New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-17
APROBLEM FOR ARMY OFFICERS.
nrsrRr1oys FROM THE SERVICE BECOMING DIS
CorRAGIXGLY FREQUENT AGAlN-iow
THEY CAN BE STOPPED

CorR,C1NG1Y FREQUENT AGAIN-low
THEY CAN BE STOPPED.
Washington. July &c Cspecia).-A serious Pro"'''n
confronts Army Oicials. II was learner ''S","''
at the War Department that 'be various ID"
passed bv Congress TO reduce the huIh''r VI "
scr,ions from the military service have no, c"c.'N
tbs manner Of depletion in the ranks. Orders
,cc1ilat,ons and other efforts. Issued ana maze III
pursuance OF laws intended TO prevent oeSet''o"''
have not accomplished the end aimed at IL was
ue scuFtOm formerly 10 issue penod'c p""e'i"'
showing the namber OF dcScrtions whru occuI'eu !"
the Army monthly. No bulletins OF tue KIM nav
been given ont recently. The last one was pun
lished one year ago. II showed that the hu'hpoi VI
descr,ons had greatly decreased and was then only
= q. n.r cen, OF the total strength OF the Army.
Returns compiled Up TO the end OF Ss' mouth prov
that n decided change for the worse has taken
place The Increase seems TO have begun abo" Tue
time the appearance Of the former monthly oui'"nN
ceased. The fact probably accounts Tor the sup
preston Of the bulletins. The number OF dcSei1ioh'
from all arms OF the service during June. le"2'
was abont 40. For June of the present year the
number was 205. Comparing the results OF the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1892. With those Of the fiscal
year Just ended the showing Indicates an incrraS"
OF about IL per cent in the number OF deSerlions.
As the total number OF deserIions for 1o02 was
3s2. the number for 1903 would at the present
rate be 2.O73. or only about 300 less than during
1ooS-o9, when military circles were greatly alarmed
at the situation.
To what the Increase in the number OF desertiohS
in the Army IS due must be largely matter oil
opinion or conjecture. According to the theory that
in good tines It Is difficult 10 get and keep enlisted
men des-rtions should be comparatively few Just now
Men desert frequently in summer than In the
other of the year. but the present condition
Of business througIOu, the country would seem 10
que against the sOundpcSs Of previously conceived
ideas Oh the subject In the opinion of many Wei
informed officers the present great number OF dc
scrons Is attributable TO the effects OF some OF the
very laws which were passed to prevent or decrease
Ge,crtons. The act which prohibits the rs enll'nG
Of privat.s after ten year, service Is particularly
mentioned. In support of their opinions on the sub
ject officers point to the latest records Of assertions
and find a number of cases whore who are In
their second. even older. enli~tments have left the
ranks. The men have apparently become discouraged,
and In a fit Of disgust what they seem to con
slider breach OF faith The part O the authorities.
have decided that II Congress will nulhfy implied
with the soldier the soldier Is justified In
breaking m actual one with the Government.
4 NUMBER OF men who were In III" Army AT the
time OF the passage Of the object lonabe act entered
with the Intention Of making soldisring permanent
cOors they find that the Government will not retain
them after their present enlistment expires. AS n
result ut the first opportunity many men desert In
disgust
War Department officials are alive 10 the serious
condition OF affairs Nv liberal construction OF the
intent Of the law which Is causing much trouble
they have tried 20 reduce the bad effects mini
not sufficient. ard that the only remedy il 10 renal
the law. Secretary Lament VIII urge such action
when Congress convcnes. Officers hope that IN
future similar experiments" pinqlorc' legislation
they call it will be let severely alone.