The Washington herald., 1907-10-21
NEED FIGHTING MEN
Serious Condition Exists in
Americas Coast DefenSeS.
SOLDIERS LEAVING THE RANKS
On October 10, Coast Artillery WaA
Able TO Muster Only 0,62S-Privates
Service that Pays Little Money and
Offers No Chance for Promotion.

RECRUITS wANTED-TEN THOUSAND ABLE
bodied men for the Coast Artillery; Sl3 a month
with board and lodging.
The coast defenses Of the United States
are facing the most serious condition
that has come up in recent years. Re
ports received by the War Department
show that with an authorized force of
81 men, the Coast Artillery on October
l5 was able 10 muster only SOS Ten
thousand recruits at $l3 a month and al
Iowances are needed 70 nh the ranks, and
the question Is where 10 get them.
An official report prepared last year in
connection with the artillery increase
bin showed that the actual strength Of
the Coast Artillery was 11.4lO on October
10, 1896. and Congress passed a bin au-
thorizing the addition of $500 men; but
not only have the officials Of the army
failed 70 get these extra men, but they
have lost 20J Of the men they had
before. Every month reports are re-
ceived OF men quitting the Coast Artil-
lery 20 accept mere lucrative positions
IN civil life Men Of five. ten. fifteen
years service; privates. sergeants. first
sergeauts, non-cOmmissloned staff Off
GERS. are leaving by the hundreds. Their
electrical and mechanical training in
The Coast Artillery especially 1T them for
good jobs in civil life.
Making More Money.
Common civilian laborers M military
posts are making more money than the
highest grade. technical non-eommis-
stoned officers, under whom they are en-
ployed. Civilian teamsters, plumbers. fire
men, engineers. and electricians. employed
at posts, are given rations. quarters fuel.
medical attention. practically al Of the
allowances of soldiers, except uniforms.
and. in addition, they get from SIS To
Sl25 month. The government cannot
get them for less. They work eight hours
day and have 10 restrictions they are
subject 10 no orders. and quit when they
so desire. Soldiers performing the same
duties al the same posts get from one
third 20 one-half Of the corresponding
pay; they are subject 90 all the rieors
OF military discipline. md are frequently
on duty all day and all night The sol
diers wont stand for IT, and they are
quitting like rats leaving "a leakv shin
Companies Of Coast Artillery that had
100 men five years ago, and 50 men
one year ago, are now reduced To .
and 80 men. One officer reports that
If De filled the vacancies among the non
commissioned officers of the company. be
would have no privates On account of
the details Tor guard. the cooks. the sick.
the men on furI0ugh, one company turned
out for drill with one officer and one
private. Many other companies have had
70 suspend drills, and matters threaten
TO soon come 20 a standst.u
Officers Are Scarce.
More remarkable suu is the difficulty
tn getting officers For the first time fn
the history Of the army, vacancies I'm the
grade OF second lieutenant are going beg
ginz. The artillery bin of last year au-
thoriZod the appointment iH the Coast Ar
t.lery each year fer five years Of sixty
second Ieuteuauts over and above ordl-
nary casualties The appointments were
90 Dee made. Grst from graduates of West
Point; second from qualified enlisted
men, and third. from civil life-gr8duates
of technical colleges and schools. Invita-
tions were sent 10 the presidents OF l5
of the principal technical schools ana coll
leges. requesting them 90 send in the
names OF graduates who desired 10 be
appointed second leUtenauts in the Coast
ARTILLERY After waiting SIX months, no