The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-11

merely 70 get rid Of him There have
been a number Of deseruons from almost
every regiment.
dosertion was the result 81 ignorance
on the part OF the men. A good many OF
the volunteers were given permission 10
20 home soon after they were mustered
in. MANY of these not unders landing the
gravity Of this offense. did not report az
camp on the expiration OF their leave or
absence. If they returned they were
usually let OF with q reprimand. Will
ful absence OF ten days constitutes de-
sertion.
Curiously enough, while large numbers
OF soldiers IN the last three years nave
been practically permitteg to desert YET
Individual soldiers have been seVereIy
punished FOR merely boasting that IL
was their intention 20 run away rom
the army. Court-martial has been known
70 follow such remarks, and term III
the military prison to follow the court
martial.
Very few regular soldiers. no matter
how much they may have to complain
Of, or how FESTIVE tLey have become IN
der the strict discipline, ever desert In
the face Of actual fighting. Fear seems
10 be the last and least cause Of deser-
lions from the United states Army.
The real motive Of half the assertions
seems % be restlessn,ss on The part OF
the men. II IS not dissatisfaction with
the army. for strangely enough these
deserters frequently re-eniist Indeed,
tbis Is so true that in times Of peace de-
sertors are usually sought for at recruit
ing stations. where sooner or later they
are pretty sure % drift.
The figures regarding deserters are OF
interest. There are some 500 men IN the
United states who have al ore time or
another served in the army or navy from
which they have deserted.
Ii Is said that more sailors than sol
diers offend in this way. considering the
relative numbers Of enlisted men in the
two great fighting bodies. A sailor
ashore is apt 70 get drunk and he leit
behind by his ship IL It makes but BRIEF
stay in port. The navy docs not make
the effort TO recover it's dcserters that
the army previously made unless the
shin should be shOrt-handed. It's Off
GERS do not care 10 have on shipboard
men who would prefer to DO ashore. Life
on shiDboard is necessarily so intimate
that the presence Of disaffected and rest
less men IS doubly undesirable. II was
this class that. in the old days, caused
mutiny.
At one time. not longer ago than 1872
the number Of deserters from the army
reached the very considerable figure OF
90 a month with the greatly increased
force at present making mp the army, II
IS doubtful II the figure is one-fourth
go large.
There are other methods besides desert
ing which are sometimes resorted 10 by
soldiers and sailors 10 whom life in the
army and navy has become i-Ksome. In
the army these methods are known as
"paying out" or discharge by purchase;
"by order" which means by order from
the Secretary Of War. working FOR a
"bob-tail." or a dfshOnrable discharge,
and the plug route"
The plug route" though fraught with
many dimcultcs when Il Is pursued UNI
der the wary eye OF n strict officer is
easy 10 explain % the uuinitiated. The
soldier desiring dis barge simply acts
the dolt and dullari. failing 10 under
stand the simplest order. and generally
giving an thr trouble he can through
an assumption Of utter incapability 20
perform his duties I'm this way. he seeks
10 tire out the patience Of his suDerlors,
who are soon glad 90 be rid Of him.
Sailors have their own methods Of OBJ
tanning similar results. To be set ashore
with dish onorable discharge IS called
being "beached." in the vernacular OF the
navy. IL IS needless TO say that few
desirable men either work for a bob
tail" follow the "p.rs-route." or seek 10
be "beached. '-Philadelphia Press.