The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-11-06
HOW TO GET BETTER SOLDIERS.
More Pay and Food One Way-Re-
store Canteen Another.

In his annual report to the war de-
partment Major-Gen. A. w. Greeley,
commanding the northern division,
discusses at length his investigations
which were directed toward solving
the problem of how to obtain better
enlisted men and how to keep them,
how to prevent the gradually increas-
ing number of desertions and to OBJ
tain greater proportion of re-enlist-
ments and how to reduce the number
of court-martials.
Much of the report is devoted to
the subject of desertions. Gen. Gree
ley gives ten principal causes of de-
sertion, arranged in the order of their
Importance as determined by the in
vestigations of thirty-slx selected or
ganization commanders, by 1873 bat
terry, company and troop command
ers and 1856 first sergeants at the va
rious posts of the division. The caus-
es of desertion are given as follows:
Small pay, especially for non-com-
missioned officers, and high wages In
civil life.
Lack of canteen, and resultant
troubles in dives surrounding army
posts.
Low standard and general worthless
ness of recruits such as only can be
obtained under the present conditions
in the army
Excessive amount of non-military
work.
Hardships incurred during long
practice marches, especially those oc-
curing weekly.
Difficulties arising from bad habits.
Failure of recruits to appreciate the
obligations of a contract and their ig-
norance of the character of the crime
Of desertion
Probable immunity from punish
ment for desertion and belief that lit
tie effort will be made to capture
them.
Almost universal hostile attitude OF
civilians toward the army uniform.
Isolation of certain posts and con-
sequent lack of amusements.
y Analysing these ten causes Gen.
Greeley finds that they are divisible
into three classes:
First-Those--and they are the
most which can be re-
moved only by congressional legisa-
| tion. Their correction, he contends,
requires an increase of pay, the res
| toration of the canteen, the granting
| of extra duty pay abroad and more
| liberal pay at home, appropriations
| liberal enough to provide ample
means of recreation and frequent in.
| terchange between isolated and desir-
able posts, severer laws regarding de-
| sertion and increase of rations and al
| lowances. He declares that the army
as a whole is insufflciently and i'm
properly fed, the men earning scarce
ly over so cents day all told, and re-
ceiving poorer rations than the poor
est unskilled laborer has who earns
in civil life from 81 to SO 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 consideration, although
Gen. Greeley says possibly there
might be some reduction of non-mill-
tary work by neglectng the appear
ance of posts. Gen. Greeley discov-
cred a year ago that the practice
marches were an undue hardship on
the men and recommended that they
be abolished.
Third-Strictly moral causes which
cannot be radically remedied. The
general refers to vicious and immor-
al tendencies found in all communi.
ties.
In view of the fact that So percent
of desertions occur during the first
year of service Gen. Greeley reaches
the conclusion that most desertions
of recruits would be obviated If re-
cruits could be discharged on appli.
| cation after one years service. He
also recommends that the period OF
enlistment be increased to five years.
Gen. Greeley strongly advises a
campaign on congres for increase OF
pay Of officers, which he declares
| is badly needed in all branches and