, 1907-12-20
|soME CAUSES.
|0F DESERTl0h

"A lot Of them are bullying FORWARD,
I see, with replies to that question.
What's the matter with the army
said 4 srtzxled old sergeant at n OF
the Chicago army recruiting omcss.
THE reasons given for assertions are
pretty close to the mark, too. But
there are some others.
Pretty often assertions become cpl
demic in a military post. Any num-
Der Of things can start an epidemic OF
assertions. and nothing can stop it
short of switching the whole layout to
another post. and ever that doesn't al
ways work.
Il recall the desertion epidemic that
broke out in Fort Sheridan a few
years ago. Inside Of three months
only q skeleton of the command was
left. The thing vas started by an out
at Of unpopular officers. who fell to
Q%uarreling among themselves.
One domineering or unjust nmcer
In . post car more assertions
than bad 'rations or crucifyfng IA
tigue or practice march duty. Once I
knew q little runt of a shavetail Just
out from West Point cause 20 men
from one cavalry troop to jump the
outfit within two months after he'd
Joined down in Arizona.
The death of q well liked ofdcer or
even of a very popular enlisted man
will often start an epidemic OF deser-
tons. Once at a little two,battery
poot{u tho for p~ortbuoot uhoro I waa
stationed there died a first lieutenant
who was immensely popular with the
enlisted men, and that in spite of the
fact that the drink had got him.
The assertions began the next day.
The post-was not only lonesome. 1t
seemed almost uncanny without him.
Little unscheduled things will start
assertions. The temperance at a
post Of a former member Of the out
At logged out in joyous multi and
showing other evidences Of prosperity
always has the effect of getting the
gang a-going.
Once l belonged to an outfit that
was stationed at the Preside of San
Francisco. One of our men caught on
as q faro bank dealer Of = big San
49,. $3.50.
long hefora, he had an ,ntereat in the
hank himself and he got the money!
fast.
We'll, all diked out in expensive
clothes and wearing the sparks and
dinrdope. he rsed IN drive ont IN ~.
Preaidio behind !. stvl,sb naca- IN, .
trie tran With ve,,ow running 1ear
After n fsv month of that tho com.
mand,np ofncer of Tho pro.,d,o had 10
renua.t that ax.avodd,o a. a ,nactoI
favor to him to cease his visits at the
post. A large number of deserttons
were easfiy rae to his visits.
.The INN. vo,,ld ,ook tba,r .x.n.+.
over and hecoma amb,t,o,, All Of.
4 70 y. h.a 800 .,.h -.
thing of 1t in civil life why couldn't
they do the same. or make some kind
of a stab 1t 1t anyhow? So thew
hopped u Of the prestdio rate not to
come back any more. lust because
they had seen all of these siens of
prosperity ON q man who had once
bunked under the sam roof with
them.
"Rumor, about tbe t-ran.ferrin. a,
out,ts. too ia another cau.a and IN
the aggregate a big contributing cause
to the desertion business. Men. who
enlist in q certain part of the country
for service in that section don't like
to make a long shift to another mart
with a different climate. More deser-
tons result from the shifting about of
regiments than ever appear in the f9-
ures.
"o.,ear ton the DISTANCE .ome ao,.
dior. ~i,l ooywh., +hav. got r,xoa -,
with women The -roost ~aegr.v.teS
case of that kind 7 ever saw "a. xhor
7 was in tbe phiIinpines the Arst
time
"W,th NV o,,tnt v.s . .ro,rv
buaturo vouns 80 s-om -r-enrs..ae !.
how, not much Met nj. m.ior,tv. vho
got the cornorap. ch.vron. varv Gov
afto, h,ttina ~. ,.,.,d. ,or n.-~.,
y