Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-25
UNCLESAM'S TROOPS.
Judge Advocate General Swain Gives
an Interesting Chat.
WAR MATERIALS A CENTURY, OLD.
Legislation Needed to Awaken the Service
From Its Stupor.
THE CAUSE OF so MANY DESERTlONs

Judge Advocate General ID. G. Swain,
Of the United States Army, accompanied
by his wife and daughter, was at the Mon
ongahela House last night and will leave
for the home of Mrs. Swain, in Ohio, this
morning. The General was little reticent
about talking to the reporters at first, but
after little interrogating gave some timely
facts about the regular army. He said:
"The army to-day, as body of men, is as
Efficient in training and tactics as the
army of any other county, but the men are
kept down by old munitions of war.
The army is now supplied with
war materials taken from British designers,
100 years old. The British army has been
supplied with improved materials through
constant legislation, while our army hal
dozed away unnoticed. 1t is claimed thSt
it is not policy to keep much of standid dg
army in time of peace, and in following ott
this plan too closely the army is lost sight
of altogether.
81 don't know that would advise increas-
ing the army, but it should be awakened,
and think will be. The State militia pro-
vides the nucleus of mighty body
BILE foe in case of need. What is wanted is
to have the regular army soldiers so we'll
trained in tactics of war, and accustomed to
the most modern war materials, that in case
of instant need each one of them could step
to the front and furnish the officers for an
army, they could organize companies and
regiments and know how to command them,
and successfully carry on campaign and
take advantage of everything new in war
fare.
NEEDS OF SOLDIERS.
"I believe that the army must receive
legislation to place it on a sound footing,
and I think that no doubt President Harri-
son will present to Congress the needs OF
our soldiery. Harrison is an old soldier.
He knows what the army needs and what it
is composed Of talked with him before
the election, and he seemed very favorable
to legislation for the army"
''The men have been kept out of politics,
and the present system should continue.
The legislation should be right to the point,
without political tinkering. If the subject
of legislation is brought up some party may
take to it, but hope not.
Talking about the recent desertions Judge
Swain said: ''The large number of deser-
tions is caused ~ good many
things, and is trying to be answered
by many. For one hing the recruits are
picked up mostly in the eastern cities.
They are men who wish to 60 West and
start out in life in somt business or Just to
see the country. In time of wal, of course, de-
sertion is looked upon al a very grave offense,
but in time of peace Ike the present, they
only consider desertion breaking civil con-
tract
UNIFORM PENALTIES.
"The idea is to make the army so that they
will want to stay in the service. There
should be more Uniformity about the
penalty. Different courts in different Sec
tions of the country do not impose the
same penalty always. The soldiers should
be made satisfied and discomfort stopped
where it crops out.
The General said that Harrison had more
army appointments to fill during his term
than any of his predecessors. Generals
Hnllibird, Benet, Kelton, MacFelv, and
Surgeon General Moore will 60 on the re-
tired list in about two years.
General Swain will visit several places
in Ohio before his return, being an Ohio
man and we'll acquainted in the State. He
says that with all the machinery of Govern
ment politics behind him, Foraker can
hardly fail to null thro1ph