The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-08-01

N1rss1s WV JU6N INvV6v6O
Local Committee Seeking to
Reach Hurley and Obtain
Withdrawal Of Order
Hopes that army troops might be
retained In Bismarck to garrison the
post at Fl. Lincoln were blasted Fri
day when orders to abandon the fort
were received from the wal depart-
ment.
Under the terms of the order the
third battalion Of the Fourth Imam
try, now stationed here, will be trans
ferred to Jefferson Barracks, Mo-,
between Sept. ] and October 81. The
transfer will involve between 400 and
500 men.
Disposition Of the post property
will be made later. war department
officials said. and until such DISPOSE
ton Is made the fort will be put in
the hands Of q caretaker.
Troops Saturday were making the
final lap OF a two-weeks' hike and
were expected to reach Bismarck to-
night to start the work Of abandoning
the fort.
The decision of the war department
came as surprise to the Bismarck
Association Of Commerce committee
organized to oppose abandonment.
H. P. Goddard, secretary Of the asso.
citation and Col. Frayne Baker, chair
mar OF the committee. said Saturday
That every effort would be made to
have the war department order with.
drawn. A formal protest, signed BY
F. M. Davis, president Of the associ-
alton, was drawn up Saturday and
dispatched to army headquarters.
Senators Gerald p. Nye ana Con-
gresham j. H. Sinclair, who are In
the state, had advised the commit
tee that Secretary Of War Hurley
promised them that any action to
move the soldiers from the fort would
be deferred until they returned 10
Washington. Senator Nye and ON.
gresham Sinclair sought to reach
Hurley BY telephone Saturday before
he left for the west coast to san for
the Philippine Islands August 8.
Congressman Thomas Hall aid
that early in the summer war DEPART
ment Officials had assured him that
removal orders would be given only
after timely notice had been given.
He said that at that time department
officials had given him little encour-
agement that troops would be re-
tanned here.
Text Of Order
The text Of the order sent here by
Major General johnson Hasood, com.
mander OF the Seventh Corps Area
follows:
THE War Department has directed
That the Third Battalion, Fourth In
fantry, be moved to jefferson Bar
racks. Missouri, under orders to be
issued by this headquarters during
tho period from Sept. / to Oct. 3lst.
After arrival at jefferson Barracks.
battalion viii be rendered inactive and
reconstructed a. the Third Battalion.
Sixth Infantry. Fort Lincoln Is to be
placed IN q caretaking status pend
ing Its final disposition"
preparations are now being made
Tor the details Of movement and def
mite instructions will be issued as soon
as practicable. In the meantime you
are authorized to suspend all military
instruction and all routine post work
TOR the purpose Of getting ready for
the move. II there be any work of
construction, maintenance or repair
or any expenditures Of public funds
in progress it will be Immediately sus.
pended"
Commenting on the order Baker
said: 1T Is our belief all the reasons
assigned for abandonment OF Fort
Lincoln are based on assumptions
rather than on fact. It does not ap-
pear the present war department pro-
gram for distribution Of the army is
a well-thought-out program and It
seems as though the department
would ignore the interests and de-
mands Of the civil population in
preparation Of their plans and con-
troll.
Congress Controls
"The constitution provides cou9ress
shall raise and maintain an army. It
also obviously was intended congress
should have some authority In distri-
button and use Of the army. How
ever. in their present plans. the War
Department seems to ignore this fact
THE committee has had assurance
from all Of our representatives In
Washington they will use every effort
to prevent the proposed change and
We have confidence these efforts
eventually will prove successful"
Decision to abandon the fort win
result In the withdrawal Of q payroll
! which averages about $4,000 monthly
as well the loss Of considerable busi-
ness to Bismarck merchants from
goods purchased locally by the gov
eminent.
Established In 1896
The act authorizing the estahlish-
! ment Of q fort at Bismarck was passed
by congress in 1895. First troops were
stationed here five years later. Tbs
local post had 1t its predecessor his
toric old TT. Abraham Lincoln, sttuax-
ed q few miles south Of Nandan.
Established In the late sixties q
base for operations against tho Sioux
Indians. It was from this post tha*
General Custer started on his tIl-
fated expedition to the Little Btg
Horn In 1876.
The Bismarck post was abandoned
once before. having stood td1e from
1913 70 1927. -Four years go. when
decision 10 regayrioon 4 was made. +
tWas rehabiUtat&d ct thu col Of ~