Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-21

nllg Oh UnO war CI INC JIG dNCioSO
annual rate of desertion was his per cent
of the enlisted strength, and since the war
it has been nearly the same. From January
/, 1867, to June 80, 1891, twenty-four and
one-half years, the number of assertions
from the army was SIS, AS. 1t has cost the
government very large sum for pay,
clothing, subsistence and transportation OF
recruits to replace these men.
RECRUITS.
An effort has been made to improve the
character of the recruits of the army by ex-
Guiding, as far as practicable, men OF ques-
tionable habits or reputation. Applicants
for enlistment are not accepted unless they
produce satisfactory evidence OF good char-
acter In case of doubt they are held on
probation a reasonable time, aud, if the re-
suit of the probation is not satisfactory, are
discharged before any expense for uniform,
pay or trans portation is incurred. Hereto
fore recruiting has been carried on in from
thirty to forty of the largest cities OF the
country and the rendezvous has some times
been established in sections of these cities
frequented by the least desirable classes
from which to obtain recruits. Besides
giving special care to the proper location of
such rendezvous as are still maintained In
the larger cities, the experiment has been
tried, with excellent results, of extending
recruiting to the smaller towns. The num-
Der of recruiting stations has thus
and besides many villages and rural
districts are visited by non-commis-
stoned officers from neighboring rem
devious Wherever regiments are fayora-
bly, located for sending recruiting parties
into towns and villages within reasonable
distance from their posts, they ape required
to depend largely for recruits upon their
own exertlons. AS q result the number OF
desirable recruits obtained from the rural
districts during the past year has been
much larger than heretofore, and that has
doubtless contributed considerably toward
the great reduction of desertion.
BY recent order the maximum age at
which original enlistnents are made has
been reduced five years, and is now limited
TO those under the age of thirty years. 1t
would be very desirable il this age-limlt
could be still further reduced, and no re-
enlistments allowed except in case of such
non-commissioned officers as have attained
special proficiency. This would return the
soldier after three or five years service to
civil life in the majority of cases better
fitted for it than when he enlisted. 1t Is
better that the soldiers service should be
an incident and not the business of his life.
If retained too long in the army he cannot
succeed out OF it, and so may end his days
in the soldiers home, instead of in home
of his own. The army, in time of peace,
while training men for the possible con-
tingency of war should not unit them Tor
the certain duties of peace.
am confident that after few months
training they will be fit for any service,
and, properly managed, viii furnish val
liable addition to the military strength OF
the nation. Great care must pc taken IN
the selection of officers to whom is intrusted
the instruction and development of these
companies. Only officers of high charac-
ter, who believe il the work and in the
possibility of progress and civilization for
the Indian, who are patient and faithful,
and not only soldiers of highest order, but
imbued with something of the missionary
spirit as well, Should be selected.
1t is not only an important step toward
their civilization, self-Support and control,
but it is the cheapest and best insurance
against further Indian troubles. While l
believe they will prove trustworthy in any
service, even against their own people,
they will at least be sureties in some meas
ure for their respective tribes.
THE ARTILLERY.
The bill for the reorganization of the
artillery passed both houses at the last ses-
sion OF congress, but amendments were
added in the senate, and the amended bill
reached the house so late in the session
that it failed to receive action. From
| purely military standpoint the organization
of this arm is not defective, but two first
lieutenants in each battery are an unneces-
| sary expense
THE THREE-BATTALIoN ORGANIZATION.
The question of the three battalion Or
| ganization for the infantry has been before
| congress, and on account OF the great de-
| fects of the present system must necessa-
| rily be the subject of discussion until rene
| died by legislation. measure in other re-
| spects desirable which would materially
| increase the expense of the army might not
receive favorable consideration, but the es-
| Sential features of this change can be had
! without increase of expense.
| The single battalion organization of in
| fantry is radically defective and unfit for
| actual service under present conditions
| During the period since the civil war our
| infantry organization has remained I'M
| changed, and is now, in respect to the sin
| gle battalion feature, obsolete. 1t is so
| vicious that the. first step in case of war
| mus be to abolish it and to start anew. 1t
| can not be amended or modified; 1t IS I'M
wieldy, incapable of subdivision to either
make or meet an attack under methods
now prevailing, and the situation grows
worse with every improvement of arms.
| The development of range, rapidity and
| accuracy of fire of modern arms, has been
so great that 4 smaller and more flexible
battalion is essential, for this development
makes celebrity i'll handling troops on the
| field prime necessity.
ENLISTMENT OF INDIANS AS REGULAR SOL
|
| In March last a general order was issued
! authorizing the enlistment of one company
| of Indians for each of the twenty-siX regi-
meuts of white cavalry and infantry serv-
| ing west of the Mississippi river. This &C
! ton was taken after careful inquiry into
| the conduct in the past of Indian scouts and
| police employed in military or quasi
| military capacity.
The primary object. fully justifying the
| experiment, in my Judgment, was to give
| employment, in useful and legitimate chan
| nels, TO a considerable number of Indians of
the wariike tribes. Having been deprived,
by the extinction of game, of both employ
ment and means of subsistence, they can
not be changed at once from nomads to
quiet and successful farmers. Incidentally
| il was hoped that the habits of obedience,
cleanliness and punctuality, as well as OF
| steady labor in the performance of both
military and industrial work inculcated by
service in the army, would have a good
effect on those who might enlist, and also
furnish an object lesson of some value and
exert healthy influence upon others OF
their tribes.
1t was not deemed advisable to urge In
dams into the service hastily, and special
efforts have been made to inform them of
the responsibilities they would incur and
the duties that would be required of them
as soldiers. The results have been very
satisfactory. Seven companies, three of
cavalry and four of infantry, have been
recruited to their full complement, and
seven others partially, and the reports inii-
cate that the organizations of these will be
completed at an early day. l have had an
opportunity to personally inspect some of