The Washington times., 1903-04-14
NAVAL DESERTIONS
IN THREE DECADES
Analysis of Figures Show
ing the Percentage OF In
crease and Decrease With
in Certain Periods.
Facts Showing That Deser-
tions Fell Off During the
Time Of War Opera
tons.

The Army and Navy Register" pub
fishes this week the following article OF
he subject Of assertions in the United
States navy. which was prepared by H.
2 Gauss. confidential clerk to the Sec
rotary OF the Navy.
In connection with the study of prob
ems in relation to the Improvement OF
he condition OF the enlisted personnel,
he Navy Department has taken up the
question of the comparative percentage
IF desertion in the United States navy
n years running back TO 1876
Owing 10 the bureau changes and diff
.ering methods OF keeping the records,
5ata are at present available IN only
we groups OF years previous to 1891.
The three groups studied are 1876. 1877
and 1873 in the first group; 1887, 1888
and 1859 in the second group, and from
1881 10 the present time in the third
subdivision.
But it happens. the data accessible
covers the periods Of marked changes in
the administration of the enlisted per-
sonnet Of the navy and the study of the
question seems 10 indicate:
Resulting Conclusions.
First. general law that marked
changes in The total strength OF the en-
listed personnel are accompanied by an
increase Of the percentage of desertion.
Second That active efforts to secure
q maximum strength are accompanied by
an increase of the percentage OF de-
sertion
Third. That in the years following
such a period of active enlistment. when
The enlistment work has returned to the
normal, the percentage of assertions de-
creas es-
Fourth That the maximum percent &c
of desertion under peace conditions is a
little less than i per cent: that
the minimum IS a little over 9 per cent,
and that the normal is between Il and Il
per cent
IN the first group of years considered
and given in the table herewith. 1876 was
marked by the reduction of the maxi
mum enlisted strength OF the navy from
$500 men 20 $500 men. The result was
16 per cent OF desertions. Ships crews
we're broken up. there was spirit of
unrest and disturbance. In the follow
ing year under similar conditions OF
material bur with a settled condition
and policy with regard 10 the personnel,
fhe percentage Of desertion had fallen to
1.6 and in 1873 was but g.
The second group Of years opens with
1887. with a deSeruon percentage of %
This and the following year. 1888. were
those OF the manning of the first OF the
new navy. the Boston. Atlanta. Chica go
group, and Of active enlistment for the
additional crews. and 1888 shows decid-
ed bulge in the desertion percentage,
rising to 1874 per cent and returning TO
81 il 1889 when the conditions had as
sumed the normal
a Bad Year.
Another very striking result is shown
in the figures for 1891. IN that year en-
Ifstment vas pushed 50 effectively that
il three separate months OF the year.
the work had 10 be stopped as the maxi
mum authorized had been reached. The
year showed the highest percentage of
assertions, 1G.S. a condition that con
tinued with only q slight relief during
1892 and 1888 and until the increase Of
me authorized maximum TO 1000 in
1898 permitted more steady course OF
enlistment work in place Of the inter
Tnittent periods OF active enlistment TO
make up the maximum after 2 decrease
OF the personnel by discharge
The further increase OF the maximum
o. the enlisted personnel in 1897 and
another period Of actiy. enlistment was
accompanied by a corresponding in
crease in the percenta 2 OF desertion-
Congress authorized J. 600 men for that
year. an increase Of 000. and the per
centage Of assertions increased, TO 1928.
The following year was that of the
Spanish-American war and under war
conditions the desertfons fell on 10 81
per cent ard the year gives no basis for
comparison with years Of peace,
The years following 1898. in which
year the navy was returned 70 a peace
basis. have been years OF active enlist
meRt The total enlis ed strength has
been increased betwee TWO and three
thousand IN each yea until the present
fiscal year, when the e. orts TO enlist the
maximum strength ". bring in an In
crease OF over FIVE ousand enlisted
men as compared with the last fiscal
year The considerable numerical pro
portions OF The desertion list has been
a cause Of anxiety 10 the department for
the period since 1883. and as a result
o. efforts to make the service more at
traetlve. the percentage Of desertions
has been materially reduced.
No Abnormal Proportion
The figures given below as bearing on
the present condition OF the navy show
that it IS not true that an abnormal
proportion OF desertions Is the fact
Upon the basis OF the deductions made.
q very. considerable increase in the per
centage Of desertions should have been
realized successfully In 1902 and in the
current year
Add 10 the normal rate Of increase the
consideration that the bulk OF the en-
Iistment is not coming from d populs-
a tion familiar with the sea and the con
n ditions OF sea life, but that the new
strength OF the navy Is being made up
almost entirely from the interior. Jhe
expected percentage OF desertions should