The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-09
LOSE FORT RILEY?
Question of Eliminating Post Is
Before Congress.
Virginia Congressman Wants to
Move Service School.

washington, D. c., Feb. 9.-Elimi-
nation of a large number of the army
nosts of the United States will be one
of the questions which congress Will
face in connection with the mater OF
the national defense. In this matter
Kansas is much interested since Two
forts are located within her poroers-
Forts Leavenworth and Riley.
This subject has been raised at
every session OF congress IN recent
years. For long time, the war de-
nartment has seen that many army
hosts might better be abolished. But
when congress has taken the matter
IN. it has found that the pork par
rel" proposition entered into the as
position of it; that the members ana
senators from the states having posts
whose adjustment was sought have
protested. The result has been that
the country has gone on paying ror
military posts which have as little re-
lation to strategy as so many posto1-
fees.
| consideration it will be urged that the
/ expense of the military system could
/ he much lessened if some of the army
posts were abandoned 1t is wen
! known that high army off1cers would
he greatly pleased if the land forces
/ in the United States were centered in
/ a small number of large posts But
whether congress will abolish some or
| the more useful posts is not known:
This is a phase of the pork barrel
system on which all previous efforts
at correction have had no effect.
A Chance to Grow.
Sbould congress decide to eliminate
MANY of the lesser posts and retain
both Forts Leavenworth and Riley
these posts would then be made larg-
err At present they are CONSIDERED
the two greatest inland posts OF the
,-Ixy OlV-fa Mt r.
count of the service schools conducted
at each post.
There has, however, been a long
and determined effort to take one OF
these posts away from Kansas, re
CARELESS of the fact that many mil
lions of dollars have been expended in
buildings and equipment since their
| establishment almost a half century
ago.
Kansans Will Fight.
What is looked upon as being most
serious for the future of Fort Riley
at the present moment is the proposal
of Congressman James Hay, chairman
of the house committee on military
affairs, to have the mounted service
school removed from that post tc
Front Royal, Va, at which point Is
now located school for the training
of army horses. A detailed story Of
this effort was printed exclusively ir
the State Journal recently.
AS a matter of course, members OF
the Kansas delegation, both Demo
Gratis and Republicans, will exert theil
best influences to see that both of the
Kansas army posts will be maintained
and provided for in the army appro
priation bill. 1t may be truthfull1
stated, however, that there was never
time before that the future of these
prominent forts was in so much jeop
ardy as they apparently seem to be a
present
Secretary of War Garrison has no
recommended that any of the existing
army posts be abolished for the rea
son that if his continental army plan
, goes through, the army posts can b.
, utilized for purposes of training. Blu
, the indications are today that the con
, tinental army plan will be defeated.