Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-10-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
peserters Who Cost Uncle Sam 81, ooo.-
900 YeAr-Hard Lot Of the I'm.
listed Man Chances to Rise.
[spe, ial Correspondence. |

One million dollars year is what
che United St.ues government has been
payi for recruits who have deserted
before their services were of any value
To tieir country. 1t was estimated last
yalr by an army officer who was well
Informed on this subject that one third
of all the men who enlisted in the army
in the last quarter of century had de-
serted. Ii their loss involved simply
swearing in other men, the government
would not have great cause to COM
plain, for there are more volunteers
than vacancies each year. But in most
cases the deserters of the past have been
supplied with clothing at the govern
ment's expense and have been transport
ed long distances. AS their successors
had to be supplied with uniforms and
transported perhaps an equal distance
desertion meant loss Of $3.50 man.
Punishment Of Deserters.
OF course there was something at the
bottom of this state OF affairs. In the
first place, the men who deserted were
giving up chosen occupation and an
income; in the second place, they were
risking capture, trial by court martial
and Imprisonment at hard labor. The
punishment of the 5l8 men convicted of
desertion last year ranged from months
TO AZ months, and most of the light
sentences were distributed among l79
men who surrendered within 90 days
Six men were sentenced to AZ months
confinement and 1919 men to 80 months
confinement. About one-half the men
who deserted gave themselves up or
were apprehended. So the chances of
escaping punishment of a very disagree
able nature may be reckoned as about
equal to the chances of being punished
The war department has been casting
about for means to alter the condition
of affairs OF course some of the deser-
lions can be credited to the restlessnees
of young men, for the average age OF
the S,813 men accepted by the enlisting
officers last year was a little above %
years. Four hundred and eighty-six Of
the recruits were under 90 years and
4,309 were between 20 and "a years of
age. But evidently the chief cause Of
the assertions was elsewhere.
Release Purchase Possible.
Casting about for a probable cause,
the war department determined to try
the plan of offering the soldier all OPP
portunity to purchase his release from
service after one year in the ranks. This
was found to have a slight tendency
to demoralize troops, some Of which
were depleted very rapidly by the pur-
chase of discharges. But the purchases
paid i'll part the cost of enlisting new
recruits, and it was found better to have
the men remain in the service one year
and then go out honorably than TO have
them remain for only a month or two
and then run away. Recently another
change has been made which promises
to insure still further the stability Of
the service. The term Of enlistment has
been reduced from five years to three
years. The inducement OF increased
pay is offered TO men who re-enlist,
and many men who would go ont
at the end Of five years are kept in
service for second enlistment, or six
years in all, by the offer OF increased
compensation. AS result OF these
changes and of efforts to improve the
condition of the men the number Of de-
serters is showing gratifying decrease.
Few Inducements For the Private.
As general thing army life offers
few inducements to young men OF sem
sible ideas. By this is not meant life at
the military academy at West Point
and the subsequent experience of an ar
my officer. These have many attrac-
tons. The life of the enlisted man has
been anything but desirable in the past.
The class of men admitted to the serv-
ice was such that association with them
was the reverse of elevating. The war
department has attempted to improve
this condition Of affairs. The require
ments for enlistment have been made
more stringent, so tat the character Of
the recruits admitted shows a marked
improvement. The life OF the soldier
has been made more agreeable and op-
portunities for improve both men,
tai and physical, have been offered to
him by the establishment of schools at
army posts and by the building Of gym
nasiums. Now a further effort to refine
the surroundings and associations Of
the soldier is being made by the estab
lishment Of a regulation that no person
who has not an elementary education
shall be accepted as recruit
More Opportunity Nowadays.
For some time past men who offered
to enlist have been required TO give ref
erences and prove their character. Here
after the recruit need not fear that he
is to be surrounded by company of ig-
norant, half vicious men, who have en-
listed Gas many have done in the past)
for the purpose of escaping the civil au-
thorities. A young man Of 20 or 81
years of age who is driven by force Of
circumstances to seek his fortune in the
world and who can find no other honor
able occupation need not be afraid to
enlist in the army. He will have excel
lent opportunities in the intervals of his