The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-07-16
TO BU|LDCOAST
OEFENSES
icANADA's MOVE lS LIKELY TO BE
AN INCENTIVE TO UNCLE
SAM. IT'S SAID.
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY LINE
!!:.eS .s 40 ONE aesna OF Activity:
Secretary OF War Dickinson
VIII Visit Fort Smelling
at Near Date.

Washington, July 12.--Military at
tention is being directed toward rap
idly developing situation which prom
ises to constitute permanent menace
and cause of constant irritation TO
the friendly relations existing between
Canada and the United States.
The tour of Western military posts
which Secretary OF War Dickinson is
expected to make this fall, will prob
ably bring into public discussion a
problem which has already deeply en-
gagged the attention of the army au-
thorities.
The recent offers by Canada OF a
number OF small ships for England
navy, to be used for harbor defenses
along Canada's sea line, has been TAX
en- in this country as little less than
a signal for the strengthening OF all
Northern frontier defenses.
Any suggestion that differences can
arise in the near future between Eng.
land and the United States Or Canada
and the United States, which would
make necessary the use of frontier and
sea coast defenses, is regarded light
ly; but the military officials recognize
more fully than any one else that the
first step on the part of Canada to
strengthen her own colonial defenses
is likely to be the beginning of great
development OF defenses of both coun-
tries along the international boundary
line.
VIII Visit Fort Smelling.
Secretary Dickinson is expected to
spend some time at Fort Smelling dur
ing his western trip. So far as the
secretary is concerned, he has not now
in mind any definite plans, or any
comprehensive scheme for improve
ments of the posts.
He has returned to Washington
from an extensive examination of east
ern posts, and has not as yet made
any definite plans for his western
tours.
Army officials have had the Cana
dian situation under consideration for
some time.
Secretary Dickinson's visit to Fort
Smelling will be primarily for the pur-
pose of getting acquainted" but the
strategic position which this post oc-
cupies with relation to the Northern
boundary of the United States is such
that problems of further development
and improved facilities must be con-
sidered.
Smelling guards the entire Canadian
frontier from the Great Lakes to the
Rocky Mountains. Upon the facility
with which troops can be moved, the
speed with which they can be trans
ported to any desired point, and the
accommodations afforded at the post,
depend its efficiency as an important
military center.
The secretary Of war will of necees-
sity take all these matters up when he
visits Fort Smelling, thus the authority
for the statement that the relation of
Fort Smelling to the Canadian situa-
ton will be gone into in some detail
Congressman Fred G. Stevens, of
St Paul, stated yesterday that he un-
derstood matters concerning the
northern boundary protection had been
seriously discussed by army officials
recently.
There is no reason for increased ac-
tivity in this line, he said, other than
the fact that Canada is proposing to
strengthen her defenses, which would
at once destroy the balance between
the defenses on the two sides of the
border.
Increase Smelling Garrison.
Steps are to be taken as soon as
possible to increase the garrison OF
Fort Smelling. so it will include two
rsquadrcns of cavalry and battalion
of artillery.
The post at present has a regiment
of infantry. two batteries of artillery
and four troops of cavalry. 1t is hoped
to add battery and four troops of
cavalry, bringing the garrison up 30
practically the limit of the post ac-
commodations.
Congressman Stevens has requests
for additional storehouse facilities, ex-
tension of the rife range, and addition
al quarters for officers.
Some significance is attached to the
TACT that an officer has been detailed
to go to Fort Smelling and look into
the situation of needed Improvement.
In the future development of the
post, storehouse facilities must be
greatly increased, in order to provide
depot capable of serving the wide
territory dependent on Fort Smelling
In time of military operations.