Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-07
Per cent
An EARLY REPENTANCE.

or these desertions 95 per cent occurred
among men serving their first and second
year of enlistment. In May last Major
Theodore Schwan, Assistant Adiutant Gen.
eral, under instructions of Secretary Proc
tor, made q tour of inspection Of the recruit
ing depots at David's Island, N. z, Colum-
bus, o., and Jefferson Barracks, Mo. The
Major is himself q soldier who came up
from the ranks, an enlisted private, and his
report to the Adjutant General contains nu-
merous suggestions, including the draft
of bill prepared by him last winter, after
close study of the situation, calculated. in
his opinion, to lessen the evil Of desertion.
Major Schwan says: "Whatever causes of
discomfort may at one time have existed,
such as lack of provisions. or care for the
physical comfort and needs OF the enlisted
soldier or unreasonable demands upon and
unfair or harsh treatment of him, have been
removed so far as it is in the power of the
military authorities to do so, and the cases
are rare where failure of the Government
to make good its obligations can be truth
fully alleged as afording even sembIancs
OF justification for desertion.''
REGULAR FEATURE.
In this connection it NAV be stated that
Secretary Proctor has prepared q statement
of the number of desertions from Jefferson
Barracks, Mo-, showing that in the past
three years they have been respectively 256,
PA and 250, aremarkably even record. One
feature of the bill proposed by Major
Schwan gives to all peace officers. Federal
and State, authority to arrest deserters upon
their own responsibility and without war
rant or military order. Additional safe
guards against the readmission to the SER
vice of "repeaters," or professional DESERT
ers, and to their identification after such re-
admission are about to be adopted under
instructions already given by the War De-
partment.
Another provision of the bill is that one
third Of the soldiers pay for the first year
shall be retained until his discharge and
forfeited If he does not serve out his term.
Men discharged before their term expires,
at their own request, are not to receive
travel pay. 1t also provides for the adoption
of the British custom of permitting enlisted
men to purchase their discharges.
TO PURCHASE DISCHARGES.
Acting Adjutant General McKeeyer and
other officers Of the staff have, at Secretary
Proctor's request, submitted memoranda on
the subject of desertions, which he has now
under consideration. One of these fixes the
sum to be required for the purchase OF a
discharge at $50. The use Of large dormi-
tories In the barracks instead of what the
army regulations contemplate, SQUAD rooms
for from six to ten men, is given as the
cause Of much discomfort among the men.
Acting Adjutant General McKeever saws,
in his opinion, the chief causes of desertions
are:
disappointment at the realities of mil.
itary life.
Second-The employment of the soldier on
la6orers' work without extra pay.
Third-Inequality of punishments as in
hicted by courts marshal.
Fourth-Bad company administration.
F1fth-Sometimes tyrannical conduct toward
enlisted men by officers. and more especially
sixth-Above all, the too-otten unnecessary
restraints imposed on the soldier.
He also believes that the largest number
Of deserters are American born.
REMEDIES PROPOSED.
The following remedial measures were
First-Limit the term of service in the first
enlistment to three years, re-enlistment to five
years.
Second-Grant discharges on payment of
certain sums, graded according to length Of
service.
Third-Discharge men found to be incor-
,igibly bad, without character and thus bar
heir re-entry into the service.
Fourth-Secure graded mode Of punish
nents for the guidance of courts martial.
Fifth-Secure better class of non-commis-
'ioned officers and especially First Sergeants,
)y increasing their pay.
SIxth-Make the arrest and punishment of
ieSerters more certain than at present by in
,reasing the reward for their apprehension and
delivery from $50 to 500.
Secretary Proctor's $ report will doubtless
contain recommendations along the general
inc laid down in the suggestions above set
orth. He is earnestly desirous of remoY-
ng the cause of the reproach that can now
'e made against the army on account of de-
ertions