Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-06
GRIEVANCES OF THE TROOPS
NEED OF MAKING THE ARMY
MORE ATTRACTIVE.
Discussion Of the Question by Acting
Inspector General Galbraith.
Enlistment for q Year.

There is a crying need Of making the
army more attractive to the private SOL
dler. according to the annual report of Col
J. G. Galbraith, acting inspector general
of the army. The report discusses in an
interesting manner the grievances Of the
soldier concerning small pay. insufficient ra-
lions. faulty uniforms, conditions attending
enlistments and causes of assertions.
Some of the causes Of assertions and
changes suggested follow:
Lack of permanency of commanders OF
companies. shifting commissioned personnel
with the regiment and the deterioration Of
the regimental spirit; tyrannical sergeants
and lack Of home interest and encourage
ment which sustain the volunteer regi-
ments. The report says that IL the first
enlistment were for one year desertiohs
would almost disappear and recruiting
would be facilitated. The report continues
People Refuse to Think Of War.
The American people refuse to be scared
over the possibility of war. and the gospel
of preparedness receives scant attention.
When we contemplate the humiliating
shocks that may be inflicted on our ma
tional pride in the first clashes Of arms
with the land forces of any f1rst-class
power, we could wish that more heed were
given to the lessons of the past and the
warnings for the future. A strong first
line of defense would gain time for the
mastering of our latent forces, but we find
ourselves unable to fill the ranks of this
first line
The criticism that the army is not we'll
enough paid is renewed. The report rec
ommends that Congress be urged to greater
liberaiity SO that the soldiers may have a
uniform with style that is pleasing
Discrimination against the soldiers uni
forms at theaters and public places may
be lessened if we keep his working clothes
MOI In hn no n nd I'D II.
dice might be disarmed if he wore the dress
instead of the service uniform. And it Is
possible that sometimes we carry too far
the prohibition of civilian clothes Dis
elimination against the soldiers club Is
something for which the soldiers does not
hold his officers responsible"
More Infantry Needed.
More infantry regiments are needed. &C
cording to Col. Galbraith. He shows that
the burden of foreign service falls with
undue severity the infantrymen and
that their periods of enjoyment of home
stations are extremely limited. compared
with other branches of the service The
report says:
"A recruit cannot join the infantry in the
United States and serve with it two years
before he is confronted with this foreign
service prospect 1t ought to be possible
for him to serve one enlistment with one
regiment before he decides whether he will
become permanently identlned with tnat
regiment. AS 1t is. we have shifting rank
and file of less than three years identifica-
ton with one regiment and a disappearance
of the old reliable soldiers who were the
mainstay of our infantry before We had
foreign possessions. Ten more infantry
regiments should be added to our roster
I'VE cannot fill these regiments or the
existing ones unless We modify in some
degree our methods. We must consider the
means by which volunteers will be brought
to seek and to like military service instead
of finding soldiers life irksome. We must
study and appreciate the peculiarities of
tie American soldier and not disregard his
notions or his foibles.