Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-02
THE SOLDIERS LIFE,
Gen. RugEles Comments on the Cau.
of DISCRETION.


of DesertiOn.
In his annual report ON the condition of
the army. Adjt. Gen. Ruggles makes the
following statement in regard to assertions:
THE number Of assertions in the army
during the past year was 1,165. an increase
of 9l over the number reported for the pre-
ceding year, and a fraction over per cent
of the enlisted strength of the army.
THE cause of desertion is not altogether
in the service; it must be looked for partly
outside OF 1T. Many young soldiers do not
like the necessary restraint of military life
and long for home and its surroundings;
while the revival of business tempts others
who enlisted when out of employment to
return to their proper avocations in civil
life. Desertions will only cease when rest
less men fail to enlist and the disconnected
in the ranks fully realize that the incon-
in n soldiers life are far preferable to the
loss of civil rights under section 1898 Of the
Revised Statutes and the constant fear and
danger Of apprehension, swiftly followed
by adequate punishment
According to Gen. Ruggles, the Indian as
soldier will soon be a thing of the past.
The only existing Indian organiza ton,
troop l.. seventh cavalry, composed of
twenty-four Kiowa and Comanche Indians,
was enlarged June IL. 1898. by the transfer
to 1t of the forty-three enlisted Indians of
company /, tenth infantry. The twenty
four men are to continue on duty as cav
airy soldiers until they shall become en-
titled to discharge; the forty-three are to
be employed and controlled as before the
transfer. but are to be neither mounted nor
equipped as cavalrymen. Ultimately they
are to be discharged
In regard to promotions from the ranks,
Gen. Ruggles says:
promotion, to the grade of commissioned
officer. of meritorious non-commissioned
officers found morally, Intellectually and
physically qualified for promotion.
hn of nf T,ylX
| married soldiers. under thirty years of age,
of sound physique, who. being citizens of
the United States shall have served honor
ably in the ranks not less than two years,
have borne a good character both before
and since enlistment, are permitted to COM
pete at prescribed examinations for COM
missions in the army.
1T was anticipated that this Legislation
| would incite the ambition of men in the
ranks and attract to the military service
young men of superior character and edu-
| cation, whose presence in the ranks would
| greatly benefit the discipline and morale of
| the army.
There are now in the army one hundred
and nine officers of the line who were pro-
NOTED from the ranks since the passage of
| the act of June is. 1878. In the decade be-
| ginning with that year, forty-three men,
with an average service in the ranks of
| six years and one month, gained commits
| sions. From 1855 to January l. 1895. sixty
| six men, with an average service of four
| years and twenty days, were promoted to
| the grade of second lieutenant. For the
| four years-1SSS to 1S91-folowing the first
decade, the average length of service in the
| ranks fell from six years and one month to
| four years and six months. 1t has since
| fallen to three years and five months.
| Should the present conditions continue, it
may soon be reduced to two years, the
minimum of service contemplated by the
| law of July 80, 1892.
ut would seem. therefore, that the men
| who now compete for promotion are not
| so much men who enlist to be good soldiers
| as men who enlist for commissions Some
of the disappointed have already sought
| ischarge by favor"