The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-11
DESERTIONS FROM The NAVY.
STEADY DECREASE IN PERCENT.
AGE INSTEAD OF INCREASE.
Secretary Moody's CONFIDENTIAL Clerk Re.
plies 70 Criticisms Of Lieut.. Gen. Count
Won ReventlOw Of the German Army

plies TO Criticisms Of Lieut.. Gen. Count
Won Reventl0w Of the German Army
WASHINGTON. April lO.-The Army and
Nary Register will print tomorrow a state
ment, prepared by H. c. Gauss, confidential
clerk to the Secretary Of the Navy, con-
corning assertions from the naval service.
Attention has been attracted to the SUBJ
ject recently by charges that assertions
are on the increase, and the assertion OF
Lieut.. Gen Co INT Won Reventlow, Of the
German Army, that a low morale exists In
the United States Navy, a conclusion which
he reaches on the assumption that the
number Of assertions Ia abnormally large.
Mr.. Gauss was able to secure data relating
to desertions for the years 1870 to 1878.
1887 to 1880, and 1891 to 1902 inclusive, and
a close study Of the figures led him to reach
these conclusions:
First-That marked changes In the total
strength Of the enlisted personnel are so-
companied by an incresae Of the percentage
of desertion.
maximum strength are accompanied by
an increase q the percentage Of desertion.
Third-That in the years following such
a period OF active enlistment, when the
enlistment work has returned to the normas
the percentage Of assertions decreases.
Fourth, that the ma ximum percenta g
Of desertion under peaoe conditions Is
little less than II per cent; that the mini
mum is little over Q per cent. and that
the normal is between II and u per cent
Mr. Gauss gives figures which he says
SHOW that II Is not true that an abnormal
proportion Of desc n ions exists
Add, he CONTINUES, TO the normal rte
OF incpas 8 the consid. ration that the bulk
Of enlistm mt is not coming from populh-
ton familiar with the sea and the condi-
tions Of sea life. but that the new strength
Of he navy is being made up almost en-
tirely from the int rior, the expected per-
centage Of d. sertons should be largely
over any ma ximum OF previous years,
when enlistments we're MADE almost Wholly
from among sailors and a long shore popu-
lation.'
In 1915 the enlisted force was reduced
from $500 to 1900 The percentage OF de-
sertions was TO- 'Ships crews were broken
up, and there was spirit OF unrest ana nd
following year, with q settled condition and
policy in regard to the personnel. the per-
centage Of assertions fell to 1i.o and in
1873 to o per cent.
Taking the second group Of years. 1887 So
increased to 1874 in 1888, when the first
vessels Of the new navy were manned. and
falling to OIL in 1880, when conditions be-
came normal.
Another very striking result, Mr.. Gauss
says, is shown by the figures for 1891. In
that year enlistment was pushed so eff
fectively that in three separate months OF
the year the work had to be stopped. as the
maximum authorized had been reached:
That year showed the highest percentage OF
desertions, 1913. a condition that continued
aE iaH
1898, and until the increase Of the authorized
maximum to 0, 600. In 1894. permitted a more
steady course OF enlistment work in place
OF the intermittent periods OF active en-
listment to make up the maximum after
decrease Of the personnel by discharge
In 1892 there were ,260 deeertions,
percentage Of 1852 OF the whole enlisted
strength; 1893, 1889 assertions, .l52 per
cent; 1894, 920 desertions, l02 per cent;
1895, S8S assertions. 100 per cent; 1895,
desertions, 1928 per cent; 1898 spanish
war year., 1917 desertions. .057 per cent;
1899, 2O2S desertions, .13s per cent; 1900.
2,452 assertions, .147 per cent, 1901, S,l5S
desertions, 1877 per cent; 1902, S,037 deser-
tions, l4l per cent,
percentages Of assertions since Novem..
Der, 1902 In November. 1907. the total
strength of the enlisted personnel had in.
creased rs per cent. and the assertions had
increased COS per cent.
In March, 1908, with an increase Of So
Der cent. in the total strength, the desc rtions
had decreased COL per cent. In conclusion
Mr.. Gauss says:
There is reason for belief from the re-
suits Of these comparisons that the great
body Of new material that mas 6een aooeo
TO the navp in the last two or three years
is being worked into a contented, efficient
personnel, and that the measures which
have been taken to improve the condition
OF the service and make II more attractive
have been wisely conceived and successfully
carried ont