Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-20
Msjor-General Schofield Tells of Its Com
dition and Needs.

Msjor-General schofield Tells of Its Con-
dition and Needs.
WASHINGTON, November 19th.-Maior-
General Schofeld, commanding the army,
in his annual report says: The past year
has been one of peace among the Indians
formerly so troublesome in the Division of
the Pacific. The troops have been fully
occupied in rifle practice and other duties
similating those of actual war In the Di-
vision of Missouri, with a single excep-
tion-consisting of the suppression of dis
order among the Crow Indians-the use of
troops has been limited to the prevention
of possible trouble with Indian tribes. The
troops of the Division of the Atlantic have
been fully and constantly occupied. The
system of practice of artillery with heavy
seacoast guns has been steadily developed
and is now adapted to the entire seacoast
of the country. The zeal and efficiency
displayed by the officers and men and the
progress already made gives grounds for
confidence that the troops will be fully
prepared to handle effectively the weapons
of modern construction and of large caliber
as soon as such weapons can be made ready
to be placed in their hands,"
MORE MEN DESIRABLE.
General Scho6eld recommends that two
regiments be added to the artillery, without
any material change in the number of Off
GERS, neoessitating an addition of about
5000 10 the number of enlisted mea allowed
by law.
Referring to Notifications, General Scho-
field says that during the past twenty years
the necessities of service in the Indian
country have caused the posts along the
seaboard aud northern lakes to be CORE
spondingly neglected. The time and circum-
stances now seem peculiarly favorable to
placing the seacoast and frontier of the
country in state of security.
YOUNGER COMMANDERS WANTED.
Reference is made to the impairment of
the efficiency of the army through the ab-
sence of officers from their regiments or
corps. 1t is said that the service would be
greatly benefited, if such officers as are
disabled could be retired and their places
filled by young and active men.
DEsERTIoNs.
There were 2,436 desertions from the
army during the past year, and the average
of desertions for each of the last five years
is 1913 per cent. General Schofield recon-
mends that the reward for the arrest of de-
serters be increased to 500, to be taken out
of the deserter's pay, and that U. S. Mar
shals, Sheritfs, police officers, etc., be au-
thorized to arrest and deliver deserters.
OTHER REFORMS.
At least half the pay Of soldiers hereafter
enlisted should be retained until they have
fulfilled their contract of service-making
exception in the cases of men known to
devote their pay to the support of their de-
pendent relatives-and that it be made
practicable, in time of peace for an honest
man to dissolve his contract of enlistment
in a manner honorable to himself and lust
to Government, by obtaining his discharge
with the forfeiture of so much of his re-
tanned pay as may be necessary to reim-
burse the Government for expenses.
Adjutant-General Drumm also calls at
tention to the evil of desertions, which may
be greatly lessened by the adoption of
remedial measures, such as the reduction
of the term of service from five to three
years, and the right to purchase dis
charge. Notwithstanding every effort has
been made, so far as the recruiting appro-
priation would warrant, to secure the
necessary recruits TO fill the army, it is
still more than 500 below the authorized
strength of %, GOO enlisted men, and many
regiments are greatly reduced.