The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-18
TO STOP DESERTION.
Gen. Chanee Suggests Aroused Public
Opinion as a Remedy.

Washington, Nov. 18.="The army
is under-ohcered," says Lieutenant
General Adna r. Chaffee chief of
staff, in his annual report to the sec
rotary of war. He says this condition
exists for the army in peace and in
time of war it would be in a badly
crippled condition. There are SIT of
officers are detained in the general
staff, recruiting service at the various
academies and schools and on different
Kinds OF duty required by orders and
regulations. General Chaffee thinks
that provision should be made to fill
these vacancies caused by details
which are permanent in character.
General Chaffee discusses the deser-
tons in the army and makes the fol-
lowing suggestion:
Some suitable legislation affecting
the political right of deserters and an
aroused public opinion that desertion
from the military service of the ma
ton is repugnant to the minds of all
good citizens, constitute the practical
method and the only effectual means,
in my opinion, for the material abate-
ment of the crime referred to-
He says the wisdom of the creation
of the general staff has been abund-
antly demonstrated. In the first divi-
sion in addition to a vast amount of
other work, elaborate data have been
collected as to the number of vessels
the various seaports of the Atlantic
and gulf coasts, and the number Of
troops they will accommodate, the
camping and storage facilities at the
ports, the railroads leading thereto
and the side and rolling stock avail
able.
The second division has been en-
gagged in the collection, classification
and preparation of military informa-
ton for ready reference in case of
need and in the discrimination of non
confidential, professional data, in the
form of publications, monographs, re-
ports, 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 and after careful study looking
to its improvement, rendered reports
which resulted in remodeling the sys-
tenn in some respects Studies of
problems relating to coast defense were
made with special reference to the
needs of the artillry corps in relation
to submarine defense, the care and
operation of electrical installations at
coast forts and reports rendered COW
ering these subjects.
The lieutenant general discusses the
report Of the board for ordnance
whose corps, he SAYS, is hampered by
a shortage of officers The chief of
ordnance has also found it impossible
to issue the new model rifle but it is
expected that the troops will be sup
piled in time for target practice next
year. Some changes have been made
and it has been necessary to substitute
the knife bayOnet for the rod bayonet.
The chief of ordnance has adopted
the practice of forgetting every rifle
before issue to the troops, the purpose
being to make certain that the sights
of each are practically placed. It has
been ascertained by extended tests
that the muzzle velocity may be loo
feet per second less than originally
contemplated with the gratifying re-
suit that twice the number of shots
may be fired out before the barrel is
sufficiently eroded to noticeably affect
| accuracy for target practice and this
gain without loss of efficiency as mil
/ itary rifle.
It has been determined, practically
so, that an error was committed wheI
/ the caliber of the revolver was re-
duced from "a to SO for efficiency, tht
| efficiency assured by the change being
merely a reduction in weight of The
revolver but this, as now found. at {
sacrifice of actual utility, stopping
! power and shock effect.