The Washington herald., 1907-08-21

ports for Betterment of the SeFv-
ice-Ten Main Causes for DesertiOn.
II recommendation that are being Wig
orously made by army officers command
/ ing divisions and departments in their an
nual reports 10 the War Department are
carried out by the department, which ap-
pears likely. Congress will be besieged at
its coming session to adopt legislation
providing for higher pay for men and Off
GERS in all branches OF the service, to re-
establish the army canteen as a solution
OF the problem Of the moral salvation OF
the army, and to literally increase the
strength Of the whole army in order that
all posts may be more properly garri-
soned and that undue hardships falling
upon men may be lessened. because of the
| heavy work they are required 10 perform.
| The Cuban Intervention has greatly
crippled the army. ana II the army is TO
be retained In Cuba. a big increase should
be granted SO that soldiers may not be
| required to spend more than One-third OF
their time in foreign service.
! These recommendations. which were ad-
vaDced in the report OF Brig. Gen. VIII
/ lam II. Carter commanding the Depart
ment of the Lakes, and by other depart
ment commanders. have been strongly
emphasized by Maj. Gen. a W. Greedy.
who commanded the Northern Division
during most of the fiscal year ended
June 20 last.
Based on Observations.
During the first part of the year Gen.
! Greedy commanded the Pacific Division,
and his recommendations. accordingly.
are based on observations and inspections
/ conducted throughout two-thirds Of the
army stationed IN the West including al
Of it except the Southwestern Division.
/ The Pacific division, up 70 the time the
divisions were abolished. June 30 last,
was composed of the Departments Of
/ California and Columbia. while the North
ern division. with headquarters at Su
Louis. formerly, but later at Chicago.
was composed Of the Departments Of
Missouri Dakota. and the Lakes.
/ Gen. Greely's Investigations were tend
! ed 10 solve the problem OF how 10 obtain
/ better enlisted men. and how 10 keep
! them how 30 prevent a gradually in
/ creasing number OF desertiOns, and 10
obtain a greater number Of re-enlist-
menis. and also 10 reduce the number OF
! court-martials.
! Careful Investigations were conducted
/ in their respective commands 10y each of
| the 136 organization commanders In the
/ Northern division. and also by one first
| sergeant in each command as well as by
! 100 noncommlssioned officers selected by
Gen. Greedy. at large
Ten Main Causes.
While their reports differ in detail. a
careful compilation and striking Of aver
/ ages shows the causes Of desertion to be
as follows, in the order stated. with small
pay leading:
/ J. Small pay especially noncommission-
ed officers. and high wages IN civil life.
>. Lack Of canteen and resultant trouble
in dives surrounding army posts.
3. Low standard and general worthless
ness of recruits. such as only can be OBJ
tanned under the present conditions In the
/ army.
T. Excessive amount Of nonmilitary
work.
| practice marches. especially those oc-
/ curing weekly.
g. Difficulties arising from bad habits.
= Failure Of recruits to appreciate the
| obligations Of a contract. and their ignor-
anCe Of the character Of the crimes OF
/ desertion.
s. Probably immunity from punishment
for desertion and belief that little effort
will be made u capture them.
/ g Almost universal hostile attitude Of
/ civilians toward the army uniform
10. Isolation Of certain posts and e0nse-
/ quent lack of amusements.
Separated Into Three Classes.
Analyzing these ten causes. Gen. Greedy
finds that the causes Of desertion are
really separated into three classes.
First-Those. and they are the most i'm
portant. which can be removed only by
Congressional legislation. Their correc-
tl5n requires an increase Of pay, the
restoration Of the canteen the granting
of extra duty pay abroad. and more lib
erality at home appropriations liberal
enough 10 provide ample means Of recre-
alton and frequent interchange between
isolated and desirable posts. severer laws
regarding desertion, and increase of IA
tons and allowances. The army. as a
whole. is insuficiently and improperly
fed, the men. earning scarcely over 80
! cents a day. all told. receiving poorer ra-
tions than the poorest Unskilled laborer
has. who earns in civil life, from 81 10 s.
a day.
SecOnd-Causes within the control Of the
| War Department The only one is that
Of practice marches. which is now under
/ consideration, although possibly there
might be some reduction OF non-military
work by neglecting the appearance of
posts. Gen. Greedy a year ago discovered
that the practice marches were an undue
| hardship on the men, and recommended
at the time that they be abolished
Third-Strictly moral causes which can
not be radically reLledied. Vicious and
immoral tendencies inhere in all com
munities, and are found among all classes.
Discharge on Application.
In view of the fact that IS per cent of
desertions occur during the first year of
service, Gen. Greely reaches the conclu-
sion, from these several hundred reports
that most desertions of recruits would be
obviated if they could be discharged on
application at the end Of year He also
recommends that a period of enlistment
be increased to five years.
Gen. Greely also strongly advocates a
campaign on Congress for increase of pay
of officers, which is badly needed in all
branches and in all grades.
ASKS HEARING ON ASSESSMENT