San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-02-11
Ghe 9utlY 5t9ltt.
ARMY NEWS.

REPORTED SPECIALLY FOR THE LIGHT.
No one subject has given those
In authority more cause for serious
consideration than the subject OF
desertion in the army. Almost
every reason imaginable, for its
existence has been given and every
known remedy applied to reduce
the evil but the latter with only
partial success. Below will be
found some reasons for the causes
OF dpsertion by one who has served
in the ranks and himself deserted
the service. The questions were
given him to answer and the lat
ter have been in a manner I'll at
will make most interesting read
ing to army people and others in
terested in its welfare. Owing to
the length OF the subject the views
submitted to the Times are given
only in part:
what are the principal causes
OF descrtiou classify and describe,
il general and indefinite. so state"
"Answer-First-The principal
cause is the little Importance at.
tached by the average citizen Of
the United States to the Cfrom a
military standpoinD crime Of de-
sertIon. The average recruit is
well aware Of this fact and that
knowledge tends to lessen the
magnitude Of the offense in his
own eyes.
"Second-The little ceremonial
displayed in administering the
oath OF enlistment. Most recruits
are very young men, therefore,
very susceptible to retain an i'm
preston given, and the fact, that,
in some cases, very little ceremony
is exhibited in this most Import
ant affair tends to destroy any i'm
preston Of a moral obligation in
the recruit. Statistics show that
Is per cent OF the divorces are civil
marriages proof Of the import.
snce Of ceremonial in matters OF
Importance.
"rhird-Insufficiency OF pay in
the first year. Seemingly the
government does not keep the con-
tract made, at least so it appears
in the eyes OF a new soldier. H.
bargained with tine soldier for Sl3
per month and clothing, ETC., addi-
IionAI. On joining his company n,
will be issued clothing; yet | have
to see the first soldier that can be-
fitted with ready made clothing
and not look scare crow. Every
soldier is, when first joining, amb-
tious and therefore desires to look
his best; he has to draw unmade
clothing and pay for the making
OF same out of his own pocket
sometimes prices are exorbitant
There are posts where charges OF
company tailors are restricted by
the company commander, but
then, how many ways has not the
tailor to apply the "thumb screw"
against "kick?" The government
also compels the recruit to draw
fatigue clothing" "furs" "suspen,
ders' and other small articles
hirh no receives at cost price, it Is
true, but which do not figure in
lno computation Of his clothing
allowance. His clothing allowance
based on so much clothing per
year allowed, will vary with the
length OF service and contract
price OF clothing; still such articles
as arctic overshoes,' furs,' fatigue
clothing etc, do not appear in the
computation table, although they
form part OF the regular uniform,
and here seems to be a breach OF
contract on the part Of the govern.
ment. These items take quite a
slice out OF the pay Of recruit.
The government also issues bed
clothing, but makes in no cases,
except in the defunct recruiting
depots, any provision for getting
them washed, but compels the re.
cruit to pay for that out Of his
own pocket. Last, but not least,
the recruit has to furnish his own
cleaning kit. While each com
pany has one or more cleaning
kits on their papers, issued by the
ordnance department, to be used
In cleaning arms and equipments,
yet, outside the armorer, nobody
has ever seen the inside OF one oil
the boxes, and even the armorer
himself knows in but few cases
how to use the materials. Five
dollars is small amount to figure
for the purchase Of complete and
first class cleaning kit, but it is q
large part OF the $l2.S74 of the re-
cruit. On the face Of it, these things
would seem to be too small to lead
up to desertion, but when one
takes in consideration the fac