The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-11-30
NEEDS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
n Set Forth Ia the Annual Reporter General
Schofcid.

n Set Forth u. the Annwa ReportoT General
schofeid.
Major General j. NJ. Schofield, COM
handing the army, has made his annual
report to the secretary of war, and in it
he calls attention to the reports OF the
various division and department COM
manders and other commanding officers.
The past year, he says, has been one OF
peace among the Indians formerly SO
troublesome in the division OF the Paci-
fc. Troops have been fully occupied In
rifle practice and other duties Stimulating
those of actual war. 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 adapted for the entire sea
coast of the country. General Schotield
recommends 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. General Schofield alludes to
the gratifying fact that no case of yellow
fever has occurred in the army during
the year. .,
Referring to Notifications, General
| Schofeld says hat during the past
twenty years the necessities of the SER
vice in the Indian country have caused
the posts along the seaboard and north
ern lakes to be correspondinSly neg
lected. Barracks and quarters, rs well
as Notifications, AVE been left In many
cases to fall into n state OF decay. The
time and circumstances now seem pc
culiarly favorable to placing the sea
coast and frontiers of the country in a
state of security becoming the dignity
of q great and proud, though just and
generalization.
The report says that there were 9, 436
deserters from the army during the past
year, and that the average of assertions
for each of the last five years was 1913
per cent of the entire listed strength.
General Schofield recommends the re-
ward for the arrest of n deserter be IN
creased to 500, to be taken out OF his
retained pay; that all United States OIL
GERS, marshals, sheriffs, police officers,
etc. be authorized to arrest and deliver
deserters; that at least half the pay
of soldiers hereafter enlisted be re-
talneu unlll lHty udNO iUIAiiSt th'ii
contract of service-making exception
in cases of men known to devote then
pay to the support of dependent rela-
tives-and that it be made practical.
BILE in lines of peace for an enlisted
man to dissolve his contract of enlist
ment j in O manner honorable to himself
and Just to the government, by obtain
ing n discharge with the forfeiture of SC
much of his retained pay as may he
necessary to reimburse the United
States for expenses.
In his report to the mntof general
Adjutant General Drum also calls atten
ton to the evil of desertion, which may
be generally lessened by the adoption
of remedial measures, such as q reduc
ton of the term of service from five t.
three years, and the right to purchase
discharge, During the past year there
we're "a, 10 applications for enlistment
Is, OF of whom were rejected. The &C
cepted recruits embraced 727 colored
4,136 natives and 2,557 foreigners. Thu
adjutant general says that, notwith
standing every effort has been made 81
far as recruiting appropriations woul'
warrant, to secure the necessary re
cruits to fill the army it is still NOR
than 1900 below the authorized strength
of IS, 600 enlisted men, and many of tn
regiments are greatly reduced.