The Washington times., 1903-10-14
SEVERER PUNISHMENT
FOR ARMY DESERTERS
Inspector General Urges I'm
pr sOnment at Hard Labor.
FROM TWO TO FIVE YEARS
Believes Investigation Among Deserving
Soldiers Company Comrades Should
Be Made in Every Instance.

Inspector General G. H. Burton be-
lieves the best cure for the epidemic of
desertion I'm the army would be the re
moval OF the limitation Of two years as
the time I'm which a deserter may be
punished and the fixing OF the penalty
for desertion at Imprisonment at hard
labor for not less than two nor more
than FIVE years in military prison like
that formerly maintained at Fort Leav-
enworth.
In discussing desertion the Inspector
General says:
"A man who is so morally depraved as
to break his solemn oath OF enlistment
and many evidently enlist with the in
tention of getting transportation to GER
tain places and then deserving -should
be severely punished for his crime.
1T is the opinion of this Office that
there is no real cause on the part of the
Government for the desertion OF a single
soldier. II we except the act depriving
him of certain privilege in his club
and the new recruit should have known
or that when he enlisted-the Govern
ment has done and is doing everything
for his comfort and welfare that can be
expected In fact. no soldiers in the
world are as well fed. clothed. housed.
and cared for as ours.
Causes of Desertion.
THE principal causes for desertion in
the Department of Texas. as observed
by the inspector general Of that depart
ment. are the lack OF amusements and
recreation at isolated frontier posts: the
close proximity OF the posts TO q foreign
country affOrding a near and safe re-
treat for deserters: and the abolition Of
the canteen feature of the post ex-
change. causing the establishment of
numerous low groggeries in the immedi-
ate vicinity Of the posts where no re-
straint can be kept on the soldier. and
where drunkenness and gambling are
encouraged until the soldier becomes SC
deeply involved that he deserts to es-
cape the consequences.
After reviewing the desertion figures
for 1909. which show that 4.6e7 soldiers
or 50 per cent OF the entire enlisted
force. deserted, the Inspector General
suggests an investigation as follows:
when the yearly number Of deser-
lions has reached an aggregate equiva-
lent to the authorized strength OF almost
six full regiments. and when the per
centage of desertion has shown an in
crease in one year from ~ TO So ol
- per cent. the sdbjecr OF desertion be
comes one OF deep concern to the Gov
eminent. and should receive the closes
possible investigation and attention.
Looking for the Motive.
1T is believed that much valuable
Information as TO the causes for deser-
ton could be obtained from the men OF
the organization to which the desert
ers belonged, especially from those who
were their associates. and II is recon-
mended that an order be issued direct
ing that when a soldier deserts a board
Of officers viii be convened to thorough
~ investigate the circumstances at
tending the desertion. and especially the
causes which induced il. and make q
report to the department commander
through military channels.
"A quarterly tabular statement should
be compiled from these reports at de-
partment headquarters and forwarded
for the Information OF the War Depart
ment. This statement should show post
and organization: where enlisted: ages
and length OF service grouped into. say
six classes each; and the causes fol
descrtion briefly classified. and. TO In
sure uniformity and facilitate digestion
should be prepared on a blank FUR
nished by the War Department