San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-02-11

punishment for dpSerti0n, 1S one or
the most important causes for the
existence Of the latter. A man
deserving desires to discontinue
the contract Oor he does not con-
slider himself bound In any other
way than by contracD. He figures
this way: | have enlisted for three
or five years, as the case may be.
| am, for some reason or other,
tired OF it; now | have served six
months. II | desert and get caught
| get six months and 'bObtai'
(uuder the limit lisD. II so, l will
be two or four years respectively
ahead OF the government. AS to
the dishonorable discharge, why,
nobody outside Of the army cares
for that. So that in fact the govern
ment by its mode Of Furnishing
desertion fosters the same; /. O.,
helps the deserter attain the end
which he is seeking. Not much
punishment in that, L know.
"Fifth--There are various other
causes which may lead to deser-
ton, but such cases are isolated
and can be traced to their origin.
Drsertions during the first year Of
enlistment can always be traced
back to one Of the four causes men.
toned, or to combination OF
same. Men claim different reasons
for desertion, and in many in
stances they are unable to give
good reason for themselves, but
they are really seeking for an ex-
cuse, but not for reason. A man
deserts because, he says, he Is
homesick il he knew that by such
action he would bring recognized
disgrace on his family he would
not desert"
"What is the most frequent cause
OF desertiOD, and why"
"Answer-This question is fully
answered in my reply to the first
query"
During what period Of enlist
ment, and why?"
"Answer-During theif1rst year
for the reason that most expense
mas to be borne by the recruit at a
time when he receives the smallest
pay; and for the additional reason
that an absence of disciplinary
training makes the commission OF
the crime easier, i. e., more eXcus- |
able in the eyes OF the offender |
himself"
"Of what nationality most fire.
quent and why? OF what nation !
atty among white men most fire.
quent, and whyw
"Answer--The American bred
and born citizen, for the reason
that the Inherited democratic |
tendency underlying each Ameri-
can born boys nature makes him
chafe under the necessary res
traint OF discipline and being &C
custOmed to look upon desertion as
A very small offense indeed, he |
takes the first real or imaginary
wrong done him for an excuse to |
desert; l. e., to break the contract"
"What are the most practical
means Of prevention, and why?"
"Answer-Instead of discharg.
ing captured deserter, make hi m
expiate his crime by short ter m
Of solitary confinement and then
make him soldier the balance OF
mis- time that the contract calls for,
compelling him to wear or use
some distinctive badge "a black rib
Don on the sleeve, for instance)
which could only be removed by
continuous good conduct and sure
signs OF reform. Such men, marked
out plainly, could be we'll watched
over until they redeem themselves
or their time of enlistment ex-
pires, and, by taking away from
the offender the possibility of can.
ceiling his contract with the gov
eminent by desertion the latter
will be stopped"
"What is the average character
Of men who desert?"
"Answer-Would compare favor
ably with the average character Of
men in the same station of life on
the outside"
"Why can not desertion be pre-
ventedw
"Answer-It can at least 1t can
be reduced to minimum by pro-
per legislation and practical, not
| theoretical, reform only"
"Should greater care be exercis-
ed in recruitingw
"Answer-The whole system OF
recruiting should be entirely
changed. Recruiting to be done
by regiment, and the most import
ant part OF swearing in be post
poned until the recruit has been
for a certain time with his aegi-
ment."