Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-14
WHY SOLDIERS DESERT.
Inc Reasons Which Are Given by the
Deserters Themselves

FIGURES FURNISHED BY JUDGE ADVOCATE GEN.
ERAL LIEBER-DRUNKENNEss THE PRINCIPAL
cAusE-How To LESSON THE NUMBER OF pELIN-
oUENrs-orHEn RECOMMENDATIONS.
The acting judge advocate general Of the
army, Col. Guido N. Lieber, has submitted
voiuminous and exhaustive report of the opera
tons OF his Office during the year ended Sep
TENDER 50, 1883. After giving statistical tables
OF the number and disposition of court-martial
and court OF inquiry cases he turns his atten-
ton to the subject of desertion. and while de-
Ginning to express any opinions in regard to the
matter gives some instructive figures in regard
to the reasons that have been assigned by 2es
prisoners out Of 443 tried for desertion and con-
victed during the past year.
WHY THEY TOOK FRENCH LEAVE.
They are as follows: Drink. often accom-
panied by the statement that the absentee was
afraid to return, or was not responsible for his
actions, 1877; drink and influenced by others. 8.
drink and other causes, such as domestic
trouble, inexperience, depression, fear of the
civil authorities, sickness, labor, dissatisfac-
ton. debts and trouble with non-commissioned
officers, 10; opium, 2; persuaded by others a;
unable to support wife, mother, &c, &; sick
wife or mother, 8; other domestic affairs. 8:
ill-treatment by the first sergeant, 26: abuse by
non-commissioned officers, 6; ill-treatment by
officers, 4; persecution in the company. 8;
trouble with soldiers or civilians 9: fear of
court-martial or arrest by civil authorities. 10;
discomfort, 5; alleged pledges broken, 4; i'm
properly cooked or insufficient food, 5; sick
ness Of the soldier, II; mental disorder, 2: in
ability to do duty through incapacity, ignor-
ance, or unfamiliarity with English. IL; hard
work, 8; escape from guard house, 8; miscel.
laneous, Is.
HOW LONG THEY HAD SERVED.
Another table is given showing the length Of
time served by soldiers convicted of desertion
In cases published in orders from the head
quarters of the army. OF 100 cases, 2 served
less than one month; 8, one and less than two.
IL, two and less than three; IL, three and less
than four; 6, four and less than five; z five; 10.
SIX; T. seven; !, eight: 2, nine; 8, ten; 1, eeven
l, year; It, between one and two years, and
Is, over two years. Thus n. or over 20 per
cent, deserted before serving one year.
ENLISTED DRUNKAIps.
In his remarks upon the figures
Col. Lieber says: Thus il appears
that in trials for desertion the cause most fire.
quently assigned is drunkenness The de-
serters, who assign this cause, ordinarily claim
that they were drunk when they absented them
selves and had no intention Of deserving but
were afraid to return lest they should be
q o. o n.
1885, an effort was made to reach this class of
cases, but it does not seem to have had any
noticeably good result. The order prescribes
that no man shall be reported as a deserter
until after the expiration Of ten days, unless
the company commander has conclusive evil
dence OF the absentee's intention not to return.
The failure OF this order to accomplish what
was Intended is not, however, proof that il was
an effort In wrong direction. / am inclined
to believe that its want of success is TO some
% IL
the proper steps have not been, and are not
being, taken to bring the existence of the order
to the knowledge Of soldiers, especially
THE NEW AND INEXPERIENCED.
How great, under any circumstances, the sue
cess Of this measure might be, is, of course,
only subject Of conjecture, but assuming that
part of the statements referred to are true
and think there can be no doubt of that-it
would reach such cases, as well as those of SOL
diers remaining absent under similar circum-
stances and who have not been apprehended
and tried. In looking about for the means of
checking this great evil, it seems TO be well
worth while to give the measure a fair trial
1t Is quite possible that it may faithfully carried
out, have as much more appreciable effect than
we seem inclined to expect from it."
MORE JUDGE ADVOCATES WANTED.
Col. Lieber recommends that the SIX officers
Of the line now acting as judge advocates Of
military departments be given permanent de-
tails and the judge advocate generals depart
ment be increased by the addition of a suffi-
Gent number of officers of the rank of major to
meet the requirements of the service. He also
says that the department does not occupy an
equal footing with other corps in respect to
rank and promotion, and he asks that rank in
it be readjusted SO that, under the Judge adyo-
cate general, there should be three officers of
each of the ranks of colonel and lieutenant
colonel, and at least six of the rank of major.
He calls attention to the necessity of supply
ing the judge advocates OF military depart
ments with the means of providing their offices
with the law books which they require. and
recommends an appropriation Of IS 200 for
this purpose.