The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-27
y E E n II = o RT
or THE
8 E G. r E T RY OF WAR
WAR DEPARTMENT,

WAR DEPARTMENT,
NAsHiNGroN, November so, 1919
SR:-l have the honor to present the folio wing
Of the operations of this Department during past
year.
The returns and statements Of the hdjutant General
herewith, exhibit the strength and distribution of the
military force Agreeably TO these returns the
strength OF the army less than the organization pro-
vided by law. The deficiency arises from the dis.
charges, deaths and desertops which taken pa
aud the difficulty OF Immediately supply ing the by
new enlistments The desertions have been most nr.
merous In California where the temptations smbar
In more lucrative pursuits and the facilities for che sud-
den acquisition of wealth greatly multiplied Out
ola force Of twelve hundred regular troops that
tory since the Ist of January the within ths
first eight months have equaed fths Of that mum
ber The policy adopted by the commanding officer of
granting short Burroughs TO the troops ia small mum
bers tor the purpose OF enabling them to work
individual benefit at the plscers had the effect to
check assertions to degree but the the
service and the limited number Of troops duty pre-
vented the measure from being carried to the ex
tent desired and the evil of desertions consequently
continues to exist
The recruiting Of the army Is regulated by the ca.
qualities In the service that the enstments can
no time exceed the total fixed by law. The delays in
receiving these returns of casualties will always Keep
the actual force considerably below the legal standard
According TO the practice which has long prevailed
the great majority of cnlistmepts is made the north
ern Atlantic cities aud the adjacent Interior towns
whence the recruits sent to the general
instruction and finally distrib4t ted TO the southern
and Western posts according to the wants Of SER
vice IL neoesrsrily follows that considerable time in
tervenes between the enlistment of the recruit and hi.
loss OF time and service and the fatal influence which
change OF climate not unusually produces the health
OF the recruit his transportation and subsistence
stitue aheavy expenditure roremedy these dsadvan-
tages and TO encourage enstmehts in the vicinity of
troops serving at frontier and remote stations specially
in Csfornia Oregon. anjNew Mexico II N uded
that bounty be allowed to each recruit enlisted at or
rear such stations equal to the Ct importing and
subtins recruit from the general depot to the place
Of such enlistment To guard against desertions nd
promote good conduct IL Is proposed that the bounty
should be divided instalments 40 that their ssye
am liner etnts
length OF service aud the largest amount b. paid
the soldier on his dischsrge his bounty would also
be strorg ibducement to old soldiers 20 reenst in
their respective companies object alsays deemed Of
Importance 70 the seryioe
IL has been found imprsccabe TO carry Into effect
The Provis6ns OF the act Of the 14ih Of August 1913
which authorizes increase of the rank aud ls
tain regmepts by transfers from others Of the
arm; the presept organization being too limited and
the difficulty Of keeping the several up TO
their legal complement too great TO hazard further
reduction, with dus regard TO the discipline and eg-
hoiency Of the several corps The protection of our
frontier lines, previous to the late with Mexico
then deemed task equal 10 the capacity Of the
army. The additions recently made s.sm TO I'm pose
the necessity Of increasing the military forcs in order
that it, strength may be adequate TO the which
the vast extension of our territorial limits require
One territory New Mexico) Is almost surrou AIDED by
Dumsrous tribes 81 predatory indians and open at all
points TO their tncursons The perils which thus
presented retsrd the growth OF frontier s-t,i.meut
which in their infancy are attended with pr-
vatons demanding the exercise OF the highest
and energy 81 the pioneer Exposure to the
the 'avsge should not be sUp.rsdied evil IN. duty
oftbe government Is to afford protection To snsSeft
10 do this .rtctually IL Is submitted that the nua.rl.
