The Washington herald., 1910-12-20
Army Posts.

There is a revival of the activity on the
part OF infantry officers In Washington
for the plan for a permanent infantry
garrison here OF regimental, or preferably
Of brigade, proportions. Congress, how
ever, is not likely TO take up this sub
ject during the present session. and pre-
sumably it is not as important from the
point of view of army officers as the
pending legislation which win increase
the commissioned personnel by more
than 600 members. The principal argu-
ment in favor OF an infantry post here
appears TO be based on the assumption
that it is needed as a demonstration
to Congress of the value OF that branch
OF the army. AT present there are no
infantry troops stationed within many
miles of this city. Such a post is per
haps not needed for the purpose of pro-
lection, but If there Is to be a new In
fantry post there is every reason why it
should find suitable location in this
neighborhood. although there may be
local prejudice against setting aside any
part Of the new Potomac Park as a mill
tary reservation.
The War Department seems now con-
WINGED that the regfmental post is not
altogether desirable. and that the army
should be collected into brigade posts.
There is. without question, economy in
an arrangement Of this sort. The diff
Guilty viii be in abandoning the posts
which now exist There will be local
opposition TO that project, and this is
bound to have its influence upon Con-
gress. regardless Of the urgent recon-
mendations of the military authorities
1t is to be regretted. at the same time,
that the discovery OF the advantages of
brigade posts was not made before the
military administration was committed
to the regimental post idea Some ex-
pense has been incurred in establishing
several OF these regimental posts. and
Congress may now be reluctant to adopt
the view that a mistake has been
made in that direction.
The War Department officials are TO
be commended for their adoption of plans
which win introduce the element Of pru-
denee in the arrangement or buildings
at posts which are hereafter to be estab-
lished- Instead Of numerous independent
edifces, widely separated and therefore
covering an immense area OF ground. it
is proposed TO concentrate the structures
erecting apartment houses, for instance,
for the officers and their families, IN
stead Of separate quarters. The bar
racks and other buildings are to be
brought together under one roof. by an
arrangement which win save money in
their maintenance and preservation.
There is no need OF the small army
post. and has not been since the Indian
troubles were eliminated. Now IL is
eminently desirable TO have large mill
tary force under one head. where the
handling and transportation OF stores
may be economically accomplished, and
where it win be possible to ut5.:zs the
railroad facilities of the country in the
mobilization Of troops with the least
possible delay.
The thing for the War Department
to do however. is TO settle upon a plan
which takes into consideration fu-
ture Developments. and so avoid the
error which seems now to have been
committed by the adoption OF regimental
posts, when the larger or brigade posts
are essential