Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-26

last year out OF totai oi ou.luS enlisted
men there were 4.427 deserters, ss1 volun-
tarily returned to their ships, 706 were ar
rested, AT were convicted and punished
for desertion. The reasons for assertions
those in the army A free and Independent
American citizen, who has been brought up
to do as he pleases. as most American
families are. always suners from tne
strfction and discipline of a ship or mil
ttary post. and he does not take MS outy
seriously. Furthermore, many boys ais
like the sea after they have tried II once
and find 1t different from what they ex-
pected. Then, again. in these days OF pros
perity and high wages Inducements arg
often offered for man to desert MS col
ors to secure more profitable employ men a.
The modern navy is great school Tor the
training OF electricians and macninlsts.
After a sailor has served a year or so upon
q battieship or cruiser he 1s falriy
ployment at high wages from private cor
porations. Indeed 1t is known that certain
corporations are in the habit of sending
agents among the crews Of ships OF war TO
when their terms Of enlistment have ex-
pired and that these agents often en-
courage assertions
But public sentiment is largely to blame
in the case Of navy assertions. as IT Is
with those from the army. Very seldom
is deserter surrendered by his neigh
bors. The world hates an fnformer. ana
a young man may run away from his ship
and go back home without much danger
of apprehension. Notwithstanding the re-
ward that is always offered for his arrest.
Secretary Bonaparte's View.
Secretary Bonaparte, who has ideas on
al, subjects. declares that assertions from
the navy are due substantially to two
causes-either bad men or bad officers A
certain percentage Of the recruits secured
for the service are and always will be
'misfits.' unsuitable either for any use
R,,1 pAnf of
ment in the navy. Desert1on Is sucn
cases." says the Secretary, indicates an
appreciation of this fact on their part, ana
may be described. SO far as the service IL !,
affected by it, as process Of healthful
excretion. When however. snip loses
good men with good records In any con
siderable numbers from this cause the
fault, In my Judgment. is usually with the
officers or some one or more OF them. II
Is often said that military discipline ID
irksome to Americans, but l doubt the &C.
telligence Of the men we enlist enables
them to sec the necessity for strict subor-
dination and unquestioned obedience IN a
military organization. and especially ON
board ship: but this same intelligence rem
ders them critical as to the conduct ana
demeanor of their superiors and demands
a. higher standard OF professional merit on
the part of the latter.
I'm addition to the two foregoing causes
of desertion.' continued the Secretary, a
certain number Of cases will occur Yhere
enlisted men are mlsied Dy uhuesIaDl0
companions or some momentary tempta-
ton and are afterward deferred by shame
or fear from returning to duty. the pres
ent law does not. in my opinion, discrlmi-
nate sufficiently between the punishment
to be awarded these different classes of
offenders and should be amended SO as to
allow of greater discretion in this respect,
although 1t has been SO administered py
courts-martial and the department as to
mitigate, If not to remove, the undesirable
features nf its comparative inffexibiiity.
Admiral Converse's Opinion.
Admiral Converse. one OF the most
thoughtful and observing officers In our
navy, attributes the large number OF de-
sortions in that service to the same rea-
sens given by Secretary Taft for the army,
and believes that 1t cannot be prevented or
remedied Is long as public sentiment Is 80
sympathetic with the deserving sailor and
soldier. In discussing this subject the other
day he said:
THE laws of the United States punish
dssertton as crime, and IL public senti-
ment would aid by condemning the prac-
tice,. the difficulty Of experimenting desert
ers would be greatly decreased, their COM
parative immunity from the consequence of
their act would not exist, and the evil
would be in large degree overcome. In
no other military or naval organization in
the world are the interests and welfare
Of the enlisted personnel SO closely guard
ed, their remuneration so great. their con-
ditions of life on board ship so closely
studed-with a view to lessening the nat
ural hardships of the life-as in our navy.
Until public sentiment Is set right and
a larger percentage Of men are enlisted
who have true sense of their obligation to
their oath. appreciable decrease in the
percentage of assertions may be looked
for.
There will always be small percentage
of desertions," he continued. "due to the
Unborn restless spirit OF the American,
IL, 40 x1n~fv, rv1v k1
straint. though it be only the necessary re-
straint exercised under any form OF mill
tary or naval organization for the preser
walton OF discipline. There will also be a
ships Incident to life at sea and which
cannot be overcome: az. for instance. the
necessary retention for long periods of
time on undesirable stations; the separa-
pointment Of those who have enlisted with
an idea and hope born in the realms OF
romance. which does not take Into account
the strenuous training necessary to make
an efficient dman-o'-war's man.
Then. too, in any organization there are
those who are predisposed to disaffectiop.
and such men do not distinguish between
their oath to serve the government for the
allotted time and the verbal contract they
may enter into to engage to work on any
job for an employer on shore. They grow
tired of their Job and quit work on shore
when they are ready and see no reason
ply at sea, though their contract Is made
under oath to serve the government for
four years.
"AH Of these conditions are met with
in the naval SERVICE continued Admiral
Converse. 'and the resulting desertton rs
in a large measure due to the false SYM
pathy the public has for an individual SO
placed. 1t Is firmly believed that, IL pub
lie sentiment would denounce those who
choose desertion for their fancied ills or
their disappointments. the percentage would
be very largely decreased"
The Latest Experiment.
It will be interesting to observe whether
the new system Of post exchanges" for
which the government is expanding such q
large sum Of money, will have any effect
upon the morals and habits Of the soldiers;
whether they will lessen intemperance and
prevent carousng outside Of the barracks.
and whether they will have any influence
upon desertion. This cannot be determined
for several years Experienced officers how
ever take a hopeful view of the arrange
ment, they are confident that many SOL
diers who are not inclined to drink and
carouse will be kept from temptation by
having an attractive place to rest between
duties. Others still adhere to the conyIc-
tton that, unless beer is served at the post
exchanges, the men will go outside to get
It, and will frequent the same disreputable
dives that are now doing so much to ruin