Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-20
WASHINGTON VIKINGS
A Quiet Year for the Nations
Defenders.
GENERAL SCHOFIELD'S REPORT
Ex-Minister West Gets Even with
Americans by Holding an
Auction Sale.

A6SOCldtSQ ITeSS OlhDdpcles 20 me HERALD
WASHINGTON, November l9.-Major-
Generalh Scofeld 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 rife practice and other
duties Stimulating those Of actual war
In the Division of the Missouri with a
single exception, consisting of the sup
preston of disorder among the Grow
Indians) the use Of troops has been linn
tied 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 sea coast
guns has been steadily developed and
is now adopted for the entire
sea coast of the country. The zeal and
efficiency displayed by officers and men,
and the progress already made, give
grounds for confidence that the troops
will be fully prepared to handle effect
lively weapons of modern construction
and of large calibre as soon as such
weapons can be made ready to be placed
in their hands. General S5hofeld rec
ommends that two regiments be added
to the artillery without any material
change in the number OF officers, neces-
stating the addition of about 5000 to the
number OF enlisted men now allowed by
law.
Referring to Notifications, General
Schofield said during the past twenty
years the necessities OF the service of the
Indian country have caused the posts
along the seabord and northern lakes to
be correspondingly neglected. Time and
circumstances now seem peculiarly favor
able to placing the sea coast and frontier
of the country in state of cecurity.
Reference is made to the impairment
of the efficiency of the army through the
absence of officers from their regiments
or corps. 1t is said the service would be
greatly benefited if such officers as are
disabled could be retired and their places
filed by young and active men.
DEsERTIoNs AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM.
There were 2 2,436 desertions from the
army during the past year, and the
average OF desertions for each Of the last
five years was 1.03 per cent. General
Schofield recommends that the reward
for!the arrest of deselters be increased to
800, to be taken out of his retained pay,
and that United States Marshals, Sher.
ifs and police officers be authorized to
arrest and deliver deserters; that at least
half the pay of soldiers hereafter enlisted
be retained until they have full
filled their contract of service, making
exceptions in cases of men known to de-
vote their pay to the support of depend
ent relatives, and that it be made
practicable in time of peace for an
enlisted man to dissolve his contract OF
enlistment in a manner honorable to
himself and just to the Government, by
obtaining his discharge with the for
feiture of so much of his retained pay as
may be necessary to reimburse the
United States for expenses.
In his report to the Major. General, Ad-
jutant-General Drum calls attention to
the evil of desertion, which may be
greatly lessened by the adoption of rem
edial measures, such as the reduction of
the term of service from five to three
years, and the right to purchase a dis
charge. Notwithstanding every effort
has been made. so far as the recruiting
appropriation would warrant, to secure
the necessary recruits to fill the army, it
is still more than /. 800 below the author
lied strength Of 25, 900 enlisted men, and
many regiments are greatly reduced.