Washington sentinel., 1853-12-13

VI tnS tfoops tnclf aDScHce.
The multiplication of small posts, however much
II may appear TO have been called for by the neces
sites OF the service, is than doubtful policy
The system is expensive far beyond any good re.
snlts that are attained by il. IL is injurious TO the
discipline, instruction and efficiency of troops,
and II Is believed that II often invites aggression
by that exhibition of weakness which must nevi-
taby attend the great dispersion of any force The
benefits ofthe proposed change will be an improve.
ment IN instruction and discipline, greater degree
OF efficiency and usefulness, and material diIni-
mutton OF expenses. The distribution of the ana
terial of war requred.for the defence of country
or the use OF its army, is intimately connected with
the movements and position ofthe personnel of that
army. The facilities of communication between
the depos where these supplies are stored, or can
be obtained, and the points on our seaboard and
northern and western frontiers, where they may
be required, are great, that so far these are
| concerned no change in the present arrangement
seems necessary. The communication with New
Mexico, though tedious andexpensiye,i is not liable
10 foreign interruption, and would not be changed
by the occurrence of war; The case is somewhat
different with regard TO Texas, and essentially so
with regard 10 the country bordering on the Paci-
fic, which, from its wealth, is the most inviting,
and from It's remoteness, is of all our possess
| slons, the most exposed 10 the attack OF foreign
enemy. In view of the ever possible contingent
cy OF war. and the difficulty of providing for il
after II has occurred, il becomes important TO take,
at as early period as possible, all necessary pre-
cautions for the security of our distant territory.
| As the appropriations for the amount of fortif-
cations" Tor the last three years have either been
refused or greatly reduced, under the impression
| that It depended upon the prosecution Of the
system of permanent fortifcation" is proper to
remark that this provision is not dependent upon
the extent to which the system is carried, but il is
Indispensable 10 any system Of coast defence that
| may be adopted. The construction Of permanent
Notifications, and the creation Of arsenals and de-
pots, is necessarily the work of time, but the
mament for the more important posts. both in
Texas and on the Pacific coast, should al the
earliest practicable period be sent TO them, and
when IN position, temporary works, sufficient
| for defence against any sudden attack by naval
force, could readily be thrown up by the labor OF
| the troops. There should also be sent 10 the Pa
cifc coast and stored at suitable points, the ord
nance and ordnance stores needed for its Defence
| and TO the arsenas on the Columbia river and on
1 the Bay OF San Francisco the machinery and
| other means needed for the construction, equip
| ment and repair of all the material of war. De-
/ pots should also be formed of such other supplies
as are not perishable in their character. With a
water transportationo OF 16 miles and land routes
impracticable for the transportation of heavy sup
plies, It will be too late TO adopt these measures
| when the communication by sea is liable TO inter-
ruption, and no prudent nation should trust in
matters oil such vital Importance TO the chances
| OF future that no human sagacty can foresee
| As many OF The supplies proposed to be sent by
Texas and TO the Pacific, are now in depots in the
Atlantic States, no great expense or loss would be
sustained by their transfer, even if the necessity
Tor their use should not occur for many years to
| come As a measure of prudence and economy
IN the transportation of such may be sent TO the
Pacific, il is suggested that whenever naval YES
| sells are sent 10 that coast, there be sent with
them such stores as they can conveniently carry
IN addition 10 their own supplies. The state of
| the recruiting service is exhibited by the accom-
panying-repor and tables prepared by the Ad-
Jutant General who IS charged with the details OF
that service.
The demand for labor has been so great through
out all parts of the country during the past year
that this service has not been so successful as in
former years In consequence ofthis, and the fact
that a number OF the companies heretofore serv-
ing on the seaboard, shave been transferred to re-
mote stations" where, under the authority vested
in the President, by the act approved June IT.
$500, the maximum organization obtains, il is es-
tlmated that 1000 recruits will be required for the
service OF the ensuing year. To obtain these al
the present rates of pay, and the present prosper
Gus state OF the country, can scarcely be expected,
and II is important that some measures should inn
mediately be taken for maintaining the full number
the rank and file Of the army authorized by law
II IS shown by an examination of the statistics Of
the army, from 1896 TO the commencement of the
war with Mexico, that the average excess Of the
| legal over the actual strength Of the army has
been, during this period, Is per cent Of the latter
that the average actual loss by descrtion has been
| l24 per cent; by discharges for disability and
| other causes, per cent; and by deaths only
per cent; or that the total loss, independent
OF discharges by expiration of service, has
| been 23i per cent. of the actual strength Of the
army. Since the termination of the war with
! Mexico, the excess of the legal over the actual
strength has been 19 per cent; the average loss
by dcsertion 1G per cent; by discharges for disa-
biity and other causes, per cent; by death per
cent; total loss independent of discharges by
| expiration of service, rs per cent A part of the
per centage of desertions is due, however, TO the
excitement on account of the discovery of gold in
California, the excess from that cause, in one
year alone being $50 over the average ofthe three
succeeding years. II was found by an analysis Of
the desertions from 1896 TO 1916, that if we ex-
clude the excess due TO local and temporary
causes, in 1882 and 1896 there was as the condi-
ton OF the soldiers was ameliorated by increase
of pay &c., gradual diminution in the proportion
of desertons, and that when the difference be-
tween the pay of the soldiers and the value of the
corresponding classes of labor in civil life was
slight, they were comparatively unfrequent-bei
at two different periods only "a andft per cent. OF
the actual strength of the army, and that they in
creased in direct ratio with the increasing pros
perity OF the country-reaching, when the dispro-
portion was greatest, 2l per cent.
The same causes influenced, as was to be ex-
pected, the number of re-enlistmens, the proper
tion in the last four years being only seventeen
per cent, while in the three years Immediately
preceding the war with Mexico, it was twenty
five per cent of the number of discharges by expi-
ration of service. These results may be traced 10
two principal causes. First, the disparity between
the pay of the soldier and the value Of labor in civil
life. Second, the fact that length of service car
res with it no increased pay, rank privilege.
Both these the fruitful source of dissat-
isfaction and desertion, and they prevent the re-
enlistment of the most valuable men. There are
other causes that have their influence, but do not
materially affect the general results.
II may aid in the consideration Of these results,
and in the suggestion of remedial measures, TO
state some of them in another form.
Thus, in army of 10000 men, which is about
the actual aistrength of our military establishment,
as al present organized, there viii be annually,
under existing circumstances OF pay and service,
,290 discharges by expiration of fenlistment 726
discharges for disability &C.; 800 deaths, and ,465
dcsertions, or 1911 vacancies annually, of which
only 2l9 are filed by re-enlistments. The actual
annual loss to the army, 10 be supplied by the en-
listment of new men, will therefore be $500. In
other words, more than one-third of the army must
every year be recruited and transferred from the
depots 10 their regiments, abridging very mate
rally the term Of the soldiers efficient service. II
is found that majority OF the desertions, and
very large proportion of the disabilities and deaths,
occur in the first wear Of the enlistment.