El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-24
q INFANTRY DOES
not WANT To
COME HERE
Officers Have Senator File
Objection With the War
Department.

Some of the officers of the 2Srd in
fantry with a senatorial pull have evil
IDENTIFY concluded that Ell PasO is not
a good station, and they have been
trying to have the department rescind
the order stationing the regiment on
the border on its return from the Orient
next month. The official correspond
ence is Just made public at Washing
ton, in which the chief of staff replies
to senator who asked to have the or
der changed. The chief of staff says:
My Dear Senator-Referring to your
letter of JAN 3, requesting that the
23d infantry be given station in "a
section of the country the climate of
which would give them a more decided
change than that 70 which they have
been recently accustomed was duly
received. and have looked into the sub
ject very carefully.
1t may not be generally known but
it IS a fact, that there is kept at the
war department. roster of the various
stations that each regiment in the serv-
ice has had and new assignments of sta
ton are made with a view to equalizing
as far as may be practicable the service
Of all organizations, with respect to the
character and Location of their stations.
In ether words, regiments which have
served most in stations scattered about
are given regimental stations if prac-
ticable; those which have served longest
in the west are other considerations not
preventing, given eastern stations; those
which have been most in the south are,
other things being equal, given north
ern posts; Organizations which have
had considerable or prolonged service at
frontier or interior stations are pre-
ferably sent to posts near large cities,
and vice versa in each case.
OF course. it. is not possible in many
9 = ~f-<--
any one time, but effort is made to
meet as mny as possible and to equalize
all IN the long run For instance, our
roster also requires that regiments go
10 and return from the Philippines in
their regular turn, but in order to avoid
moving other troops unnecessary, regi-
ments going and returning have to ex-
chanse stations with each other, as a
rule The first regiment returning
might be the one most entitled TO a
regln1enfal post, but the only regiment
Facatlng such post might be the last
on the roster 10 go In such case the
returning regiment might have TO wait
Its turn for a regimentaI station until
some 1ufure occasion, unless the time
OF It's return could be so varied from
It's furn on the roster as to find a regi-
mental station vacant by the date of it's
arrival In the United States II has
never been considered juStifiabIe 20
mold a regiment in the Philippines more
1han a month or two over its roster turn
IN order TO give it a better station at
nome This same difficulty also arises
In meeting other considerations con-
neVted with selecting stations for re-
turning regiments; so it is never possf-
Die TO meet all conflicting equities at
one and the same time We balance ad-
Eantages and disadvanta ges. and DO the
best we can.
1t appears from the records chat the
z5rd infantry has no Just ground for
complaint IN this case, as ii has had its
full proportion OF eastern stations for
some years back, certainly since most
OF the o1ficers now on duty with it have
been members thereof. Its present as
s1gnmeR could not be altered without
dong injustice TO some other regiment.
winch also looks to the war department
TO protect its interests and maintain
them on an equitable basis. OF course.
the department is glad to do anything
IL can 70 add to the comfort or con-
fentment OF the army, but it cannot af-
ford to resort to injustice to others in
order TO satisfy any particular portion.
In view of the foregoing facts L am
unable to recommend any change in the |
assignments of stations for the 23d
infantry already ordered. and feel con-
fident that after receiving the informa-
ZION conveyed In the preceding para !
graphs hereof, you will agree that my
conclusions are correct. 1 shall be glad
TO show you the rosters and the lists /
of stations Of the three regiments in |
volved in the present return from the !
if you desire. The other |
two. like the 23rd, are also returning !
from a tropical climate. where there |
can be no question that the 23rd had |
the advantage in stations. The 4th |
regiment returning this year from six |
different stations in Alaska, also goes /
to Texas to a regimental post.
The months of April, May and June |
have been announced as the regular sea
son for small arms target practice for /
all troops in the department of Texas. /
Capt James II. Graham, adjutant, !
18th infantry, and Capt. Samuel NJ. De- !
nnun} eicannearc !