Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-20
ABOUT UNCLESAM'S ARM Y
Interesting Points in Gen. Seho-
 fields Report.
COAST AND FRONTIER DEFENsEs.

Soldiers Becoming Proficient in the Use
 of Heavy Guns-RemarI<s and Sugges-
 tions-Adjt. Gen. Drums Report-EviIs
 and Causes of Desertion.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-Maj. Gen. Scho- field 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, and that in the division of the Missouri, with the single exception of the 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- lieves the troops will be fully prepared to handle, effectively, the weapons of modern construction and of the largest calibre as soon as such weapons can be made ready to be placed ill their hands.
 A moderate increase in the numerical strength of the force to handle the new guns will be indispensable.
 Referring to Notifications the general says the time and circumstances now seem peculi- arly favorable to placing the sea coasts and frontiers of the country ill state of security beColIIuS5 Cue ulSuluy Ol great dLu pIOuA, though just and peaceful nation. Refer ence is made to the impairment of the eff ciency of the army through absence of off cers from their regiments or corps. He thinks 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. If 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 will have passed away, and the list which now seems large will have become greatly reduced in num- bers. The reduction in pay of officers on leave is, he thinks, no longer necessary and results ill relative favoritism to the few off cers who have other means of support besides their pay.
 There were 2, 436 assertions from the army during the past year, and the average deser- tiOnS 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 Gen. Schotield recommends that the reward for the arrest of a deserter be increased to $l00, to 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 to himself and just to the government by obtaining 8 discharge with forfeiture of so much of his 1eIaAueu pay dS 1llity De necessary tO Iellt- purse the United States for expenses
 Adjt Gen. Drum, in his annual report tc Maj. Gen. Schofeld, calls attention to the evil of desertion, which, he says, results principally from dissatisfaction with army life and its restraints; restlessness with reck leSsneSs of obligations assumed and desire to secure transportation to distant and sup posed favorable points in the west. Deser tion, he says, can never be eradicated, but may be greatly lessened by the adoption, ei remedial measures, such as the reduction o1 the term of service from five to three year and the right to purchase discharge. Dur ing the past year there were 24, 710 applicant! for enlistment, IS, or of whom were rejected The adjutant general says that tnotwithstand ing every effort has been made, so far as tn, recruiting appropriation would warrant, ts i secure the necessary recruits to fill the army it is still more than ], 500 below the author ized strength of 25,000 enlisted men, ane many of the regim nts are greatly reduced