Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-07
THE DEsERTlON PROBLEM.
secretary Proctor and Aides Trying
. -. III w ork Out Snlu don.


WAsHINeToN, Sept. 6.--rhe subject of de-
sertion FROM the army will be treated at
length in The forthcoming report of the Sec
retary of war. 1t is one that has had Secre-
tary Proctor's earnest consideration from
the beginning as well as that of the adjutant
generals staff. Various changes in barrack
life, with view TO increasing the soldiers
comfort and interest in his command have
been instituted, notably the consolidated
mess and canteen systems. These have
worked well where tried and the result has
been that the percentage of descrtions has
been decreased since 1883.
OF the desertionS 80 per cent occur among
the men serving their first and second year
of enlistment. In May last Major Theodore
Schwan, assistant adjutant general, under
instructions from Secretary Proctor, made
tour of inspection of the recruiting depots at
Davids Island, N. Y, Columbus, o., and
Jefferson barracks, Mo- The major is him
self a soldier who came up from the ranks,
and his report to the adjutant general con-
tains numerous suggestions, including the
draft OF bill prepared by him last winter
after close study of the situation, calcu-
lated in his opinion TO lessen the evil of de-
sertion. Major SchWan says:
"Whatcver causes of dlscontent have at one
time existed, such rs the lack of provisions
or care for the physical comfort and needs Of
the enlisted soldier or unreasonable demands
upon aud unfair or harsh treatment of him,
have been removed SO far as 1t is IN the
power of the military authorities to do so.
and the cases are rare where the failure Of
the government to make good its obligations
can be truthfully alleged as affording even
the semblance of q Justification for deser-
tion.n
Among other things Major Sch wants bill
provides safeguards against readmssion to
the service of "repeaters' or professional
deserters. Another provision of the bill is
that one third Of soldiers pay for The first
year shall be retained until discharge, aud
forfeited If he does not serve out his term
1t also provides for the adoption of the
British custom of permitting enlisted men to
purchase their discharges.
Acting Adiutant General McKeever and
other officers of the staff have, at Secretary
Proctor's request, submitted memoranda
on the subject of desertions Act
ing Adiutant General Mcfeever says,
IN his opinion, the chief causes of desertiOn
are: Disappointment at the realities Of
military life; the employment of the soldier
on laborers' work without extra pay; the
inequality of punishments as inflicted by
courts-martial; bad company administration:
the tyrrany sometimes practiced on enlisted
men by officers, and more especially By first
sergeants and above all, the 100 often I'M
necessary reei.dints imposed on soldiersl
He alsc believes the largest number of del
oIcers are American born.
The following remedial measures are sug
gested: Limit tho term of service in the
first enlistment to three years, in re-enlst-
mont TO five years; grant discharges on pay
ment Of certain sums, graded according to
the length of service; discharge men found
TO be incorrigibly bad. without character,
and thus bar their re-entry into the service;
secure graded code Of punishment for the
guidance of courts-martlal; secure better
class of non-commissoned officers and es-
pecially hrst sergeaDts, by increasing their
pay; make the arrest and punishment of de-
serters more certain than at present by in
cfeaSing the reward,