The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-01
General Garter Recommends
 More VigOf n Islands
HAMPERS AMERICAN SUCCESS
General Lee DweIls on importance of Sufficient GarrIsons on the MexI- can Border-Troops Should
 Have Employment.

Washington, August a.-In his annual report. Brig. Gen. William H. Carter, commanding he department of the Visa yas, in the Philippines. strongly urges the encouragement of athletic sports among the soldiers to supply the present lack of means of recreation, and carefully regu- lated and abundant employment as the wholesome anudote for the effects of the Philippine service In time of peace.
 He holds that the number of troops in the islands and their distribution should be definitely determined. He says that no insurreotion or invasion can succeed if deprived of the control of Manila, and the principal seaport cities, and their occupa- tion is a military necessity.
 Temporary construction and makeshifts of every kind only serve, he says, to de- velop and confirm in the minds of the Tilipinos the Idea that the Americans do not intend to hold the islands per- manently, so the matter is properly one for the study of the general staff.
 A considerable portion of the report deals with the operations of Ladrones Tn this department during the past year. and General Carter says:
 VIII Delay Americanization.
 q am of the opinion that it is of no benefit to the good people of these islands and will delay their ultimate Americana ization. If the evil element is allowed to threaten. harass and openly attack Amer ican soldiers without immediate action by the commanding officer nearest to the place where the offense is committed
 The reason of this complaint is gener- al order which leaves only the civil au- thor1ties to deal with such offenders. General Carter closes his report with this tribute to tho soldier of the Phil iippines:
 Tt would be impossible to find in the ranks of any army more self-respect- Ing, intelligent, physically fit, and profes- sionally trained body of men. than those serving In the organizations assigned to duty in this department"
 Brig Gen. James M. Lee commanding the Department of Texas, in his annual report, says:
 Desertlons Are Rampant. 'Desertions continue without any marked decrease, and they will be in about the same ratio so long as the con- ditions remain the same, such as the constant accessions of recruits and the ease with which men can desert upon the slightest grievance or discontent. The causes of assertions have been threshed over so much in past years. that 1t is not necessary to repeat them here, further than to say that the principal factors arc drunkenness evil associations. frequent ing vicious resorts and insensibility to the sacred obligations of the oath upon en- listment, and thereafter.
 While almost everything possible has been done for the care and comfort of the soldier the improvement of the ra- tion, the establishment of expensive and deliberately equipped gymnasums, amusement rooms etc, the evil continues l without material abatement. The effect 1 or the abolition of the eanteen is to in- crease unauthorized absenteeism and pro- mote drunkenness and disorder all tend ing to induce desert tons"
 Garrisons on Mexican Border.
 In tho course of his general review of conditions in the department, General Lee dwells on the importance of main- taining sufficient garrisons on the Mexi- can border. Fort Clarke. he said' should either be abandoned or rebuilt on a new site The post at Camp Eagle Pass should be enlarged to a two-company post, or, if Fort Clarke Is abandoned to 1 a regsmental post One infantry com pany and two troops of cavalry should be added to Fort Brown garrison. Fort Mcintosh should be made four com pany post, and If Fort Ringold is to be continued 1t should be garrisoned as an outpost of Fort Brown.