Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-20
ABOUT UNCLE SAM SARMY
Interesting Points in Gen. Scho-
fields Report.
COAST AND FRONTIER DEFENsEs.
Soldiers Becoming Proficient in the Us~
OF Heavy Guns-RemnrIss and sugges-
tions-AdIt. Gpn. Drums Report-EviHs
aud Causes of Desertion.

OF Heavy Guns-Remnrlss and sugges-
tions-AdIt. cen. Drums Report-EvIis
aud Causes of Desertion.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20-Mai. Gen. scbo-
Held IN his annual report says the past year
mas been one OF peace among the Indians,
formerly 80 troublesome in tho division of
the Pacific, and that in the division of the
Missouri, with the single exception Of tina
suppression Of disorder among the Crow In
dians, the use of troops has been limited To
the prevention Of possible trouble with
Indian tribes The system Of practice OF the
artillery with heavy sea coast guns has been
steadily developed and is now adopted for
the entire sea coast OF the country. He be-
heves the troops win be fully prepared to
handle, effectively the weapons OF modern
construction and Of the largest caibre a.
soon as such weapons can be made ready To
be placed in their hands.
a moderate increase in the numerical
strength Of the force TO handle the new guns
viii be Indispensable.
heferrng 10 fortincations, the general saya
the time and circumstances now seem peculi-
arly favorable to placing the sea COASTS and
frontiers Of the country in state Of security
becoming the dignity OF great and proud,
though just and peaceful nation. Refer
enee is made TO the impairment Of the effi-
cheney Of the army through absence of Off
GERS from their regiments or corps He ethinxs
that the service would be greatly benefited
II such officers rs are disabled could be retired
ana their places filled by young and activs.
men. II the retired list be temporarily in
creased for this purpose, in a few years most
OF the great number of veterans who were
disabled in the late war win have passed
away. and the list which now seems large
win have become greatly reduced in mum
bers The reduction ia pay OF officers ON
leave is, he thinks, no longer necessary and
results IN relative favoritism 10 the few OH
GERS who have other means Of support besides
their pay
There were 2, ,4S6 desertions from the army
during the past year. and tae average deser-
tions for each of the last five years were 1913
per cent OF the entire enlisted strength, or
5l5 per cent. during the whole period Gen.
Schofield recommends that the reward for
the arrest Of deserter be increased to $lO0
70 be taken out Of his retained pay; and that
It be made practicable IN time of peace for
an enlisted man to dissolve his contract OF
enlistment in a manner honorable 10 himself
and just TO the government by obtaining n
discharge with forfeiture Of SO much OF his-
retained pay as may be necessary 70 reim-
burse the United States for expenses.
Adlt Gen. Drum, in his annual report to
Maj. Cen Schoheld calls attention to the
evil OF desertion, which, he says, results
principally from dissatisfaction with army
life and its restraints; restlessness with reclS-
lessness Of obligations assumed and desire
10 secure transportation to distant and sup
posed favorable points Ia the west. Desnr-
tion, he says, can never be eradicated but
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 discharge Dur
ing the past year there were q, 710 applicants
for enlistment, 1s.0l7 Of whom were rejected.
The adjutant general says that notwithstand-
ing every effort has been made, 80 far as the
recruiting appropriation would warrant, TO
secure the necessary recruits to all the army.
IL is still more than l 800 below the author
lied strength Of 5000 enlisted men, and
many Of the regim nts are greatly reduced