New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-10-30
peaceful references Of the speech were ap-
plauded. The reichstag was adjourned ow-
ing to the absence of aquorum.
FELL FLAT.

FELL FLAT.
Little Truth in the Sensational Stories
About Jefferson Barracks.
WASHINGTON, Oct. % The report of the
army court of inquiry which investigated
the charges made with regard to the treat
ment of recruits ar Jefferson Barracks, Mo-,
has been laid before Secretary Proctor by
Capt Ebsten, a member Of the court, who
came on here for the purpose. The report
consists Of volumnous mass of testimony
and summary of this evidence. No
recommendations or opinions are con-
tanned in the report, as the articles
of war provide that courts Of inquiry shall
not submit any opinions with their reports
unless specifically ordered TO do so, and no
SUCH order was made when the court was
created The testimony taken showed tuat
the charges made were exaggerated but
that there was some foundation for them.
The charges of extreme cruelty towards the
enlisted men were not proved. 1t was
found that the food given the men was
badly cooked and poorly served. The ra-
tons were ample and the supply
of vegetables was particularly abun-
dant. It was shown, however,
that too much coffee and sugar had been
saved and turned over to the cOmmissary
for its equivalent in money, and that the
messes had not been conducted judiclously.
There was no misrepresentation OF this mon
ey, and it was all placed to the credit of the
different messes. The charges that nom
commissioned officers were taking advantage
OF the recruits, and were running games OF
chance, such rs stud poker. chuch-a-luck
and the like, and thereby getting a part OF
the monthly wages of the men, were sus-
tanned. Only one case of what might be
termed harsh treatment by the non-com-
mssioned officers was discovered, and this
branch of the allegations
PRACTICALLY FELL TO THE GROUND.
The assertion that the men were strung up
by their thumbs in the guard house was dis
proved, although it had a slight basis.
Drunken and refractory prisoners, for their
own safety and that of other soldiers. and of
the government property, were placed in a
large cage and their wrists handcuffed on the
outside of the bars, but this was neither
harsh nor cruel treatment, and was gener-
ally necessary The statements OF Mr.. Wood
ward, the reporter who enlisted and wrote up
the story of the treatment OF the men, were
found to be reliable so far as they concerned
| matters within his knowledge, but the stories
told him by other enlisted men could not be
substantiated. Many of these stories were
| exaggerated, and were traditions which had
been handed down for years from one re-
cruit TO another. The worst of them de-
tailed the case Of man who had been struck
down in the guard house by a sergeant and
| left to die there without medicinal attend
| ance. No foundation whatever could be dis
covered for this story. That feeling pre-
| vailed among the men that any of them who
complained to their commissioned officers
| would in some way suffer for it, was found
| to be undeniable. but could be traced to no
| definite course and appeared to be simply an
| indetinable fear having little or no basis.
| The deseroions from the post averaged about
$50 year for the past three years. his is
| in excess of assertions at other posts, but
| Capt Ebstein says he thinks it traceable to
| the fact that it is in the West near large
! city, and the force composed of cavalry re-
cruits It was not due, he is sure there, to
| food or treatment Many men, he says, en-
| list in the East for no other purpose than to
get West, while many Others enter the army
| from sort of restlessness or
| BECAUSE OF FAMILY TROUBLES.
| These men become weary Of the discipline
| absolutely necessary in the army, and it is
| then found some morning that they have
| deserted, and the number increases with the
! proximity of the post to a large city where
| they can hide Jefferson Barracks, Capt
Ebsten says, is particularly unfortunate in
| the matter of assertions, owing to the fact
| that many of the recruits are @repeaters," or
| chronic deserters. It is cavalry post, ard
these reporters, he SAYS, having already
served in the artillery or the infantry. enlist
| in the cavalry, knowing that cavalry
I recruits are sent to Jefferson Barracks and
that the probabilities are strongly against
their seeing any officers there with whom
they previously served The result of the
investigation, Capt Ebstein thinks, will be
decidedly beneficial as it will result in right
ing many grievances which have gradually
crept into the service. Col. Bernard has
been placed in command at Jefferson Bar
racks and has already taken steps to correct
evils found to exist The cooking and serv-
ing of the food has been improved. and
other things tending to increase the comfort
Of the men have been looked after
Secretary Proctor will in Il few days order to
other stations the non-commissioned officers
who have been running games of chance
and will take measures to prevent such
things occurring in the future: Speaking
of the food served the enlisted men, Capt
Ebstein said that the army had never been
| better fed than now. He could speak from
experience, as he had been twenty-five years
| In the army and had risen from the ranks.
he did not believe any men ever deserted
because OF tie food. The soldiers through
out the country Were better fed than the
laboring classes in the neiehborhood