The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-17
THE MILITARY SERVICE.

Brought About by Wise Democratic
LegisiatiG<>
The most important and suggestive
fact in all the current annual reports
of the military establishment is the
great decrease of desertions. During
the previous year the number of
deserters had been 3,741; and that
this prodigious loss was not exceptional
is made known by examining also the
records of the two years preceding that
one. The aggregate desertions for
those three years we find to have been
nearly IL ,000-in exact figures 1881,
which is an average of 1864 annually.
The maximum enlisted strength of the
army is $4,000, a number rarely
reached on any given date on account
of expiring enlistments; indeed, Gen
eral Sherman, after deducting the va
rious permanent detachments, once
estimated the average enlisted strength
for army work at $4,000. Hence, the
deserters of 1884 numbered nearly one
in six of all the enlisted men.
When we find, therefore, that dur
ing the past year there were 745 fewer
desertions than the year previous,
bringing the total below 5000, we GER
tainly have struck upon the most prom
ising feature in the current condition
of the army. Apart from the gain in
discipline and moral effect here i'm
piled, the actual pecuniary saving in the
expenses of recruiting and in the supply
of clothing, equipments and horses is
very great, since deserters do not scru-
pie to take off whatever Government
property may be of service to them.
What is the cause of this fortunate
change? No doubt several causes have
cO-Operated TO produce it, but the most
potent probably are the recent wise
and successful efforts to make the call
ing of the soldier more nearly, as Gen
eral Miles once expressed it, ''such as
the young men of the country will seek
and the veterans will desire to retain.
The last Congress was unprecedentedly
liberal in its legislation for this pur-
pose. 1t increased the per diem allow
ances in money paid for the performing
extra or non-military duty. 1t created
the new grade of Post Quartermaster
Sergeant, which opened eighty new
places for promotion, with increased
pay and allowances, to men who had
served creditably during four wears or
more. These promotions and transfers
in turn opened vacancies among the
company ser@eants and corporals. In
spector-iicncral Davis is authority for
the statement also, that the supplies of
food and clothing have been generally
good in quantity and quality, and
promptly delivered during the year.
But perhaps the greatest incentive TO
remaining in the service has been fur
nished by the act passed by Congress
last winter Grabbing any enlisted man
who has served as such for thirty years
to be retired. if he wishes, with three
fOurths of his pay. and also of his al
lowances for subsistence and clothing.
Already ninety-five enlisted men, most
ly nOn-cOmmisSioned officers, have
taken the benefit of this act. They
generally get, with their allowances for
food and clothing, from three hundred
dollars TO five hundred dollars year,
and in some eases still more than the
latter sum. General Rochester has re-
commended the payment of nine dol
lars a month in lieu of the ration and
clothing allowances, and General Drum
suggests payment of a gross sum for
pay and allowances, which would vary
from S53. 40 per month for chief must
clans to S239 80 for artificers. Thus it
will be seen that the maximum allow
ance for enlisted retirement is really
above six hundred dollars a year.
There are many nOn-cOmmiSsiOned
offices like those Of Ordnance Sergeant.
Quartemastcr and Commissary Ser
gcant, and Hospital Steward. which
frequently fall rs rewards to veteran
soldiers. so that their retired incomes
are generally very good.
Besides this, the laws allowing in
terest on the deposits of enlisted men,
made from their pay, not only encour-
age frugality, but furnish 4 consider
able capital set aside for old age.
There is also the possibility of earning
a commission. since every year sees
promotion from the enlisted men to the
Second LieutenancieS. For example,
in 1879 there were six such promo
tons; the next Year. fourteen; the next,
one; the next, ten; the next, four; the
next, six; and the present year. we be-
ieve. four or five. But without reck-
oning this chance, the youth who en-
lists sees before him the prospect of re-
firing at the age of ffty with an income
that will support him to the end of his
days, and long before that age he will
probably, if faithful. have received pro-
motion and lighter duty, suited to adj
vancing years.
The last Congress legislated wisely in
this respect. Against the increase in
expense it thus authorized was set off a
saving in some other direction; while
now into the ultimate reckoning must
go the saving in the expense of re-
cruiting and in the capture of deserters.
Other improvements and reforms in the
condition of the enlisted men are pos
sible. Meanwhile, it may be hoped
that the monstrouS high-wa alter mark of
desertion in the past will never again
be reached.-N Y. San.