San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-21
MILITARY NOTES.
How Soldiers are Punished Other
News Notes

News Notes.
When q man enlists in the United
States army, he is generally supposed
J to be an honest, upright and almost
perfect man. This, however, is not al
ways the case. Though most soldiers
are the finest built and looking mi
| to be found, sometimes q black sheep
| gets In amongst them and brings dis
| grace on not only himself, but his
company and sometimes his whole
regiment. These men are dealt with
rather severely whenever occasion
offers.
For instance, couple OF profession.
al thieves enlist and commence a
systematic thieving among their con .
rades in their company and regiment.
At first, blankets, hats, canteens and
shirts are missed Oy the soldiers ana
never seen again, and soon watches,
money and other valuable commence
to be missed. This Is kept up some
times for years without the
thief being caught up with
run In everyone Is surprised that a
man with such good character, etc.,
could do such q thing. Nevertheless,
when he Is. court martialed and the
strongest kind of proof brought
against him, which shows him up as
he is, the court generally gives him
heavy punishment by dishonorabiy
discharging him and cOnvictiDg him
to from 3 to Z years, according to the
proof. In furnishing crime the pun
ishment inflicted in the army is far
heavier than that in civil life.
The difference is great, as will be
seen from the following summary:
For a plain drunk in civil life the city
recorder generally fines the culprlt
50, but in the army he is confined
several days in the guard house and
fOrfeits from s. to $40 of his
monthly stipend. In recent court
martial q prisoner was condemned to
be imprisoned for eighteen months
and dishonorably discharged from the
service for committing nuisance and
cursing his comrades, in a very OBJ
scene manner. The puishment was
richly deserved, though it was dimin-
ished six months by the department.
commander. Had this case been be-
fore any city court in the state the
man would probably have been fined
not more than $50. and probably be
sent to Jail for as many days. For
disobeying orders the soldier general.
ly gets "six-sixty," that Is six months
in the guard house and fine of $50
of his pay. A civilian is not fined,
and at most is only out of q job. In the
army an enlisted man is required
TO show respect to, an obey most
orders or the officers. III some cases
the enlisted man is more deserving OF
respect than the man whom he has
to salute. If he should fail to follow
this course he would be punished and
probably very heavily. But this is
necessary In the army, for, should
the soldiers not be compelled to look
up to the officers and obey them, the
results might be serious In case OF
war. The civilian Is compelled to
obey no one and to show no respect to
him for whom he feels none and can
not be punished for not doing SO.
Still, In spite of all this, if q soldier
attends strictly to duty and abides by
the rules and regulations, his life Is
by no means hard one and he gen.
oI"iy icO0iNoo LILO iOWoiu ioi soou
character.
SMALL DOTS.
A number of enlisted men, their
wives. relatives, friends aud sweet.
hearts, are cut on the Salado today
picnicking. A keg of beer and plen ty
to eat goes far towards making the
day an enjoyable one. There will be
another picnic party out there to-
morrow, from the post. The grounds
below the Austin crossing are lovely
grounds for picnics. There is as
much shade there as can be found
any where and the scenery Is beauti-
full.
The Sunset Social club gave their
regular weekly hop at Muth's pavil-
ion last night and quite number OF
guests were present. The evening
was spent In dancing and most en-
joyable time was had by all. Prof.
| essOr Muth's orchestra furnished the
music for the occasion.
| Major Vroom has returned from
Bryan, Texas.
| Geo. Goodale, the eldest son of Cap
tain Goodale, has received an appoint
ment to the Military Academy q,
West Point. He will leave for that
place In few weeks.
James Warren, the deserter from
company F, 23rd infantry, who wal
recently caught at Lyons, Texas, will
not be sentenced to penal servitude
but will be dishonorably discharged
from the service. He escapes any
harder punishment as he is diseased
| and unfit for work