The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-08-27
DESERTERS FROM THE ARMY.
hanks often Try to Get
hack Again.

There are in the United States to-day
5000 men who have at one time enlist
I'd in the army or navy and then de-
serted. An effort is now being made To
pardon these men on the condition that
they return to the service and finish out
the remainder Of their terms OF enlist
ment.
Undoubtedly in the event Of var so
many men who have, at the least, a
primary knowledge Of the duties of the
sailor and soldier, would be an i'm
portant 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-haf Of the men who enlist In the
service OF the United States grow tired
~ the drill and discipline and seek an
opportunity to desert. These men nre
not, as a rule, the best, and as their dis
satisfaction Is bound 10 become ap
parent, such men are not given the free
dom which Is the privilege accorded
others. This prevents many assertions.
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 oyerstay their furlough and,
rather than take the punishment which
will 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, a man in hard luck Is very
liable TO go back 10 the army II he can,
and II he is In some other city than
the one he enlisted or deserted in, he
applies to the post. II he gives the same
name under which he was enlisted II
Is soo found cut II he Is a deserter.
But the applicant does not 90 this as
n rule and thinks he is quite safe. The
government has provided for just such
3 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 Ike that shown In the llustra-
ton is used, and these are classified in
such a way that an index Is easily pre-.
pared. Then the would-be soldier Is
told TO come back inaf few days.
In his absence the records are eU.
amined and II 1t Is found that bel a de.
serter he is arrested when he again puts
In an appearance. He is then held-in
the city Jail II the arrestis made 10 ST,
louis-until the var department ar.
ranges for his return to his former reg.
!ment. On his arrival there he Is placed
dnder guard and a court-martial con,
vened. That body assesses such punish.
ment as 1t deems proper, and the ar,
tcles OF war provide that the penalty
may be anything save death In times Of
peace, ard death only in war. Usually
the soldier has TO serve q term OF I'm.
Phsonment, forfeit his pay and then
remain until hs'Ebas served the full
three years OF his enlistment, counting
the time which he served before deser.
ton.
IL the bill before referred 10 IN passed
by congress deserters will be received
back into the army and navy IA "strng.
glers." That Is the term applied to men
who have failed 20 report for duty for
one cause or another, and the penalty.
" any, would be light and assessed only
rs a matter OF form. Such an act would
doubtless be gladly received by de.
sertrs, for In case Of wnr, when IL be.
came known that they had seen service
they would in all probability be called
to the front aad the discovery OF their
desertion would then mean much harsh.
er treatment-st. Louis Republic,