Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-01

Gen. o. o. Howard, commanding the division
Of the Atlantic, in his annual report calls at
tention to the lack of armament at nearly all Of
our sea-coast stations. Our needs in this direc-
ton, he says, have been SO often reported upon
by his predecessors that he deems it useless
to do more than mention the subject
again. The time has undoubtedly come
when some positive action in the
matter Of permanent defenses 10 de-
manded. In this connection the subject Of
high explosives Is discussed, and he calls atten-
tion to "Americanite," the invention of a
young Russian, formerly botanist Of the Point
Barrow expedition, which is the safest and
best explosive the general knows It has
already been adopted by the Standard oil COM
pany for shooting" its wells. With such a
powerful agent he says, the problem of coast
range and our great seaboard cities can be made
comparatively safe without excessive expen-
diture.
ON THE SUBJECT OF DEsERTIoNs.
Gen. Howard says: 'For the past four years
the percentage Of desertions in our army has
increased from 8 to 121J< per cent, and this de-
spite earnest efforts to discover the causes and
apply the remedies. Doubtless the causes are
many, such as have been theoretically and va
riously stated. 1t is scarcely possible to so
adjust the workings of a military insti-
tuition, necessarily autocratic, that each and
every subordinate shall feel that its
ethics and conduct are identical with those that
govern in civil life. That desertions can ever
be practically eliminated from the army with
out seriously impairing its efficiency doubt;
but the crime can and should be greatly re-
duced. 1t is my belief that in the majority Of
cases the
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are frivolous and are as varied as the different
temperaments Of the deserters. Were appre-
hension and punishment made as certain for
this ofense as for petty crimes in civil life none
but serious reasons would cause men to commit
an act the result of which terminates in almost
certain penal servitude. As it is, the chances
OF punishment are altogether too few. re-
peat my former recommendation for an
increase in the reward offered for
change in the law which will
enable at least all civil officers Of the govern
ment, states and territories, to arrest and con-
fine this class of offenders. To remove all real
cause of discomfort, shorten the first term of
enlistment to two or three years and institute
some system by which men in emergency may
sever their connection with the service without
dlshonor to themselves and with justice to the
government. 1t might be well to improve the
ration, increase it or at least give it more va
riety, though believe in the main that no Sc
rious discomfort arises from insufficiency or
poorness of food"
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF REORGANIZATION.
Gen. Howard joins Gen. Crook in recon-
mending that the infantry arm of the service
be reorganized by giving the regiments three
battalions of four companies each, and he also
recommends that the present rife for infantry
and cavalry be changed to a magazine gun.
He says that the proposed reorganization OF
the artillery branch Of the army a special
corps presents fatal objections as it would
aggravate the already abnormal condition of
our military administration and only add an
other bureau to the War department and trans
fer the artillery, like the staff, from the COM
mand of the general officers of the army to that
of a staff officer in Washington"
He reports that for small arm practice il will
be necessary to secure a range near New York
city, and he recommends the purchase o. one
in Fishers Island. Increased facilities for
heavy artillery with heavy guns have already
been arranged.
Gen. Howard renews his Recommendation
that graduated code of punishments for the
guidance of courts martial be established; that
the retired list be enlarged by reducing the
limit OF service prerequisite to eligibility:
that the Apache Indian prisoners at the Mt
Vernon barracks near Mobile, Ala, be trans-
ferred to the mountain lands OF North Caro-
lima, Alabama, or Tennessee, that company
rations bettered; that post canteens be
exempted from the operation of the revenue
laws, SO far as payment of license is con-
cerned; that the pay of musicians be increased,
or that obstacles in the way of regimental
bands obtaining engagements to play outside
be removed; that an additional inspector be as
signed to the division OF the Atlantic.