cal strength Of each company at tho several military
posts on our western frontiers be ncrcas, 20 seventy
four ptivass and that part OF the Infantry be
cd emergencies sriss This plan for Increasing the
defence ~ frontiers Il respectfully preentsd as
combining the greatest economy and security. with
out larger regular force the executive will End the
oces,ioDs frequent and necessary 60 MAX. acquisitions
the militia Of the States who called into ssryiss
for abort periods With Injurious Interruptions in thr
ordinary avocations as we'll great expense 70 them
and tie government. Experience has sho~n that for
the pf-strfsu-n OF peace ana pubic tran1uilitty on
our borders the presence Of strong military
strains the varke inciinaons OF the indians, whilst
its absence has sometimes involved the government In
Great enhancement has heretofore srsen from the
suppos.d actual rank which brevet commissions
fer Their recent multi plcatoD will incrrase dim
culti,s nd which the military seryce
has been expseed Apart from the conflicting ciains
OF officers holding CON II may be afrm
edtfat instances frequently occur when pay Is para
mount to rank and when the breyet rank itself
In legal cont. platon, take effect In the staff
oheers, who have no command, aod Who eau exercise
none except by special assignment these brsvst com
missions are only honorary distinctions; and
closely this IL tbs bsss which all brtvets Che
presumption is reasonable and just that every officer
psfforms his required duty aud he who does
Titled 10 honorable reward IL then respectfully sub
mted whether the object In authorizing th. class Of
commissions IL not accomplished by retaining them
honorary distinctions and restricting the officers hold
ing them 20 their lnea rank and pay according the
commissions by which they mustered in their re-
Hptetye regmshts and corps. II any exceptions be
view Of the efficient discipline and servics OF the
troops, btevet rank and pay should esist Gully when
volunteers and militia are united with the regular
army or when the officers having brevet com missions
detailed for duty by special Assignment with din
cult or expensive commands in remote departments
divisions. According to Law brevet rank takes effect
in attachments composed Of different corps but from
the bs raj construction which has hitherto been vsu
60 the articles Of var u would seem that every garri
at each Of and widely extended posts
IL considered detachment from the main army, With.
out definite conception Of the LEGALITY whers its
main body Is cOnrentraisd.
Another Inconvenience resulting TO the service 4,
the Anomalous position Of officers holding stan
missions watch confer rank Thses officers ara not
considered by established ussge eligible e. the
nsbd 81 troops, unless specially assigBed whilst at tbs
same time they claim exemption from the o.,lsrs Of
their Juniors In the line who succeed TO such )m.
mspds This state Of things Is calculated g. I'M ur,
the service BY suspension, for the time being Of the
functions Of the staff officers In where junoi
line officer exercises the command to ObsetO which II
Is suggested that law be enacted requiring officers
the general stan serving With troops TO execu accord
Ing TO their respective duties, all orders emsnatins
from the senior officer OF tho line, which nay relate q
the discipline, police, and good order Of hs
aud fer which he alone 10 responsible.
The necessity OF adopting ruls Zoe retiring ds
sbled officers from the army IL more apparent at th
time than at any former period of its history TIT
Injurious Effects Of a foreign war, prosecuted Ia
climate unisvorabs to hearth, and the casualties in
separsble from contest remarkable for the disparity
II the opposing forces have added TO the list Of thos
disabled from age or other cause aud greatly noreas
ed the number OF Ineffective officers. 90 retain tneu
would but impede that activity aod efficiency which
the protection Of recently extended frOntiers
cesssfily demands from the army. TO dechsrge then
without suitable provision crippled and worn out IL
/ the public service would be unjust and usgrateful
In order TO preserve the efficiency 81 the army,
without doing violence to sense Of justice toward
this deserving class Of officers, 1t u respectfully aug
! gested that the President be authorized to place OF
the retired list such ~ In his judgment may be dis
qualified from age, wounds or other disability With al
allowance equal to the pas proper Of their respectiv
I grades. An elective check on the exercise of TIL
power would be fosnd in LEGAL Inhibition declano
that no officer shall be retired until the Senate sha
have confirmed the nomination Of his successor. Tn
number Il tfcers 70 BE- comprshsnisi IN the lss Z