 estab-
lished principally through the infiu-
ence of Senator Redfield Proctor, will
probably be made one of the brigadier
posts of the east The present reser-
yation contains 962 acres, and when
the proposed additions are made to en-
large the drill grounds it will cover
l 300 acres. Since it's establishment,
about ten years ago, the government
has spent close on to 100000 on this
post.
Secretary Taft was very favorably
too, with Fort ID. A. Rus
sell, Wyoming, which is the home of
Senator Warren, chairman of the SEN
ate committee on military affairs. He
also inspected another important post,
Fort Robinson, in Nebraska. The Sc
lection of large post for that part of
the country will most probably be
made from these two. On the Pacific
coast Vancouver barracks, Washing
ton; the Preside at Monterey, Cal,
and some fort in southern California
will likely be retained. Fort Ogle-
thorpe, Georgia; Fort Douglas, Utah,
and Fort D. H. Wright, Washington,
are also mentioned favorably as can
didates for brigadier honors.
The secretary was especially i'm
pressed with Forts Leavenworth and
Riley in Kansas, Fort Sill in Okla
homa 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 interior and
along the coasts. But leaving these
out there still remain nearly $50 posts
that can be disposed with without in
jury to the service"
Fort Sill has for a number of years
been considered one of the most I'M
portant posts of the Indian territory.
The reservation contains $4,000 acres,
and adjoining this is 10000 acres more
which may be used for military pur-
poses. The department plans to make
this especially a post for the instruc-
ton and training of field artillery.
Both Riley and Leavenworth, the
two Kansas forts, have figured not
onlY In the history Of tho state hut