The Mena star., 1898-06-22
pEsERTERS FRo1I THE ARMY.
~en Who Unceremoniously Leave the Ranks Often Try to Get
 Back Again.

There are in the nlted States to-day oooo men who have at one time enlist sd in the army or nary and then de- .erted. An effort is now being made to pardon these men on the condition that they return to the service and finish out tbe remainder of their terms of enlist ment.
 Undoubtedly in the event of war so many men who have. at the least, a urinary knowledge of the duties of the sailor and soldier, would be an inn nortant addition to the army, and it is to fill the vacancies in the navy and to supply the two new battalions of ar tillery with men who are not raw re- cruits that the effort is being made.
 One-half of the men who enlist in the service of the United States grow tired of the drill and discipline and seek an opportunity to desert. These men are not, as a rule, the best, and as their dis satisfaction is bound to become ap- narent, such men are not given the free dom which is the privilege accorded others. This prevents many desertions. More sailors break the oath of allegi- ance than do soldiers. Jack Tar comes ashore, celebrates his leave of absence by getting drunk, goes to sleep and wakes up to find his ship gone. Many men have no intention of leaving the army, but overstay their furIough and, rather than take the punishment which viii result, do not go back at all.
 It is a peculiar fact that more de serters are captured in the recruiting offices than In any other place Once a soldier, man in hard luck is very liable to go back to inc army if he can, and if he is in some other city than the one he enlisted or deserted in, he applies to the post. If he gives the same name under which he was enlisted it is soon found out if he is deserter But the applicant does not 60 this as rule and thinks he is quite safe. The government has provided for just such a contingency, however. After 1t is found that the man is physically and mentally qualified to enter the army every portion of the body is thoroughly examined for cuts, marks or scars of any kind down to the smallest mole A chart like that shown in the illustra- ton is used, and these are classified in such a way that an index is easily pre- pared. Then the wonld-be soldier is told to come back in. a few days.
 In his absence the records are ex- amined and if it is found that he is de- serter he is arrested when he again puts in an appearance. He Is then held--in the city jail if the srrest is made in St Louis-until the war department ar. ranges for his return to his former reg iment. On his arrival there he is placed under guard ard a court-martial con. veued. That body assesses such punish. ment as it deems proper, and the ar tlcles of war provide that the penalty may be anything save death in times of peace, and death only in war. Usually the soldier has to serve a term of i'm prisonment, forfeit his pay and then remain until he has served the full three years of bis enlistment, counting the time which he served before deser' tioD.
 If the bill before referred to is passed by congress deserters will be received back into the army and navy as 'strag- glers.' That Is the term applied to men who have failed to report for duty for one cause or another, and the penalty If any. would be light and assessed only as a matter of form. Such an act would doubtless be gladly received by de serters, for in case of war, when 1t be- came known that they had seen service they would in all probability be called to the front and the discovery of their deserhon would then mean much harsh CT treatment.-St. Louis Republic.