Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-17
UNNILITARY CONDUCT,
Some Sharp Criticism of Volunteer
TrOOus.


In a report to the War Department Brig
adler General Thomas NJ. Anderson COM
manding the Department of the Lakes,
gives a brief account of the operations in
that department for the period beginning
May S last, which was the date of his TAX
ing command. He says as a result Of a re-
cent inspection of the posts of the depart
ment that Columbus barracks, Ohio, is well
adapted for a recruiting depot. but not in
his view for a large permanent garrison.
1t cannot well shelter more than 800 SOL
diers, and proportionate number Of Off
GERS. The grounds are of limited area and
the sewerage and drainage, he says, are
defective. In hts opinion, a new line of
dIains should be put in for the buildings
located in the extension of the post. For
reasonable expenditure, the post, he says,
can be made healthful and agreeable.
Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, is reported
to be in good condition. but in the opinion
of General Anderson. is too expensive for
small garrison. No provision has been
made in the barracks for company meSseS
and general messing does not meet the ap-
proval of any considerable proportion of
officers of the line.
Fort Thomas. KY. is also reported to
have the Objectionable feature of the gen
eral mess.
According to General Anderson, the
strength of the department, July 81, ag-
gregatfng I2S enlisted men, is inadequate
to the possible needs of a department., EN-
bracing six large and populouS states. De-
Quoting the prisoners, guards. sick and spe-
cfai duty men, not more than three-fifthS
OF the small force can be made available
for concentration in case of need. 1t has
at times been found difficult to secure Off
GERS for court-martal duty and other re-
quirements.
Colonel u. NJ. ]. Sanno, 4th Infantry, late
acting inspector general of the department,
in report to General Anderson on the
subject of discipline, says that the behavior
of the detachmentS of the regular army was
excellent at all posts except Fort Thomas,
where the commanding officer reported that
Salem settlement, just outside the reserva
ton, a nuisance, and on account of
low saloons, which II contained, menace
to the moral and discipline of the men.
The discipline of the volunteers at Fort
he admits that ii is no easy matter to main
tain in volunteer organizations generally
the regular standard of army discipline.
"PrlvateS were observed" he says, "go-
ing about the post and town with blouSeS
unhuttoned and presenting slouchy ap
Dearance and / failed to see any attempt
being made to stop such unmilitary habits.
The men were careless about saluting, and
1t was noticed on several occasions that
men, sitting down, saluted with a wave
of the hand without assuming a standing
position. Enlisted men, presumably men,
bers of the guard at st. Marie's Canal.
visited Sault Ste. Marie, wearing their side
arms and entered buildings there. The con-
duct of some of these volunteers in becom-
ing involved in riot or drunken brawl in
Sault Ste. Marie July p, 1898, was the sub
ject of personal investigation by the de-
partment commander under instructions
of the Secretary of War, to whom COM
plant regarding the affair was made by
oil