The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-29
Secretary Of War Wants
at Least Sixteen Dis
continued.
V Asst SUMS
ANDOFNO SERVICE.
Stinson Recommends to Con-
gress That Mobile Troops Be
Concentrated in Eight Strait
egical Groups Instead of
Being So Widely Scat
tered as at Present.

Washington, January 2s,-SccretarH
OF War Stimson, acting upon an ex- &
haustlve report from the general staff,
mas decided that no less than sixteen,
and probably eighteen. existing army
posts should at once BIO abandoned ain &
order to put an end to the cxtrara-
cameo and inelhciency resulting from
improper distribution of tho mobile Il
army"
The posts condemned are: Apache,
artz.; Boise Barracks, Idaho; Brady. p
Mich; Clark, Texas; George Wright.
Washington; jay, New York; Lincoln,
". D.; Logan II. Roots, Ark: Mcintosh,
Texas; Mackenzie. Wyo.; Madison Bar
racks. n. T.; Meade, S. D.; Niagara. n.
Y; Ontario, n. y; Wayne. Mich; Whip
pie Barracks, Ariz.: William Henry
Harrison, Mont, and Yellowstone.
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 headquarters Of
the Eastern division and as the site oc
the Eastern military prison.
To Go Eventually.
There Is another formidable list OF
posts, which while not recommended
for Immediate abandonment are de-
clared not to be located with view
of securing economy OF administra-
ton and supply, or q full measure OF
, effectiveness. Consequently their iyar-
risons Will not be increased and ulti-
mately will be Withdrawn to sucn con-
centration centres as Congress may
authorize. These posts are Ethen AL /.
len. VT; PlattsburS Barracks, y. y;
Robinson, Neb.; Missoula. Mont. Lo-
gan. Colorado; Douglas, Utah. and u.
y. Russell, Wyo. The latter post is
shown to have cost TO date s4,a25,+Ss
1t Ia said not to be loca ted with n View
SlrayD1 ar sSr 90
fectivcness,
Secretary, Stimson's report liz made
| in answer to House resolution by
Representative Bulilcley, of Ohio Tho
inquiry has developed interesting in
| formation regarding the plans of tho
military strategists for the future dis
position of the army and It's improve,
| Inent.
The principal object is to dispose OF
the present small army with distinct
reference to Its mission in case of war
This first involves adequate forces FOR
foreign garrisons, which cannot be
reinforced from tho United Suites ar
ter the outbreak OF hostilitics. With
the remainder of the army mobila
force Is to be organized and distri-
butcd among about eight strategicaI
points in the United States Instead OF
scattered In forty-nine posts as now.
Two or three of these groups would
be on 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
seaboard and for the development or
the National Guard and volunteer
forces TO be organized In ;he interior.
Great Cost Reduction.
.
| iii eight posts. 1t is declared. the an
| nual cost of maintainancc OF the army
would be reduced by about So.500.0D0 ID
year.
The following ports arc declared
to he so located as to permit of their
being retained as stra tcgic concontra-
ton points. Fort Porter, Buffalo, n.
Y. (Albany is suggested as an altor-
native position) Fort MCPHERSON. At
lanta, Ga. Cor great strategic value
with reference TO the South Atlantic
| and Gulf COAST; Fort Sam Houston.
Texas (the best strategic position for
the southern frontierl: Fort Law
ton. near Seattle, Wash, and VAN
couver Barracks. Washington, neur
Portland, and the Presidios of san
francisco and Monterey, Cal, one or
both of which may he included In
the California strategic group.
Next comes process of heavy clint
iuation, for IL is declared that prob
ably one only OF the following posts
should be retained: Benjamin Har
rison, Ind: Columns Barracks. Ohio:
Fort sheridan, H.. Fort Dcs Moines.
iowa; Crook, Neh.; Leavenworth, Kan;
Riley. kan: Smelling, Mimi: Jefferson
Barracks, Alo. Smelling and Jefferson
Barracks might be retained ii II wera
decided 10 make them stations OF all
| arms. Riley might serve as Il
suitable station for cavalry bri
| Sadc. -Four lucky posts recommended
for retention arc Fort Sill, Okla,
which is peculiarly adapted for use
as school OF artillery and musketrY
| fire. Forts Eliss. Texas Ind Huachuca,
| .triZ., needed as cavalry ontposts for
| Fort Myer. Va. where ii probably will
| be necessary to retain "a small garrl-
son ucnr the national capital for escort
| duty ana other ceremonial purposes.
| Political Influences.
The report declares that succeeding
Secretaries OF Way have been ham
rercd In getting ria OF useless and
| expensive posts by local and political (
influence, II ID declared that no less
| than s20.n0o000 Inns hecm spent OH +
such posts In the last ten years. and p
! every dollar so expended became an j
argument against their abandonment. i
| DOUBTLESS this argument will again
be used to prevent the concentration
War" the report continues, "apd uYr 4
| less approached in ,hc spirit of the
great business corporation which
ruthlcssly tears down S:.-story :.
| building no Longer. suited 10 It's reeds &
| to erect y. twenty story hlitding fontid II
| necessary. tho present movement for *
an efficient and economically admlnts-S%