Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-29
FORT CROOK MAY GO IN FUTURE
Seven Out Of Eight Middle Western
Barracks Doomed.
TROOPS TO GO TO EIGHT POINTS
Army Will Be Divided for Con- i
venience in Case Of War.
Five Millions and IL Not Located
with View to Strategic
Effectiveness.

WASHINGTON. Jan. &-Ssecretary oe
War stimson, acting upon an exhaustive
report from tho general staff. has de-
clded that no less than sixteen. and prob
ably eighteen existing army posts should
at once be abandoned 'in order to put
an end TO the extravagance and ineffici-
ency resulting from Improper distribution
Of the mobile army.
The posts condemned are: Apache, Ari-
rono: Boise barracks. Idaho: Brady. Alchi-
gan; Clark. Texas: George Wright Wash
inston: Jay. New York: Lincoln, North
Dakota. Logan II. Roots. Arkansas: Me-
Intosh. Texas: Mackenzie. Wyoming,
Madison barracks. New York: Mead, South
Dakota: Niagara. New York; Ontario.
New York: Wayne. ichigan: wnipple
barracks. Arizona; william Henry Hsr-
riscn, Montana. and Yellowstone. wyo-
ming.
OF Fort Apache II is said possibility OF
Indian trouble near this post still exists.
and that Fort Jay might be retained as
headquarters OF the eastern division and
as the site OF the eastern military prison.
V~t. S88ANas
There is another formidable list Of
posts. which. while not recommended for
immediate abandonment. are declared not
to bo located with a view of securing
economy Of administration and supply. or
full measure OF military effectiveness.
Consequently their garrisons will not be
increased and ultimately VIII be with
drawn TO such concentration centers as
congress may authorize. These uoetx
are; Ethan Allen. Vermont; Piattsburg
barracks. New York: Robinson. Nebraska:
Mlsouia, Montana; Logan. Colorado;
Douglas. Utah, and d. A. Russell. Wye
ming. ~
The latter post h shown TO have cost
to date a.szS. tss. II is said not to be To-
Gated with view to maximum economy
or strategic effectiveness
Secretary Stimson's report Is made IA
answer to q house resolution BY Repre-
sentative Buikiey OF Ohio. Abe inquiry
has developed interesting information re,
sxraing the plans % ths fntrftary ssrsse.
sists for the future disposition OF the
army and Its movements.
Future Plans for Array.
The principal object Is to dispose Of tha
present small army with distinct refer
ence to Its mission in case Of war. This
first involves adequate forces for tor
eign garrisons. which cannot be REIN
forced from. the United States after the
outbreak OF hostilities. With tho remain-
der OF the army mobile force Is to be
organized and distributed among about
eight OF the great strategical points In
the United States. instead Of scattered
In forty-nlne posts. as now.
Two or three Of these groups would be
on line between the II. Lawrencs and
Atlanta, covering the Atlantic ssaboard:
two or three groups would be on q line
between Puget sound and Los Angeles,
covering the Pacific seahoiard; at least
two groups between the Great lakes and
the Rio Grande, serving as first reserves
for either seabtard, and for the develop
ment OF the national guard and volunteer
forces TO be organized in the interior.
BY the concentration OF the army in
eight posts. II Is asserted. the annual cost
OF maintenance of the army would be
reduced by about sS.5oooog year.
The following posts are said To be -
located as to permit OF their being re-
tanned as strategic concentration points:
Fort Porter. Buffalo. N. Y. ALBANY Is
suggested as an alternative POSITION:
Fort ogiethorpe. Georgia, ESPECIALLY de-
slrable for a caeairy brigadel: Fort Nc
Pherson. Atlanta. Ga. (of great strategic
value with reference to the south Atlantic
and gulf COAST; Fort sam Houston, Tex,
(The best strategic position for the south
ern frontierl: Fort Lawton. near Seattle
Wash, and Vancouver barracks. Wash.
ington. near Portland: and the presidios
of San Francisco and Monterey. Cal.
one or both of which may be included in
the California strategic group.
Fate of Fort Crook I'm Doust.
Next comes process of heavy elinaIna-
ton. for 1t is held that probably one only
of the following posts should be retained:
Benjamin Harrison. Indiana; Columbus
barracks. Ohio; Fort sheridan, Illinois:
Fort Des Molnes. Iowa; Fort Crook,
Omaha; Leayenworth, Riley. Kansas:
Stolling. Minnesota; jefferson barracks,
Missouri.
Smelling and jefferson barracks might
be retained IL ii were decided to make
them stations Of all arms. Riley might
serve as suitable station for cavalry
brigade.
Four posts recommended for retention
arc Fort Sill. okl-, peculiarly adapted for
use as a school Of artillery and mnsketry
fire; Forts Bliss, Tex, and Huachucs,
Aria, needed as cavalry outposts for some
time on the southern border. and Fort
Myer Va. where IL probably will be
10 retain small garrison near
the national capital for escort duty and
other ceremonial purposes.
The report says that former secretaries