Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-08
STATE OF THE ARMY
General Condition Declared
Reasonably Satisfactory.
GEN. BURROWS REPORT
EVIL OF DISCRETION DISCUSSED
WITH VIGOR.
Recommends a Probationary Period of
Three Months, During Which Pay
Should Be Kent Back

Cen G. H. Burton, inspector general of
the army makes several important recon-
mendat ions sfor the benefit of the service in
his annual report. He says the general CON-
dition of the army to instruction and eff
fciency is reasonably satisfactory. Both
officers and men, he says, appear to be
working honestly and faithfully along the
lines laid down by the authorities, but their
efforts are frequently impeded by obstacles
beyond the power of commanding officers
to remedy, such as detached service of Off
GERS insufficient coast artillerymen and the
maintaining of one and two company cav.
airy and infantry posts.
He criticses severely the absenteeism of
captains from their commands and says
that out of 3cS companies and troops where
information was obtained 155 captains were
absent He says this condition of affairs in
jures the discipline of the army.
Desertions From the Army.
Gen. Burton discusses the subject of de-
sertion with unusual vigor and frankness.
He points out that the government has pro-
vided enlisted men with quarters and sur
roundings which luxurious compared
with other armies of the world and has done
everything to make the life of the soldier
pleasant and agreeable and yet assertions
nave DteH SitduiiS liiCI DuiiiB Tie
year there were 6533 desertions, with an
average enlisted strength OF 5S,9I9 or 11.07
per cent, against 1878 assertions and a
percentage of 9.S2 for the year 1904, show
ing an increase in number of ego, and in
percentage average enlisted strength con-
sidered) of Los.
"Nne-tenths of the soldiers who desert
from the army of the United States" says
Gen. Burton have no real for the
act. They not only break their contract
with the government but they deliberately
violate a solemn oath. given before their
Maker, to serve 1t faithfully and honestly
for the term of their enlistment. If every
deserter knew that the penalty for his crime
would be five vars in a state pententary or
a military prison it is believed there would
not be one desertion where there are today
twenty.
THE Christian communities of our coun-
try seem to view the compact that the SOL
der makes with the government simply in
the light of a contract. Otherwise, 1t 10
not believed that Christian people would
contemplate this sin of oathbreaking with
the lenency in which it is now apparently
considered.
THE best judgment of the army is that
if the exchange were to furnish the soldier
with light beer, under the supervision of
the commanding officer, it would result in
greater cOntcntment and in mlni1liZ ng the
crime of desertion. This, however, is only
one of the causes reported to inspectors as
ieaOlHB 10 ueStTllOIS, anu not one Oh Jnt
greatest at that.
A Probationary Period.
statistics show that more tran 25 per
cent of all assertions occur in the first three
months of the soldiers service. Hence, to
avoid in large measure. this wee. it is
suggested that the first three months of
service be simply under a contract cover
ing that pariod of time the government 10
reserve all pay above So per month under
said contract. If. at the ma Of hat Pc
riod the applicant fees that his CXperience
In the service warrants him in enlisting,
he could then be sworn ana receive the
back pay due him. If he elected to sever
his relations with the government he should
forfeit the back pay ;hus reserved. This
would, at least. save great number OF
men from the sin Of jarh5reallng, ana the
government could better afford to send
them back to their homes thar to tlars-
port them. il often does, from one end
of the continent to the other. This plan
presupposes the retention OF all recruits at
depots for ninety days, 4 place where and
a period during which they could and do
get better instruction in first PRINCIPLES than
they ordinarily receive with their compa-
MES. Besides the advantage to the man 1t
would be a convenience to the government
IN that during this probationary. period
officers would have an opportunity to judge
whether it was advisable to enlist the in
diVldual under consideration"
Would Separate Artillery Branches.
Gen. Burton strongly recommends an In
crease of the coast artillery and the sepa-
ration of coast artillery from the field ar
tillery. I'm the future instruction of the
infantry he says, eve should not forget
the important results obtained from night
attacks and bayonet charges during the
present war in Manchuria. Usually they
attack at night; If they gain the position
daybreak finds them intrenched,' Is a les
son in Japanese tactics worth studying"
He also recommends that chiefs of in
fantry and of cavalry be established in the
War Department with the rank of brigadier
general, as has been done with the ar
ullery. Gen. Burton refers to the "deplora-
Bile situation that has been brought about
by separating officers from their proper
commands for all kinds of duty and says
that evil deserves early consideration and
relief. THE education of militia officers at
the service Schools, says the report. lis an
interesting experiment which may possibly
terminate in disappointment" A large per-
centage of these officers failed at their en-
trance examination. Gen. Burton reviews
the work. of the various staff bureaus and
SraD mi pdc bar