Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-22
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.

A Prospective shaking Up OF Army Omcers
About washington-Alarming Increase
OF observation-disclosures Crop Report.
WASHINGTON Aug. 13-The Herald
says: Secretary Proctor has been look.
ing into the question of the detail of army
officers for duty in the War Department.
with view OF acquainting himself as TO
the length of time such officers have been
stationed there, their particular duties
and whether or not the time OF duty and
absence from their respective regiments
have not exceeded the limit allowed. II
is generally understood in army circles
that upon the return Of the Secretary
from Bar Harbor next week q general
shaking up of the offices will take place.
Where the lightning will strike no one
seems to know. Lut the general impression
is that the electric current will be we'll
charged. OF course, this does not include
the officers of the Adjutant- Generals
department., or other staff officers. It 10
intended for officers Of the line especially.
q great many of whom are on special
duty, and. in a majority of instances, hard
duty. The purpose of the Secretary, as
near as can be ascertained, Is to supplant
these officers with others of the Same
grade, thus giving those who have served
on the frontier for a number of years an
opportunity to have some of the pleasant
duty Of the army as we'll as the practical
experience which has been their case for
years."
Army officers Of late have been looking
into the causes which depopulate the
army. Late statistics show that deser.
tions are on the increase. During the six
months ended June 30. 1859, the records
show an increase of 25S over the number
reported for the corresponding period Of
last year, or the past six months OF the
present year. There were ]. 4S7 desertions
against l. 200 for the same period Of 1888
Fully seven-eishths of the desertions took
place during the first year Of enlistment
The importance Of these figures is ap-
preciated by General Schofield and Adju.
tant- t-General.Kelton, each of whom has
given the subject much thought and dis
cussion lately, and some plan of action,
which will look toward the modification Of
the existing articles of war, will receive
their earnest advocacy and be presented
to Congress. The numerous desertions,
especially from the larger army posts. are
the source Of much anxiety to the officials
in the War Department. and they will
strike at the root of the evil, il such q
thing is possible. Quite q number OF off,
GERS believe that one of the best ways to
break up deser tions in the army would be
to put a stop to the soldier doing so much
extra work. When a man enters the army
he expects to become q soldier. When ne
finds that in addition to his duty of q SOL
dier he has to do all the work around the
garrison and officers quarters, the soldier
feeling dies out and he deserts at the very
first opportunity, generally in the first
year of his enlistment
CROP REPORT.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13-The August re.
port makes the condition of corn o. g.;
spring wheat, 81 2; spring rye. 95 4; oats,
90. 3; barley, 906 Spring wheat has suf-
fered a further falling of during the
month, the decline amounting to nearly
3points. The condition is now nearly 3
points higher than 1887 and point above
that of 1885. With these exceptions 1t .is
the lowest since 1881. Minnesota records
some Improvement since the last report
but in Dakota there is further -deeline
from the same cause noted last month.
Dakota is now the largest spring wheat
State and the very low condition there
reduces the general average The rest of
the spring wheat district condition is
generally good, perhaps above the aver
age for a recent series Of years. Averages
in the principal States are: Wisconsin,
80; Minnesota, SO; Iowa, "a; Nebraska.
81; Dakota, 81; Washington. Is. The
quality of the crop will be better than
usual especially in the extreme Northwest.