The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-13
Says Secretary of War Will
Find Powerful Opposi-
ton to His Plan
BELIEVES THAT ARMY
WOULD BE BENEFITED
Thinks Officers Would Get Better Re-
suits From Observation of Man.
euvers of Many Troops
Than Regiment or So

The concentration of the army as
planned by Secretary of War Garrison
is considered in the light of a remote
possibility by General Luke E. Wright,
former Secretary of War under President
Roosevelt, who left here last night for
his home in Memphis. The Secretary of
War has announced his intention of start
ing on a tour of the country at once to
visit all of the army posts with the end
In view of concentrating the army into a
fewer number of posts, and will carry
with him General Leonard Wood and
other staff officers.
General Wright, who succeeded EXPIRES
ident William Taft as Secretary of War,
has been in touch with army problems
more or less since the civil war, and he
does not think that the new Secretary of
War will be enabled to put his campaign
for economy and fewer posts into effect
He Advised Reduction
General Wright said yesterday that he,
as Secretary of War. advised and recon-
mended that the number of posts In this
country be reduced to say about 10 or
Soult Sucn nuDlDtT. HIS IedSOlS WtlS
economy in operation and the vast expert
ence that a large body of troops would
give the general officers and the younger
men. 1t is manifestly true. according to
General Wright, that where a brigade Is
encamped rather than few regiments that
the men will be better trained by viewing
the maneuvers and drills and more econ
omy will result than if the men were
scattered from place to place and a large
number of posts are operated. He said
that 1t was obviously true that Secretary
Garrison was on the right trail, but he
doubted IL the number would ever be
decreased.
The former secretary said that if Sec
retary Garrison undertakes to abolish any
army posts that howl will rise up from
one end of this country to the other which
will result in congressman and senators
being beseized with petitions and requests
asking that such action be deferred or
not considered.
ut is true" said General Wright yes
terGay, that each army post located
near a small town contributes a great
deal to that place. The men are paid in
morey they are somewhat reckless in
spending their pay and as a result those
small places where the United States
maintains posts is somewhat prosperous
from that post and it's men.
"It is reasonable, therefore, to suppose
that if Secretary Garrison undertakes tc
abolish any army posts that he will en-
counter the very strongest opposition. He
f,aQ nc ha ma " ha al
him up, but unless some such powerful
influence is used the Secretary of War
has a very small chance of putting his
reforms in vogue. When I was Secretary
of War | made the same recommendations
that I anticipate will be made by Secre-
tary Garrison. That is / recommended
that the number of posts be reduced as
ii was terribly expensive and therefore
the government would have a tremendous
amount of money by reducing the number
of posts. On the other ground | recon-
mended that it would be better training
for the officers and men to have a brigade
located at one place rather than a smaller
number of regular army men,
Would Give Government Money
1T is obvious that where large body
of men are located the observations of
those men will better the knowledge of the
officers. Therefore the scheme of Secre-
tary Garrison is good from two view
points 1t will save the United States
money and will better equip the men for
army service. 1t is useless for men to
say that If it had not been for the Philip
pines and the Spanish American war that
our army would have had little. II any,
experience in service. | think the great
number of posts responsible. in a degree,
for that lack of knowledge Larger
army posts are better all the way round
and from every viewpoint.
However, when Secretary Garrison
completes his tour that am told he con-
ten plates taking or is now engaged on
and makes his recommendation he will
find it a rather difficult proposition to
get his plans over. The army posts as
7 say contribute to the prosperity of the
local places and congressman and sena-
tors are not unwilling to protect even the
little places. The decrease in the num-
her of posts will not decrease the num-
ber of men of our army. I believe in
stead of decreasing the number of men In
our army we should increase the rum
ber.'