The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-11-17
THE REGULAR ARMY.
Points from the Yearly Report of Gen.
T. sherman.

Points from the Yearly Report Of Gen. w.
r. sherman.
The annual report OF Gen sherman shows
the general staff to consist OF 513 officers
and l,2l2 enlisted men. The army proper
consists of 10 regiments OF cavalry, 43l OH
GERS and d, 1888 men; regiments OF artillery
$50 officers and 2, 493 men; % regiments OF
infantry, $40 officers and 6,773 men; total'
including unavailable men detailed at va
rious points, 2,lG5 officers and q, OH men
He says the experience OF the world shows
that but SO per cent. of an army is available
for active service and IA -, go men are
really needed for a standing army, no recon-
mends that the limit OF the army be IN
creased to 80, 0O0 The officers and mon In
the army are now, he says, overworked,
and must continue So unless the num-
Der IL increased He reviews the work
of the yeE somewhat in detail, arriving
at the conclusion that there has been
a less numbsr OF Indian outbreaks In the
year than at any time for twenty years
Part of this IL dine to the efficiency. or the
army. and part TO tho advancement OF civil
fxation In the West The report devotes
nsderable space to the growth OF the
great West, and says that now that the
TRANSITION period Is past, It Is due to the
Government TO select certain strategic
points for permanent army posts, and con-
struct comfortable buildings on them, SO as
not Iouger to compel the officers and men to
live in holes IN the ground, saanties or
green cottonwood log huts, "a heretofore.
There have been / IA trials by court martial
daring the year. He recommends change
in the system OF cOurts-martial, saying the
present system was established by custom
In the English army hundred years ago,
when the habit was TO dine at O'CLOCK and
get drunk after nnsr. which habit is now,
happily, done away with.
The number of desert ons during the year
was 3 72l, and enlistments and re-enoSt-
ments 1911. Commenting on the number
OF desertious he says many are those OF men
who enl st in Eastern Cities and after get
ting free transportation West desert, know
ing there viii be Little eff at TO bring them
back or punish them. The remedy, he
thinks is in Letter treatment of those who
stay, and more severe ptlnlSh1nent or de-
serters He recommends an increase OF the
pay of men to s16 per month, instead OF Sl3,
n now, and that punishment for desertlon
be made more severe, even inhictlng capital
punls hment in aggravated cases, as ls one
by othe, countries. The general conci.lon
of the army personnel has been improved,
as has the ge-seral condition OF the
people of the country at largo. The
recent rifle contests have made great I'M
proven snts III the craftsmanship or the
men and he recommends an appropr alton
for continuing the work. He recommends
the adoption of some kIan by which regi-
ments and Off 5ers can be gwen definite
terms in remote posts and then be al owed
to return TO the comforts or civilized life,
and their PAGES be taken by others. He re-
commends the employment or teachers Tor
schools ut posts ssying men from the army
can not be spared for shs purpose, and re-
marking that as officers in spite OF sa e aa
vice. will marry and have families, they
ought to be provided for in the best manner
possible.