Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-11-30
UNITED STATES ARMY.
The Commanding Officers Re-
port to Secretary EndicOtt.
Statistics and Recommendations
From Maior-General Schofeld.

Major General ]. NJ. Schofeld,. command
first annual report to the Secretary of War.
The past year, he says has been one of peace
among the Indians formerly so troublesome
In the Division of the Pacific.
The troops of the Division of the Atlantic
have been fully and constantly occupied,
especially the artillery, with heavy seacoast
guns The progress already made gives
grounds for confidence that the troops Will be
fully prepared to handle effectively weapons
OF modern construction and of the largest
calIbres as soon as such weapons can be made
ready to be placed in their hands. A
moderate increase in the numerical strength
in the force to handle the new guns
neld reneWs the Recommendation
made in his last report for the Division
of the Atlantic, that two regiments
be added to the artillery without any ma
terial change in the number of officers,
cessltating the addition Of about five thou
sand to the number of enlisted men to the
number now allowed by law.
Attention is called to the report of the
commanding officer of the infantry and cav
airy school, stating that a number of young
officers have without adequate excuse, failed
to meet the professional requirements
OF that institution, and submit ting that
those officers have proved themselves incOm-
petent and thus debarred from regular
promotion. He recommends that officer
handing officer for disability or other incom-
potency shall be promoted to a higher grade
until he shall have passed a satisfactory
animation. He suggests as an important addi-
ton to the duties now performed by army
officers detailed for general military educa-
tlonal purposes to colleges that they may
practically instruct in sea cost defence such
portion of the National Guard may be
organized for that branch of the public SER
vice. Referring to the Notifications
General Schofield says that during the
Of -
the service in the Indian country
have caused the posts along the seaboard
and northern lakes to be correspondingly
neglected. The barracks and quarters as
we'll as the Notifications have been left in
many cases to fall into a state of decay. The
time and circumstances now seem peculiarly
favorable to placing the sea coast and from
tiers of the country in state of security.
Reference is made to the impairment of the
efficiency of the army through absence of
officers from their regiments or corps 1t is
said that the service would be greatly bene- |
fitted if such officers are disabled could be |
retired and their places filled by young and |
active men.
ne report says that there were 2436 deser-
lions from the army during the past year !
and that the average of assertions for each |
of the last five years were 10.3 per cent. of |
the entire enlisted strength or 5l.5 per cent. !
during the whole period.
General SchOfield recommends that at least |
half the pay of soldiers hereafter enlisted be |
retained until they have fulfilled their con-
tract OF servlce-making exception in the
cases of men known to devote their pay TO
the support of dependent relatives, and that
1t 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
discharge, with forfeiture of SO much of his
retained pay may be necessary to REIN
burse the United States for expenses.
Instructions in rifle and carbine practice
have been successfully conducted during the
year with favorable results, and it is now
proposed to require increased attention to
pistol practice
In conclusion General Schofield recon-
mends liberal appropriations for the Signal
Service proper and the strengthening of the
military posts the great Indian
In report to the majOr-general command
ing Adjutant General Drum calls attention
to the evil of deSertiOn which, he says, re-
suits principally from dissatisfaction with
army life and its restraints, reStleSsneSs with
recklessness of obligations assumed. and a
desire TO secure transportation to distant and
favorable points in the West. De-
Sertion, he says, can never be eradicated, but
may be greatly lesSened by the adoption of
remedial measures, such the reduction
Of the term of service from five to three
years and the right to purchase discharge.
During the past year there were "a, 10 appli-
cants for enlistment, Is, OH of whom were re
Iected. The accepted recruits embraced 727
colOred, 4136 natives and 1857 foreigners
The AdJutant General says that notwith-
standing every effort has been made, so far
rs the recruiting appropriation would war
rant TO secure the necessary recruits to fill the
army, 1t is still more than 1900 below the
authorized strength of $4,000 enlisted men,
md many of the regiments are greatly re-
iuced