The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
WANTS TEN NEW REGIMENTS
Acting Inspector General Believes
Infantry Branch Too small-SiEe
Is Reason for Undue share of For
eign Service-TyFannicaI sergeants
Cause of Much DesertIon.

dweHs strongly on the need Of an In
crease Of emolument for the private sol.
der. and he gives several reasons for
his position His main contention Is that
suitable men for the lowest grade in
our army are easily able TO get steady
employment for more than T3 month,
and that the glamour which surrounds
the military life viii not induce young
men 20 forego higher wages and other
attractions of modern life.
That the rations Of the army should
be improved is also the conviction Of
Maj Galbralth. who says that the soldier
should at least have as good meals as
the sailors, including butter. eggs. and
milk. which articles do not form part
Of the soldiers ratons.
The inspector likewise recommends
that the uniforms be made more service
able, and that the soldiers be allowed
10 wear dress uniforms when on leave.
instead Of service attire. He believes that
with the dress uniform, the tendency 10
discriminate agslnst the soldiers In public
places would - materially lessened.
Causes of Desertion,
In treating OF the subject OF desertion,
the report says that in the majority Of
cases. the causes for deseTuon could not
be ascertained, and that often the de-
serters are actuated by q spirit Of unrest
and inherent inability TO endure the disci-
pline. which causes cannot be laid to the
army.
The chief known reasons for desertions
are said 10 be as follows:
Lack Of permanency Of commanders
OF companies is frequently and strongly
urged as causing much Of the trouble.
The shifting commissioned personnel
with the regiment and the deterioration
Of the regimental spirit have had their
effect.
"Tyraunical sergeants are responsible
for many deseTtous and much discomfort
l Sustain the sergeant IS an old maxim,
I plausible and apparently sound. but under
/ the operation Of which there has been
much abuse Of authority. II some cap
/ tains have gone so far as 10 sustain the
| sergeant, right or wrong. the exercise Of
/ such unresrained power might be ex-
/ pected 10 do harm.
Home interest and announcement,
not manifested toward the regular LO-
/ called recruiting conducted by regi-
mental parties. as recommended in the
/ last annual report from this office, would
probably not suffice 20 III the ranks Of
our army but ii is believed would tend
! to popula~ize the service and develop the
/ interest of communities in their repre-
| sentative organizations.
/ IF the first enlistment We're for one
! year. deseTtions would almost disappear
/ and recruiting would be facilitated"
Infantry Not Popular.
The report also advocates the Increase
/ IA the number of infantry regiments and
| calls attention to the fact that the in
/ fantry is at present the least desirable
branch Of the service for privates. at
the same time being one which must be
well represented. The report says:
THE burden Of foreign service falls
with undue severity OF our infantry regi-
ments Their periods Of enjoyment of
home stations are extremely limited, and
! comparison with other branches Of our
army emphasizes this. The situation
calls for relief and this can best be
| afforded by increasing the number Of or
/ ganizatiOns Of infantry. We do not want
more cavalry In Alaska. Hawaii, OF the
/ Philippines. and our coast artillery
/ troops are not available and will not be
sent Rbroad in any considerable numbers.
Il IS hardly to be supposed that we
would send so much cavalry across the
sea If we had more infantry.
Much Homesickness.
There has been much inconsistencies
among our troops on foreign service.
"A recruit cannot join the infantry in
the United States and serve with It two
years before he is confronted with this
f0reign-service prospect II ought to be
possible for him TO serve one enlistment
with one regiment before he decides
whether he will become permanently
identified with that regiment Ten more
infantry regiments should be added tc
our roster.
But It must begin 10 dawn on US that
We cannot fill these regiments or the ex-
listing ones unless we modify In some de-
gree our methods We must consider the
means by which volunteers will be
brought 20 seek and TO Ike military ser.
vice instead Of finding soldiers life irk-
some. We must study and appreciate
the peculiaritles Of the American soldier
and not disregard his notions or his fol
bles. Those officers who knew the Amer
lean professional soldier in his best days
may remember that il was not charac.
teristic of him to hunt work or 70 weary
OF inaetiOn Gin the line of duty) An un.
employed hour or an hour unprohtably
spent did not trouble his conscience. ut
responded not ungTaciOusly to any cal
for his services when the reason and ne
cessity for that call were apparent; bu
he was likely to be sullen or reseutfu
when nagged or when subjected to re-
quirements which seemed to him un-
reasonable or which offended that in
dependent spirit which was his birth.
right and from which he cannot dives
himself il ne would"
Would Equip objects.
IN speaking Of the officers and thei
condition. the report says:
1t is doubtful whether the voters gen
orally understand that officers are no
fed. clothed. and equipped at public ex
pense. like the private soldier.
Many officers have been confronted
with the failure Of the commissary or an,
other market when most they needed
food and could not procure it without
cribbing on their mems rations. In active
campaign, the number Of rations supplied
TO body Of troops should include the
officers.
The recommendation in last annual re
! port that such articles as sabers, saddles
eanteens, and field kit generally be au
thorized to be loaned to officers OF
memorandum receipts is renewed-feis
glasses and compasses to be included.
In order that there may be a healthy
flow OF promotion, some such measure o.
elimination as that which the rax-,- bo.