The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-10-09
GEN. DAeoErr AND TEE cANTEEN
ts,s Opportunities fer Jsdgsns is wsek'
ing-Dr. Munssn's Statistics C~haienged.

~ OUUoftuuIue9 Iof JouEtnk ~ Ws~s
ing-Dr. siunssu's Statistics Challenged.
To rHx Eprros op TUE suS-Sir; The
SUN OF Sept. - comments on my can.
teen letters published In the Army and
Mary Journal. Permit me 20 correct some
IN THE sun has unwi,tingly fallen into.
The Sun say Though the General was
q Captain for moro than twenty ycars. he
was OF detached service during the four
years Of that time that the cantsen system
was In operation. - that bis opportunity
for comparisons Of matters before and al
ter the canteen was authorized was not
% good as Il would seem
First was a captain nearly twenty-six
years. and commanded a company more
than twenty years. actually signing the
morning reports for that period.
Second | was not on detached service
-four years' during my whole term OF
service.
was on recruiting service from Octobcr.
isso. To October. 1881. also from October.
1850. TO October. 1901: IN all three years.
This IL the extent Of my detached service
except m occasional tour o. a few days or
more. oourt-martial duty. &c, ut different
army posts. These visits gave me an OPP
portunity 20 see tho operations Of the can
teen In a s,il wider sphere. After ] he
came q ne.d onioer my duties brought me
into close relations with the canteen a. q
member OF the Canteen Council. until field
officers we're no longer put on that duty.
A. post commander II was my duty TO be
thoroughly acquainted with all the work.
ings OF the canteen and report thereon
to the War Department. should not
refer 20 this experiences had not an attompt
been made 10 minimize H.
Third-THE sun refers 20 DR.. Munsonis
statistics aud assumes that thew are correct.
At the reorganization OF the army In 1890
II became practically a new army. but a
mere sprlnkling OF tho Old army previous
10 81 was left, and perhaps none as
company officers Through inexpsnence
Of recruiting oticep as well as officers
OF all grades and positions, n large pcr-
centage OF men Of bad character was en-
listed Tor the army. Even up 10 81, when l
was on recruiting service, while some i'm
provement had been made, Il was left
10 the discretion of tho recruiting officer
a. 90 whom he should enlist With good
judgment and keen assortment this nigh,
do, but even In the army not al possess
these qualities. Some recruiting officers.
being ambitious To make a large showing.
more attention 20 numberS than to
NlF "a " q WI W. -. - 49,
correctly or not. felt hat their continu-
Ancc on recruiting service depended m
what upon the number u men they might
enlist. They. therefore, worked under a
pressure which mad them less careful
Of quality than Of numbers.
Again, company officers being mex
perienccd. knew not how 90 care for and
manage their men. the ration was net a.
good OF a. Lafge A. nov, aud especially
not as well cooked aud served Barracks,
bedding, In short, all that goes 10 max"
the comfort and tends 10 the welfare
81 the soldier. Vas 10 pr -nt less
than nov The result of al these things
was desertiors, crimes. drunkenness n
all sorts Of fences ! have not the data
al hand 20 enable ne 10 give exact dates
" hen reform Measures l. gan, but not far.
perhaps. from iSs6. This series % meas
urrs continued until the breaking out OF
the Spanish American War. l. II needless
"a name them all But oue important
one Vas ~" holding Of recruiting oric"rs
reel, nsihlo for the kind of recruits they
hen | was OH recruiting service
October. -. To October, ~. no man
allowed to culist who could not bring
testimonials Of good character from sptne
responsible employer or person, and II
the duty ~ the recruiting officsr TO
ascertain whether or not the testimonials
were genuine After sending the recruit
To tho station he was examined 10y a board
and II found unfit physically or otherwi~c
and satisfactory explanation could not h"
by the recruiting oftcr he Wa
With all tho eNTen-' incurred 10y
Ia. Government on the recruit account
Then followed the improvements In har-
racks. lsds. hunks. me-se-, clothing. I
rhOrts at intellectual and moral training
u the men, game, practico marches, I
minor tactics. 80. DC. all Of which had
their effect In le~-"ning the evils mentioned
think " safe 20 SaV tina ~" army
improved 100 per cent during 'his
period Officer. from the War Depart
nent down To Captains. had gained Wis
bv long expeficncc. and adopted and
these and other measures for
he bettsTment Of the army Now 10
guore all the~- things and their legitimate
and give the canteeu credit for
hem. IL misleading. To SAY the least.
The cantecn was established during this
eriod Al first | was Inclined 10 favor
but after long and careful observation
consideration Of it, operations, ] am
4 the opinion hat it, influence will ser
ou-lv impair. If not destroy. the morals
md efficiency 81 the army
4 : Ds0GErr.