The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-02-02
ABANDON POSTS
END OF "EXTRAVAGANCE AND IN
EFFICIENCY" is URGED IN
REPORT TO CONGRESS.
BY SECRETARY STIMSON
Stations in North and South Dakota
Are Among Those Condemned.
Fort Smelling Might
Be Retained"

Washington, ID. C.--Secretary OF
Wal Stimson, acting upon an exhaust
i've report from the general staff, has
decided that no less than sixteen, and
probably eighteen, existing army posts
should at once be abandoned lin order
to put an end to the extravaganza and
ineficiency resulting from improper
distribution of the mobile army
The posts condemned are: Apache,
Ariz.; Boise barracks, Idaho; Brady,
Mich; Clark, Texas; George Wright,
Washington; Jay, New York; Lincoln,
North Dakota; Logan II. Roots, Ark;
Mcintosh, Texas; Mackenzie. Wyo-
ming; Madison barracks, New York;
Meade, South Dakota; Niagara, New
York; Ontario, New Rork; Wayne,
Mich; Whipple barracks, Ariz.; VIII
liam Henry Harrison. Mont; and Vel
lowstone. Wyo. OF Fort Apache it is
said a possibility OF Indian trouble
near this post still exists and that
Fort Jay might be retained as head
quarters of the eastern division and
as the site Of the eastern military
prison.
Posts to Be Retained.
There is another formidable list Of
posts which, while not recommended
for immediate Abandonment, are de-
clared not to be located with a view
Of securing economy of administration
and supply, or a full measure of mill
tary effectiveness. Consequently their
garrisons will not be increased and
ultimately will be withdrawn to such
concentration centers as congress may
authorize. These posts ars: Ethan
Allen, Vermont; Plattsburg barracks,
New York; Robinson, Nebraska; Mis-
soula, Montana; Logan, Colorado;
Douglas, Utah; and ID. A. Russell,
Wyoming. The latter post is shown
to have cost to date $4,925,4S 1t Is
said not to be located with a view to
maximum economy or strategic effect
lveness.
Special Stations to Go.
The principal object is to dispose OF
tllC "a CoCIit otIoil Nith a.
reference to its mission in case of a
This first involves adequate forces for
foreign garrisons. which cannot be re-
inforced from the United States after
the outbreak of hostilities. With the
remainder of the army a mobile force
is to be organized and distributed
among about eight great s~trategical
points in the United States instead OF
scattered in %forty-nine posts, as now.
Two or three of these groups would
be on a line between the st. Lawrence
and Atlanta, covering the Atlantic
seaboard; two or three groups would
be on the line between Puget Sound
and Los Angeles, covering the Pacific
seaboard; at least two groups between
the Great Lakes and the Rio Grande,
serving as first reserves for either sea-
board and for the development OF the
national guard and volunteer forces to
be organized in the interior.
BY the concentration of the army in
eight posts. it is declared, the annual
cost of maintenance of the army
would be reduced about $500, 900.
Smelling Mentioned.
Next comes a process Of heavy elm
ination, for it is declared that prob
ably one only of the following posts
should be retained, Benjamin Harri-
son, Indiana; Columbus barracks,
Ohio; Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Fort
Des Moines. Iowa; Crook, Nebraska;
Omaha, Nebraska; Leavenworth, Kan
sas; Riley. Kansas; Smelling, Mimi;
Jefferson barracks, Missouri. Smelling
and Jefferson barracks might be re-
tanned If it were decided to make
them stations of all arms.
Four lucky posts recommended for
retention are: Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
which is peculiarly adapted for use as
a school of artillery and musketry
fire; Forts Bliss, Texas and Huschuca,
Arizona needed as cavalry outposts
for some time CT the southern border,
and Fort Myer, Virginia, where it
probably will be necessary to retain a
tai for escort duty and other ceremo
NAL purposes.
The report declares that succeeding
secretaries of wal have been hamper
ed in getting rid Of useless and eX-
pensive posts by local and political in
~fiuences. 1t is declared that no less
than $50. 900 900 has been spent on
such posts in the last ten years and
every dollar so expended became an
argument against their abandonment.
Washington, ID. C.-The tariff re-
vision fight opened in the house when
consideration Of the metal tariff bill
was taken up as the first of the mea-
sures which the Democratic leaders
will attempt to force through congress,
Attacked by the Republican side as
q departure from Democratic pledges,
and as likely to be destructive to