The San Francisco call., 1897-12-13
REGULAR ARMY NOTES.
The Inspeotor-General Favors
an Apprentice Battalion
System.
There Has Been a Decrease in the
Number of Desertions of Late
Years-Personal Notes.

First Lieutenant John P. Hams, Third Artil.
lery, and Second Lieutenant Charles T. Boyd,
Fourth Cavalry, have been relieved from duty
igned them in connection with the pro-
gressive artillery map.
Captain Merritte w. Ireland, medical de-
partment, has been ordered to the Presidio
Post, and his place at the Benicia Barracks
viii be filled by Dr. l. T. Ware, assistant sur
geon, assigned from the department OF Colo
RADIO.
Major s. W. Grosbeck. Judge Advocate of
the Department of California, who was absent
on leave of absence, has returned to his DOS
in department headq quarters
Harry c. Benson, recently promoted cap
tain, has been transferred from Troop K,
Fourth Cavalry, to the command OF Troop A
of the same regiment, now stationed at Wana
Walla, Wash.
LieutenantColonel Alfred Z. Bates, Deputy
Pdymaster- General and chief paymaster OF
the Department of California, having been
granted leave of absence for ninety days Will,
IN a few days, leave for Washington, D. c.
Lieutenant Dennis f. Nolan, one OF the
most popular office rs in the Department of
California, returned last Saturday from San
Diego, where he rad been for some time on
detached service with Company IL of the First
Infantry.
There are times when men who belong TO
the army are granted furlOugh, and it some
times happens that they are unable 10 return
TO their station for want OF funds, and in such
case Uncle Sam comes 10 their rescue, case
OF that character has just come to light 1t
having been made to appear TO the proper
authorities that Benjamin A Berry, Company
+, Eighth Infantry, stationed at Fort D. A.
Russell. wyoming, was unable to reach his
company at the expiration of his three
months furlough, the Quartermaster's de-
partment was ordered to furnish him trans
portation and the subsistence department to
commute rations for three days in advance,
and the soldier was Immediately started on
his journey.
Private John Shannahsn, Company F, First
Infantry, found guilty by Court Martial at
the Presidio, of quitting his guard aud of
drunkenness on guard, there being five pre-
Vlous convictions against him, has been sem
fenced to be dl dlshOnOrably discharged from the
service OF the United States, to forfeit ali pay
and allowances due him, and to be imprisoned
at hard labor for one year. The sentence has
been approved by Bngadier-General Shafter,
with the exception OF the term of imprison-
ment which mas been commuted TO six
months.
During the past month there were 900
enlistments for the army-36S were enlisted
at city stations, 526 at pos stations and 26 by
the special recruiting service.
Inspector-General Breckenridge favors for
the army, the apprentice battalion system,
which has been so successfully established in
the naval branch OF the service, and suggests
that Congress enact the necessary legislation
for the establishment and organization of a
battalion OF apprentices from 10 to Is years of
age representative of the whole country, TO be
assigned after thorough training under the
regulations OF the War Department. to certain
designated permanent OrgauIZ atoms until The
type is thoroughly established in the service
During the twelve months preceding Sep
tember l, there were 1884 trials b. court-mar-
tlal In the army. which was l02 Ies sithan during
the previous twelve months and there was
also decrease of 127 trials in inferior courts.
There were 244 desertions, being twelve less
than during the year previous and 274 less
than in 1894, which is proof that the service
at this time is such that the enlisted men
have no such desire TO escape from it as they
did at one time and that is due TO the i'm
provement of the condition OF the men,