The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-11

troops in large bodies al commanding positions among The
90 wer adequate 10 punish They will not he likely TO
engage ia hosliiites Il their families n the power OF
the troops during their absence.
The multiplication OF small posis however much Il
appear 10 have been called Tor by the necesstes OF
the service, s OF than doubtful policy The sys-
lem expensive far beyond any good y suits that are
attained BY II Is Injurious 10 the discipline, lnstruc
l.sn and efficiency OF oops. and is believed ha, Il Of
ten invites aggression by that exhibition OF weakness
which must inevitably attend the great dispersion Of any
force. The benets OF the proposed change wl be an
mp RsInclIoa and discipline, greater de-
gree OF efficiency and usefulness, and material dminu
ii0n ut expense.
The distribution Of the ei Of required Tor the
defence OF country The OF s army intimately
connected with the and pos cns OF The per-
sonaei of iha, army, The facilities OF communication
between the depos where these supplies are stored OF
be obtained, and the points oA our seab0ard aud
northern and wesiern frontiers. where they may be re-
quired, great that far these are concerned
change in the present arrangement seems necessary
The communication with New Mexico, though ted
Gus and expensive, is not liable TO foreign interruption,
would moi be changed by the occurrence OF war
Thc Is what different with regard 10 Texas.
and essentially with regaid to the couniry bordering
on the Pacific. which. from its wealth. is the most in
yDg, and IRON its remoieness s OF all our possessions
the most exposed 10 the attack Of oreign enemy In
view OF the possible contingency vi war, and the
difficulty OF providing for it after has occurred, il be
comes important to take, al early period possible,
a necessary precautions Tor the security OF our distant
territory.
AS the appropriation for the armament of for,ifca-
tons for the last ihfee years has either been refused
greatly reduced, under The impression that depended
upon the prosecution OF the "ay stern OF permanent or
caons. is proper 10 remark that this provision is not
dependent upon the extent 10 which that system
ried but is Indispensable to any system Of defence
that may be adopted.
The construction of permanent Notifications aud the
creation OF arsenals and depos is necessarily the work
o tune but the armament for The most important points,
both IN Texas and the Pacific coast, should at the
earliest practicable peroi be sent to them. and when
position temporary works. sufficient Tor deence against
any sudden attack by naval fnrce could readily be
thrown up by the labor OF the troops.
There should also be seat TO tho Pacific coast, and
stored at suitable points, the ordnance and ordnance
stores needed Tor its defence and the ar.enas the
Columbia river and on the bay Of San Francisco The
chlnery and other means needed for the construction
equipment, and repair Of all the mse,isl OF Depots
should also be formed OF such other supplies
perishsbe in their character. With water uansporta
lion OF sixteen thousana miles, and land routes ipprac
ticabe for the transportation OF heavy supplies il will
be TOO late 10 adopt these when the commun
cation by sea is liable TO Interruption and prudent
patton should trust, matters ot such vital Importance
70 the Chances OF future that no human sagacty
fotesee As many o the supplies proposed to be
Texas and 10 the Pacific In depot IN the Atlantic
States no great expense or loss would be sustained by
their transfer, even II thr necessity for their should
not occur for many years 10 come. As measure OF
prudence and economy in the transportation OF such
may be sent TO the Pacc II Is suggested that whenever
naval vessels are sent TO thar coast there be sent with
them such stores as they conveniently carry in ad-
dilion 10 their own supplies
accompanying report and iablet, prepared by the Adu-
tao, General who Is charged with The details Of that
vice.
The demand for labor has been 80 great throug tout
all parts OF our country during the past year, that this
service has not heen successful in former yeats
In consequence OF ths and the that number of the
companies heretofore serving the seaboad have been
transferred TO "emo.e stations, where, under the au.
hoy vested in the President By The approved June
IL, $780, tbs maximum organization obtains. II is esii-
mated that 1900 recruits VIII be required Tor the service
\ tlrp pIgs a es
Of pay and IN The present Prosperous tae OF the
try, can scarcey be expected, and is important that
measures should Immediately be taken for mantain ng
The ul number Of The rank and Ie OF the army author
ICED by law.
II is shown, by examination OF the statistics OF the
army IRON 1929 TO the commencement OF the with
Mexico that the average excess OF the legal over the
actual strength OF the army has BEEN during this period
eighteen per cent OF the latter that the average actual
loss BY deserton has been i2 per cent BY dischases
Tor disability and other causes per cent and BY deaths
only per cent that the total loss independent OF
discharges BY expiration oi service, has been 23l per
cent OF the actual strength OF the army Since The
mnaion of the with Mexico the excess OF the legal
over the actual strength has been per cent? the average
loss by deseftIon is Der cent by discharges for disable
y and other causes per cent, snd by deaths per cent
total oss, independent, Of discharges by xpra,on OF
service OF q per cent part OF the per centxge oil the
desertons 10 due. however 10 the excitement account
OF the discovery OF gold in Caornla--hs from
that cause In one year alone being $50 over The average
OF the three eedng years
II is found. BY analysis Of the de.erions from is26
10 lS46 that VI We exclude the due 10 local and
temporary causes in 1881 and 1896. there was, the
cooduen o the soldiers amcliorAed by increase OF
ray, &C. gradual d,mnntion in proportion OF de
sertous and that when the der between the pay
OF the soldier and the value OF the corresponding classes
OF labor IN civil life was sligh they comparatively
inrequent-splng at two different periods only ~ and
" per cent Of the actual strength OF the army IN that
they increased n direct ratio with the increasing pros
perty OF the county, reaching when the dispropofon
was greatest, al per cent
The same causes influenced, as va. 10 he expected.
the number OF re-enlismenishe propo oton in the las
four years being only II per CENT while in the three
years Immediately preceding the war with Mexico il
was % pet cent. oil the number Of discharges by expa
ton oi service
There results may be traced 10 two principal causeA.
lsl, Inc disparity between the pay OF the soldier and
the value of labor in civil life
a. The TACT that lengib OF service carries with il no
reward. either IN increased psy, rank, or privilege
Both these causes the fruitful soufce oi
ION ana deserilon aud they prevent The reensiment OF
abe most valuable men There are other cau.e. thai
have their influence, but DO not materially afsc the 20
sral results.
II may aid in the consideration of these results and in
the saxge eson OF dial measures 10 slate some OF
them arr other form.
Thus in army OF ten thonsand men, which is about
the actual strength OF military establishment as s,
present organized, there will be aonuHily under existing
Circumstances OF pay aon 200 discharges by ex-
piraon OF enlistment, 1876 discharges Tor disability. &c
$50 deaths. and a63 d~sefons, or 81 vacancies
nuay, OF which only 2i9 filed by recent s,ments
The sclu al annual loss OF the army 10 be supplied by the
enlistment oil men, Will therefore be jg2. In other
words than third OF the army every year
be recruited and Transferred from The depots 70 their
regiments, abridgng very materially The Term Of The sol
disfs efheient service IL loond that the majority OF
the deserons, and very large proportion OF The d-sb,
tiles and deaths, in The 's year Of the enlistment
II will, heefofe be OF paramo mt Importance, ia devils
iog any measure Tor keeping the ranks OF The army ta