Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19
Proposed Establishment of an
Infantry Post.
OF ARMY OFFICER
Refers to the System Adopted in
Europe.
MILITARY IN THE CITIES
Parks Could Be Utilized for Parade
Grounds if a Regiment Were
Stationed in Washington.

There is considerable discussion. pro
ana con, In army circles with respect to
the proposition to establish an infantry
garrison in or near the National canital
Many arguments have been advanced in
support of that proposition. but il is Diff
cult to get any of the officials who oppose
1T to talk for publication on the subject
That is especially the case with officers
a'acheo 10 the general staff corps on
duty at the War Department One of
that NUMBER consented to summarize the
reasons why the infantry arm is not rep-
resented In the local garrisons of regular
troops. he did that, however. with thu
understanding that his name should not
appear, the army regulations prohibiting
officers from publicly discussing questions
OF military policy.
Two Different Questions.
why no infantry is stationed i'm Wash
lngton, said he, land why no infantry
should be stationed here are two entirelv
different propositions. There are severa,
reasons why no infantry is stationed in
washington. The principal one is that
there is no infantry to station here and
inc second one is that there is no place TO
. ssa.ioh them even II there were infantry
troops available. The thirty regiments
OF infantry now authorized by law are
not sunclent to garrison the POSTS of the
united states and the insular possessions
IN case OF war it Won d be absolutely i'm
possible to reinforce the insular nosses
slons with troops for a considerahla time
ana ordinary common sense would dictate
Keeping at least enough infantry in these
possessions to prevent the enemy from
fnsisg an immediate capture of the coast
maintained in the insular possessions it
would be necessary to withdraw troons
from the United States
Under these circumstances it hardly
seems probable that posts already con-
structed would be abandoned and a no,y
post constructed in the vicinity of Wash.
lngton. 1t is estimated that a regimentaI
post would cost about 81 ,00O,0Op outside
of the purchase of land
The European System.
There has been considerable discus
sion' however, as to the advisablity OF
stationing the troops not near large cities
but in large cities, SO as to save the cost
of administration, etc. If this plan were
adopted it would undoubtedly be To the
pest interest of the military service to
construct a regimental infantry post in
the city of Washington, in the vicinity
Of one OF the big open parks where the
troops could have their parade ground
drill. Such post would occupy about
city block. to be constructed somewhat
similar to the marine barracks A suit
able place for this would be On 10Th
street. somewhere south of Chase's Thea
ter, in which case the troops could drill
on the White House lot. For practice
marches, maneuvers, ETC., they could go
to the country. This is in accordance
with the European system.
Weakness of the Army.
Representative Mclaughlin has re-
Gently pointed out in very forcible speech
in Congress the weakness of our present
mobile army strength, and has advocated
the addition of twenty regiments of in
fantry. If these should be authorized, it
would be in the interests Of economy, and
also the best interest of the service at
large, if one of the additional regiments
were quartered in the city of Washington
If the European system is to be adopted,
no better place could be selected for try
ing it than Washington, where there are
SO many large public parks which would
be suitable as substitutes for the ordinary
parade ground found on military posts.''