Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-17

recruits have not always been examined
improper applicants out Of the service. This
complaint Is not a new ore, as the identical
situation existed last year, and was COM
mented upon In the corresponding annual
report In the following words, which are
worth repeating: 1t is thus seen that in SO
per cent of the discharges made the cause
existed at the time the man was accepted
as g. recruit. This percentage is silent
structure on the laxfty of the physical ex-
animation to which recruits are subjected
and clearly indicates that in too many in
stances the medical examiner usually a
civilian physician specially employed for the
purpose, performs his work In an altogether
superficial manner l consider the employ
~ of that class of medical men In re-
cruting Offices as radically wrong
Transfer Of Apache Prisoners.
General Bates suggests the desirability
OF the transfer of the Apache prisoners OF
war now located on the Fort Sill reserva-
ton to the Fort Reno reservation, giving
the latter to them outright. including the
old buildings thereon. which. with some
alterations. might be made to admirably
shelter them. while the Fort Reno res
ervation, says he. lis not of sufficient
size to give to each 16O acres of land if it
be decided to divide it in severalty, 1t will
give to the tribe more than sufficient to
maintain them In comfort. and even lux
ury. when they learn to use 1t to the best
advantage. On account of the buildings
they would thus receive 1t is not improbable
they might view the change with satisfac-
ton. 1t is understood there is considerable
unused land adjoining the Fort Reno re-
serve which belongs to the Darlington In
dian agency and If thought desirable some
of this might, perhaps, be given to the
Apaches II the suggested change be made
the Reno garrison should then be trans
ferred to Fort Sill, to the benefit of military
interests. The progress these Indians have
made toward civilization Is justly entitled
to mature consideration, and humanity die
tates that their interests be closely guarded
by the government"
Desertions Due to Homesickness.
In a chapter on discipline General Bates
says:
with increased instruction and larger
garrisons the discipline of the command has
correspondingly improved. and may be saM
to be generally satisfactory, although there
have been many trials by courts martial.
Most OF these, however. have been for
minor offenses. The number of assertions
continues to be large, and the opinion ex-
pressed In my report last year, that they
are due In large measure to inconsistencies
on the part of the recruit and to the fact
that a number Of young men enlist with
little knowledge of the life of a soldier and
without mature deliberation Is renewed, as
is the suggestion that "a trial for a few
days at a military post is perhaps the best
way to determine if applicant for en-
lfstment will probably make a desirable
soldier and 1t would also enable the man
to decide Understandings II the life will
suit him. 1t is believed to be practicable
to apply this test in most instances
There were 3.429 men tried by summary
courtS-martial, resulting in 8,216 trials with
$3.50 convictions and 2}6 acquttals 1t
should be observed. however, that many of
these trials were for light offenses that do
not demand serious attention. 1t is be-
lieved many of them might have been
avoided with advantage, If a more liberal
although defined n nunfShmant WQ
conferred upon company commanders.
Referring to the year ending 1897. 1t is
observed that in this department the num-
Der of men tried by summary courts-martial
was 29.4 per cent of the enlisted strength.
During the past year 1t was $40. Several
reasons may be assigned for this unfavor-
able comparison. The numerous detach-
ments into which regimental organizations
were divided for a time in the Philippines,
the Introduction of many young and some
what inexperienced officers, and the great
number of recruits required for an in
creased establishment naturally made con-
ditions less favorable than formerly. Again
in 1867 the anticipated war caused an
unusual number of applicants of high char
acter to- apply for enlistment.
Trials for Drunkenness.
Speaking of the offenses tried by gar
rison and summary courts martial, the
Judge advocate states: The charges show
that 7S3 are directly traceable to the use
of intoxicating liquor. The number of trials
by summary courts-martial due to drink
cannot be determined from the present re-
ports to this office. but it is believed that
an estimate that so per cent of the trials
are so caused would be conservative.
1.-The judge advocate is Of the opinion
the important change in the administra-
ton of military justice that is needed in
this department is reform in the care and
custody of military prisoners and the
turn from the post guardhouse system to
the method involved in that of a military
prison. and this charge cannot be too
strongly urged In this opinion 1 earnestly
concur. The post guardhouses are over
crowded and what Is even more serious,
the contact of the men convicted by courts
martial, especially by general courts mar
tial, with young soldiers in good standing
is highly prejudicial to the interests of dis
cipline.' "