The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-08
MAJOR TlLS0N
WRITES OF San
ANTONIO CAMP
Connecticut COngressma n
Strongly in Favor of Perma-
nent Maneuver Ground
His Experience Has Demon.
strated to Him That Small
Army Posts Should Go
Especial from United Press.)


Washington, June S-Uncle Sans
soldiers are trim and fit, according
to Major John @. Tilson, Representa-
tive-at-Large from Connecticut who
has just returned from the camp al
San Antonio He is the only member
of Congress who has made an extern
sive inspection of the camp. He will
army posts" and for big mobilization
stations. His views are set forth in
the following statement written, today,
for the United Press:
(By Major John Q. Tilson, of Connec-
ticut)
Copyright, 1911, by United Press AS
sociation.)
l went to the United States army
maneuvers camp, at San Antonio, be-
cause l believed it was an opportunity
to make myself a more useful member
of the committee on military affairs.
Because OF my membership in the
House instead of being detailed with
an officer of my rank 1 was assigned
to the headquarters of Major General
Carter, commanding. where I had full
opportunity to meet every officer in
camp and see and hear everything
that was done.
The division is, today, a splendid,
highly efficient body of fighting men,
all of whom are in excellent condition.
l found the United States army Off
GERS there the finest set of men l have
ever met Most of them are enthusi-
astic and earnestly working for the
Improvement of our military forces.
1 favor the establishment of a per-
manent maneuver ground where a
large part of the army could come to-
gether as at San Antonio. This would
be in one Of the border states where
the climate is mild.
The experience at San Antonio dem
onstrated to me the necessity of the
of small army posts. The army should
be gathered into a few large posts for
two reasons-frst, for greater economy
and second, because under the present
system officers higher than major
have no opportunity of exercising
their commands belonging to their
rank. This system grew up from the
Indian wars when it was necessary to
have troops on the frontier. 1t has
been pepetuated by influential men,
bers of Congress both Senators and
representatives being sinners alike.
who have obtained from Congress
large appropriations for pet posts in
their districts
1 conferred with a large number of
opinions on various army executive
propositions now being considered.
found the officers unanimous in favor
of a military reserve although opinion
varied as to the details of the scheme
Above all, 1 am convinced that any
reduction of the pay, travel allowance
or clothing allowance of the enlisted
men, is to be avoided as such reduc-
tons would render the service less
attractive and will make recruiting
even more difficult than at present.
I believe the plan of detailing mill
tia officers to the maneuver camp will
prove a great stimulus to national
guardsmen. 1t was his own fault if
any militia man failed to get a vast
deal of valuable information from his
VISIT Each militia officer was as
signed to regular army officer of his
own rank, followed him about and saw
everything that he did and how he
did it