The morning call., 1891-01-04
MILITARY BRIEFS.
The Monthly Decrease Of Deser.
tiOns Continues.

Reports received at the War Department
with reference to assertions from the army
show that the monthly decrease continues.
In 1888 the assertions for the month of
November were 1S9; for the same month in
1889 there were 164, a decrease of Is per
cent For the month of November, 1890,
there were so, reduction of sc per cent
from the same month of the previous year,
or reduction of Al per cent from the month
of November, 1883. When the beneficial
effects OF the act of Congress approved June
IL, 1890, entitled IAN act to prevent deser-
tions and for other purposes" have been
more generally felt throughout the army, it
is expected that even still greater de-
crease in the number of desertions will re-
suit. The per cent for 1890 OF assertions to
the strength OF the whole army has been
per cent.
For the campaign against the Indians in
the Bad Lands the Quartermaster-General
has ordered to the Omaha Depot 1000 can
vas b!anket-lined and fur overcoats, 1900
fur caps, 1000 fur gauntlets, 5000 pairs
wooden Nuts, 5000 pairs arctic overshoes,
10000 pairs WOODEN stockings, 5000 knit un-
dershirts, 5000 dark blue flannel shirts, 600
pairs drawers, 5000 wooden blankets, 145
Miles overcOats, 1000 blouses, 1000 pairs
trousers (each) mounted and foot, 1000 pairs
of boots, 1000 pairs of shoes. so conical wall
tents complete. so wall tents complete, and
about 5000 shelter tent halves.
With reference to the Watervliet Factory
| the Secretary of War has transmitted pre-
| limiuary report of the board on gun factories,
| etc, in which 1T is stated that the limit of
present capacity has been reached. With
! the south wing Of this factory fully equipped
and working at its full capacity the report
| says it would require twenty-five years to
| finish the guns required for the Atlantic
| coast defense, and for the Atlantic ana Gulf
| coasts about twenty-siX years. For the At
| lantjp and i,nlf Pacific would
| require about forty years.
The first retirement under that feature of
| the new army promotion law, which per-
| mitS those who fail to pass the physical eX-
| animation to retire with the rank and pay
| of the next highest grade, has occurred in
| Lieutenant James McB. Stembel, Adjutant
Ninth Infantry. Seven other officers of the
| ninety ordered up for examination have
also failed on account Of physical disability,
| and will be retired as soon as vacancies &C.
| cur in the grade above them.
The War Department has in contempla-
| ton scheme TO lessen the guard duty OF
enlisted men. 1t is proposed to decrease
| the time of sentry duty for each man from
! one day In five to one day in seven. 1t has
| been decided, on the other hand, 10 increase
i the reward for the apprehension of deserters
| from $50 to $50. This with reference to de-
Serters subsequent TO December 81, 1883. and
liable under existing law to trial and pun
| ishment for desertion.
enlisted man in the field and each prisoner
in the guard-hOuse will be allowed a bed
| sack ana thirty pounds of straw per month
| for bedding and to men in hospital such
| quantity as the Chief Medical Officer shall
| certify TO be necessary. SO far as practical
| bic, iron hunks will be furnished to all pris-
| oners IN post guard-houses and prison.
| rooms.
The bill to increase from 5000 to $1,000 a
| year the pension of the widow of General
IN Loot kfg 70 in ryn11 ant fforbr
| with the Sioux at the battle of Little Big
Horn, has been ordered favorably reported
| to the House by the House Committee on
| Invalid Pensions. The increase will place
| her on an equality in the amount of pension
| with the widows of other Union Generals of
| like rank.
Colonel Charles Sutherland who has
| oeen promoted Surgeon General of the
| Army, vice Jedediah III. Baxter deceased,
Is the senior officer of the corps. He entered
the army In 1852, and will retire for age on
May 20, 1888. He is not unknown in this
city, having been Medical Director of the
Division Of the Pacific