The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-28
Urges Assembling of Bri-
gades and Divisions Peri
odicalIy For Training
TOO MANY POSTS
AT PRESENT TIME
Secretary of War Declares Expense
Will More Than Be Repaid in the
Pratical Training Received
By Officers

washington, April 27.--In a statement
! tonight Secretary Garrison, pointing to
the American army scattered In small
units throughout the country impossible
of coalescence for practical instruction
in the larger tactical measures of battle,
urged the impossibility OF assembling
brigades and divisions periodically and
temporarily in times of peace FOR war
/ training pending the adoption of a gov
ernmental policy for the adequate distri-
button of the army.
Eptomisins his idea, the secretary
said:
| II hope that war may never come, but
! In the present stage of civilization we
must recognize the possibility: and 1t is
with this idea in mind that say 1 be-
ieve it will be we'll for the country If
our legislators would make provision for
the annual assembling of at least one
division, as a school, wherein our officers
might be given that special training which
Is so necessary to develop educated gem
erals and staff officers, we may not need
large army, but it should be one which
in organization and training is as nearly
perfect as it is possible to make it. 9th
erwise whatever Is spent is not bringing
its fun efficient return. And this applies
to thought. skill and training as we'll as
TO money"
Too Many Army Posts
Discussing the question of future mill
tary policy for the United States, Secre-,
tary Garrison said IT seemed to be agreed
| that there were entirely too many army
posts at the present time and that many
of them were not where they were use
full or desirable under existing conditions.
Whether this condition should be
remedied,' he continued, "by concentrate
ing the army into few quite large posts
or into only as many as would permit
regiment at least to be quartered in each,
have not as yet formed any definite
conclusion in my own mind. Much may
q ssld sIreesives dpah III side % ,siss
| question. hope, when / get the time
to give this matter my most earnest con-
sideration with desire to reach a con-
clusion which is best for the army which
of course, will be that which is best for
the country"
| The statement set forth the primary
objects which impelled former Secretary
of War Stimson to reorganize the army
into the existing scheme of brigades and
division as follows:
| l. The definite assignment of comman-
ders. their staff officers and organiza-
tion to the higher tactical units, which
heretofore had always been done in times
of stress and confliction and after war
had been declared or hostilities begun;
and. second, the higher tactical training
of the commanders. their staffs and the
organizations so as to make them effec-
tive.
War Training Essential
'The purpose of the order. in so far as
| the first object is concerned. has been
accomplished" the statement continued,
the accomplishment of the second object
of the order will not be so immediate or
| easy of execution. Owing to the circum-
stances over which the army has no con-
troll and as a result in large measure OF
the necessities which in the past may
be said to have been vital to the develop
ment of our country, the army is stationed
in many posts and in many commands.
This scattered condition prevents that
practical training of brigades and divisions
and their commanders and staffs which
is essential for war purposes.
Until some such plan can be worked
out, it will readily be seen how impor-
tant it is that at times the larger units
be assembled temporarily for the pur-
pose OF what may be called war train
ing"
Irrespective of the purpose of the tenn
porary concentration of the present di-
vision in Texas under command of Maj.
Gen. William RI. Carter and considered
only as a school, the secretary said the
expense will be more than repaid in the
practical training received by officers,
upon " hose shoulders will rest the respon-
sibilty for the lives of our soldiers in
camp and their conduct in the field"
No better illustration of the value of
divisional organization and training can
be given, he added, than to compare the
prompt and easy concentration of the
present division in Texas with the cumber-
some and slow assembling under the old
orsa nization of the provisional division
sent to San Antonio two years ago.