The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-27
WILL | NJ AIN TAIN
FEW GARRISONS
Number of Army Posts Is to
Be Reduced One
Half.


Washington. June 2s.-The war De-
partment Is preparing to reduce the
number of army posts in the United
States by one half. according to Mo jor-
General Leonard Wood, chief of staff
OF the army. who was Il witness to-
day before the House Committee OH
Expenditures In the War Department
This iS in line with the policy OF con-
centration OF the armed land forces of
the United States. which has been
worked out by the Army War Col
lege and eventually. General Wood
said. will result in economy. But, ow
Ing TO what lie called the iii advised"
location of army posts In past years
and the continuing expenditure OF
money on them, 1t appeared to the
committee as II. initially. the govern
ment will have to abandon millions OF
dollars worth ofproperty II the general
stan plan is carried out
Commenting on the recent activity
Of United states troops along the Mex
lean frontier. General Wood said that
the proposition, as mobilization of
a skeleton force. was a success. but
as a mobilization of a war-strength
division was failure. There had
been. he said, no adequate preparation
for reserve war supplies.
i Committee III Interested.
The committee OF which Representa-
tive Harvey Helm. OF Kentucky is
chairman, seemed much Interested in
General Woods comments on small
and large garrtsons and In the de-
partments plan 10 abolish one-half OF
the existing army posts
Scattered small garrisons,' said
General Wood. have rendered the in
struction of officers in the command
of large bodies OF troops practically
impossible"
Small posts were undesirable for
many reasons. the chief OF staff said.
One of the main objections was that a
small post large percentage of
the men were always busy cleaning
UP and doing police duty.
This condition. he said, .Ts dis
couregaing both to officers and men.
AT battalion post. with sixty-tve men
TO the company. an orficer who can
turn out twenty-five for drill is fortu-
nate. So the small post is unde-
sirable. not only from, an economic
standpoint. but also from the stand
point OF straight military efficiency"
General Wood explained that by
small post he meant a post of less
than one regiment. and added that by
far the greater part of the army was
-SossSt CT o. OUHu tils country IN tnlS
way.
The War Department was consid :
erably embarrassed in making plans
for the abandonment of many OF these
posts. General Wood said, by the fact
that great deal OF money had been
spent on them in recent years. He
displayed hesitancy In criticIzing the
policy OF former heads OF the War
Department and the military estab-
lishment that had permitted the car
rying out of this policy. but finally
described the process a OH advised, :
General Wood also spoke of local inftu-
ence as IN embarrassment to the de-
partment in its efforts to abolish
many OF the existing posts.
Mnnoeuvrer Along Border.
Were the Texas manoeuvres n sue
cess?" Chairman Helm inquired
Yes" the General replied, lin so IA r
as getting the regular regiments TO
the front on time was concerned.
There was no delay on the part of
the troops, but we gave the railroads
practically no advance notice, and in
some cases there was a delay in get
ting cars to transport the men,
Did the mobilization demonstrate
tho lack OF team work in the army
organization" Mr.. Helm inquired
No" General Wood replied, every
thing went very smoothly"