The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06
DESERTERS FROM ARMY.
Conscience or Fear Compe1s Four Ont
OF Every Five to Surrender.

Of Every Five to Surrender.
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
There are certain destinations about army
life, no matter how subservient the position.
that holds the man who has once enlisted
like an iron magnet. The record of deser-
tons from the army shows that about so
per cent. return of their own accord and
surrender and that 60 per cent. OF those who
run away from duty do so in the stress Of
anger or while under the influence of liquor.
The records at Jefferson barracks, how
ever, do not bear out these statistics, be-
cause in the past year there have been six
ty deserters apprehended. while less than
ten surrendered of their own accord. 1t
must be said, however, that Jefferson bar
racks takes in all deserters for 400 miles
south, west and north, and, with the excep-
ton of Fort Sheridan, is the largest army
post for the detention of military deserters
in the West. The many soldiers who desert
from smaller posts come to st. Louis to
have good time and are taken in by the
police, thus increasing the record Of arrests
here. But OF the number of deserters who
leave the barracks 50 per cent. or more re-
turn Of their own accord.
The life OF the average soldier even in
time of peace is not easy. If in the cavalry
he is required to do an endless duty at the
stables, to take care of not only his own
horse, but of superior officers, and hun
dreds Of other duties besides. Many of the
young men who enlist in the army in time
OF peace do so, perhaps. for the purpose Of
themselves right into the most difficult
tasks they ever undertook They also find
nnd IL OF does n6t sgree Wt5 fb
American spirit. He wants at first to run
for his old friends and his old haunts in
life. Then, perhaps, IL he has the courage
he becomes q deserter, a fugitive from
army life and subject to military imprison-
ment and disgrace.
Desertion. however. Is often the result of
sudden anger. when a soldier believing him.
self to be imposed upon, will go away from
the fort and at once dispose of his army
toys and dress a civilian, which consti-
tufes desertion. II he has left the post
without leave of absence and has not sold
his clothes and gave other outward evil
is fined $40 a month and imprisoned for
short time. This is usually very trying
and, perhaps, leads to desertion in the flu
ture, just for the purpose Of getting
even"
A soldier may go away from the post
where he is stationed. remaining less than
ten days without leave, and If he returns
strictly sober, with his army uniform in
tact and his excuses fairly reasonable and
truthful. he will be let off with a fine and
a few days in the guardhouse. But after
ten days leave without any word, mat
ter how valid the excuse, he is not given
any immunity and is almost invariably
subject to court-martial and treated as a
deserter.
One main reason given by deserters who
are apprehended and who return of their
own free will is that they could not stand
the strict application OF the rules and
lcnged for a visit with home folks or loved
ones far away. In most instances these
reasons are the true ones also. A young
man may have sweetheart in far dis
tant town and he cannot remain away
from her so long as the commanding off,
Ger might choose to keep him on duty.
reasons, and if the young love-sick fighter
would see his sweetheart he must desert.
He cannot say his grandmother was dying,
or his mother i'll, for proof of such state
ments are always needed to secure permits
sion to leave.
In deserving from the army and returning
of their own free will most of them will