The sun., 1907-08-21
HOW TO GET BETTER SOLDIERS
MORE PAY AND FOOD ONE WAY.
-RESTORE CANTEEN ANOTHER.
Gen. Greeley Sees Ten Reasons Why 4. 3.
Fighters Desert Under Present Syste EN-
He's for Five Year Enlistment. with
Discharge In q Year n It's wanted.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3O.-In his annual
report to the War Department Major-Gen.
A. w. Greeley. commanding the Northern
division, discusses at length his investi-
cations which were directed toward solving
the problem Of how to obtain better enlisted
men and how to keep them, how to prevent
the gradually increasing number OF de-
sertions and to obtain a greater proportion
Of reenlistments and how to reduce the
number of courts s-martial.
Much Of the report is devoted to the sub
iect of desertons Cen Greeley gives ten
principal causes OF desertion, arranged in
the order of their importance as determined
by the investigations of thirty-six selected
organization commanders. by 13s battery
company and troop commanders and 1873
first sergeants at the various posts Of the
division. The causes Of desertion ire given
as follows:
Small pay. especially for non-commis-
stoned officers. and high wages in civil life.
Lack Of canteen, and resultant troubles
in dives surrounding army posts.
Low standard and general worthlessness
of recruits such as only can be obtaine d
under the present conditions in the army.
Excessive amount of non military work.
Hardships incurred during long practice
marches. especially those occurring weekly.
Difficulties arising from bad habits,
Failure Of recruits TO appreciate the OBJ
legations Of contract and their ignorance
OF the character OF the crime OF desertion.
Probable immunity from punishment
for desertion and belief that little effort
will be made to capture them.
Almost universal hostile attitude OF civil
ians toward the army uniform.
Isolation of certain posts and consequent
lack OF amusements
Analysing these ten causes Gen Greeley
finds that they are divisble into three
classes:
First-Those- they are the most i'm
portant nt-which can be removed only by
Congressional al legislation. Their correction,
he contends, requires an Increase OF pay,
the restoration OF the canteen, the granting q
Of extra duty pay abroad and more liberal
pay at home. appropriations liberal enough
to provide ample means OF recreation and
frequent interchange between isolated and
desirable posts, severer laws regarding
desertion; and increase OF rations and allow
ances. He declares that the army as a
whole is insufficiently and Improperly fed,
the men earning scarcely over SO cents a
day all told and receiving poorer rations
than the poorest unskilled laborer has who
earns in civil life from 81 to 81 day.
Second--Causes within the control OF the
War Department. The only one under
this head is the matter Of practice marches
remedy for which is now under oonsidera-
ton. although Gen Greeley says possibly
there might be some reduction Of non-mili-
tary work by neglecting the appearance Of
posts. Gen. Greeley discovered year
ago that the practice marches we're an un-
due hardship on the men and recommended
that they be abolished.
Enthusiastically moral causes which cannot
be radically remedied. The General refers
To vicious and immoral tendencies found
in all communities.
In view OF the fact that So per cent. OF de-
vice Gen. Greeley reaches the conclusion
that most desertions OF recruits would be
obviated II recruits could be discharged