Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-03-12
ARMY POSTS ON
BORDER MAY Be
ABANDONEDNOW
Concentration Of Troops at
Fort Sam Houston and at
Fort Bliss Probable

Great interest was aroused in Browns
vile yesterday with the arrival of Sal
Antonio newspapers carrying locli
story Ia the effect that economy meas
ures instituted by the war department
may result in the closing OF all army
posts along the border from Browas-
vile To California.
Assistant Secretary IF War VAIN
wright and Major General Ilarbord. who
few weeks ago visited Brownsville in
the course of their tour Of the various
posts. reported on their return Ia Wash
ington that there was general feeling
along the border that the forces should
be increasd Various Brownsville men
snet the officials during their stay here.
at "A reception. but so far IA known the
questions of maintenance of abandon
ment of the post here, did not come up
The San nAtonio story onthe sub
ject follows:
A radical change in the military de-
fens.s of the Mexican border il con
templated in the new army apprnpria-
ton bill which went to the public print
er Friday, according TO news dispatches
from Washington.
The plan provides for concentration
oftroops at Fort Bliss at III Paso
and at Fort Sam Houston and the re-
suliing withdrawal of garrisons al the
smaller posts scattered along the Rio
Grande from. California to Brownsville.
4 sideIghf on the recent destruction
Of the Roma dirigibIe is seen in the
provision for the manufacture Of helium
gas in the new bill. $I00.OOU being set
aside for that purpose.
Ii is not possible at this time To es-
timate the increase which will be made
in the enlisted personal stationed at
Fort Sam Houston and Camp Travis,
the telegrams stated. but that il will
he considerably reduced from the fact
that army officers informed the appro-
priations committee a million dollars
q month could be saved in this way.
Ii has been the position of military
authorities for some time that lch 4
step in addition to being far more eco
I.omical will at the same time be asuf-
ficient means TO protect American IN
terests along the border as practically
no trouble has occurred along the bor-
der for over two vars.
Notwithstanding, however, loud
protest is sure TO be made by people
living close 10 the border. Recently
ranchers have claimed that Mexican
raiders were coming from the other
side and stealing cattle. However.
thorough investigation made by the ril-
itary some time ago failed to disco?er
any serious menace of this nature.
III the concentration of troops rs
contemplated in the new appropria ion
eh.,,,
will be abandoned AMI their rescrr:.-
tions left in the hands of a caretaker-
With favorable raj. transportatiol h
all directions. il is believed tina; troops
concentrated here could hand!" ANY
emergency with ease.
The scattering of troops all alon,; IN"
border presents u SERIOUS prvnicm 81
suuply which has cost the goVe"nm' at
millions IF dollars. During Ire corr
mund of Mai. t;en. Joseph /. Dick
mand many Of the outlying posts H. ihe
FigbtCorps Area were drawn in and
Mai. Gen. John J.. Hines. present con
mander has followed this plan out ~
certain extent. However. many of
m. larger posts are still maintrncL
+ These include Fort Brown. :"ri
Rinygold. Fort Clark. Eagle FasS. l''i
Rio. Maria. Columbus, \. Nj. D'usii>
Ariz.. Fort Huachuca. Ariz.. and 'ew
others
The application forthe producion OF
belirm gas will undoubtedly 20 10 The
Fort Worth government plant. ii"hI'''
gas il n non-infamable gas lisiter
than air which il used i'll balo ms .nd
because Of its non-inflammabildy Il
highly valued by the army air s'rv''e'
The plant was recently closed '.'"r-