The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-09-08

The following merits much public
! ity for is not any information regard
ing Fo1t AssinnibOine of great in
terest to every one in north Montana?
The present Secretary of War, Hon.
Jacob M. Dickinson, has taken hold
of the War Department as matter
of fact, business like, sort of way.
He ID evidently an untiring worker
who diligently seeks to become ac-
ouainted with conditions as they exist
in our military establishment and 1t
is encouraging to note that he person
ally investigates matters of actual i'm
portance and afterwards proceeds to
act largely on his own Judgment,
which, by the way, appears to be re-
markably well balanced.
The Army and Navy Journal of
August 2Sth, in an editorial article,
states that the Secretary has inaugu-
rated significant movement looking
to reduction of the garrison OF
number of large posts i'll the United
States where military schools are
established and conducted. The art
icle says:
"Of late wears there has been
steady increase Of the number or men
stationed at the large posts like Fort
Leavenworth, Fort Riley, West Point,
Fort Monroe and similar educational
posts the purpose being to give swing
and substance to these very important
schools.
The Secretary doubts the wisdom
of using so many troops for such a
purpose, considering the cost OF their
maintenance.
Fort Leavenworth especially has
! been regarded by the Secretary as
having more troops than was entirely
| necessary for the good work OF the
Army school of the Line, which is
located there.
At that post there is the equivalent
| of over two regiments, embracing a
battalion of Engineers, battery OF
Field Artillery, two squadrons OF
| Cavalry, and a regiment of Infantry,
besides company of the Signal Corps.
The friends of the school are very
much disturbed over the Secretary S
inquiry. which followed his recent
personal visit to Fort Leavenworth. y
II The action Of Secretary Dickinson
/ in inaugurating a movement Tor the
4 reduction of garrisOns at such posts as
Il Fort LeavenWOrth, where facilities
/ for the military training of troops dc
/ not exist and where the enlisted mel
L are stationed more for ornamental
/ show and dress parades than for any
I useful purpose, should be commended
| by the taxpayers Of tn" country.
Il Troops ought to be stationed where
Il they can be trained and properly drill
Il ed in field service as we'll as the sim
pie manual of arms; target practice
: and teaching recruit how to taxi
care of himself in campare importan
+ matters that cannot be taught b.
practical experience at such places d
1 Fort LeavenWOrth.
II In this connection we are remlnde'
of the statement made about For
| LeavenwOrth in the annual report o
| the Secretary of War for the year 1906
in which this post was recommends
| for enlargement with the suggestion
that it being located, "within 13
| miles of Fort Riley, the large res l
| vation GO, 800 acres) at the latter pos
can be used conveniently in summe
for maneuvering of the troops frol
Fort Leavenworth.
| subsequently,, after the post ha
been enlarged by the erection of ~
- ditional buildings it was decided tn
= Fort Leavenworth ought to have
larger reservation and in the Ar
= and Navy Journal of January Is, lH'
} appeared the following:
ga strong effort will be made .
secure from congress at this sessio
" an appropriation for the enlargement
of the Fort Leavenworth military RS
ervation, as planned by the Wal ID
g partment. In accordance with Seer
70 tary Taft's plan, to make the Leavel
worth POST brigade post, congr
IL will be asked to authorize an app +,
priation of nearly one million dolla,
to be used in purchasing about sew
30 thousand acres adjoining the reserv;
tion to provide ample ground for tai
get practice and maneuvers, for whic
the present reservation is entirel