Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-11-18
]. s. ARMY IS
UNDER OFF|CERED
So Says Lieutenant General
Chaffee In His Annual
Report.
SIT ARE ABSENT ON DETAIL.
should he some Legislation Affecting
The Political Rights Of Dcscrtcrs
Would Mean Less Crime,

Washington, Nov. lS.--"The army is
under oniccred. says Lieut.-Cien Adna
r. ChaGea. chief OF staff in his an
uual report TO The secretary of war
lie says this condition exists for the
army in peace, and in time Of war u
would be in badly crippled condition
There are 5l7 officers absent on detailed
duty. These officers are detailed In
the general stan, recruiting service at
the various academies and schools and
on different kinds OF duty required by
orders and regulations. Cen. Chafee
thinks that provision should be made
TO hll these vacancies caused by ~
tails which arc permanent IN char
acter
Gen. Chaffee discusses the desertions
i'm the army and makes the following
suggestion
Some suitable legislation affecting
the political rights OF deserters ara
an aroused public opinion that de-
scrtion from the military service OF the
nation IS repugLant In the minds OF
all good citizens. constitute the prac-
t,cal method and the only eftectual
means. IN my opinion for the material
abatement OF the crime referred 10.
lie says the wisdom of the creation
OF the general staff has been abundant
Is demonstrated. In the first division IN
addition TO q vast amount Of other
work. elaborate data has been collect
ed as to the number of vessels pro-
durable for use as transports at the
various seaports of the Atlantic aud
gulf coasts and tho number OF troops
they viii accommodate, the camp ana
storage facilities at the ports, the rail-
roads leading thereto and the side ana
rolling stock available.
The Second division has been en-
gagged I'm the collection classification
and preparation Of military intouna-
tion for ready reference in case OF need
and I'm the dissemination Of non-con-
ndontial, professional data, In the form
Of publications monographs, reports,
memoranda, etc.
The Third division In addition TO its
duties as the permanent personnel OF
the army war college, reviewed during
the year the educational system Of the
army ana after careful study looklhg
TO its Improvement, rendered reports
which resulted IN remCdeling the sys-
TEN In some respects. Studies Of prob
lens relating TO coast defense were
made, with special reference 10 ne
needs OF the artillery corps IN re'1-
ton to submarine defense. the care
and operation If electrical installations
at coast forts, and reports rendered
covering these subjects.
The Northumberland discusses the
report Of the board OF ordnance whose
corps, he says, is hampered by short
age of officers The chief of ordnance
has also found It impossible TO issue
the new model rifle but 1t is expected
that the troops Will be supplied III
time for target practise next year. some
changes have been made and II has
been necessary to substitute the knife
bayonet for the rod bayonet.
The chief of ordnance has adopted
the practise OF "targeting' every rife
before issue to the troops, the purpose
being to make certain that the sights
OF each are practically placed. 1t has
been ascertained by extended tests
that the mtzzle velocity may be 100
feet per second less than originally con-
tenlplated with the gratifying result
that twice the number Of shots may
be fired out before the barrel Is suf-
iicienty crroded to noticeably effect
accuracy for target practise and this
gain without loss Of efficiency as a
military rifle.
1t has been determined. practically
SO. that an error was committed when
the caliber of he revolver was re-
duced from 40 to IS for efficiency, the
efficiency assured by the change being
merely q reduction IN weight Of the
revolver but this, as now found, az 10
sacrifice Of actual utility. stopping pow"
en- and shock effect