The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-03-26
SOME CAUSES
OF DESERTI0N|

What's the matter with the army?'
said grizZled old sergeant at one OF
the Chicago army recruiting Offices.
The reasons given for assertions are
pretty close to the mark. too. But
there are some others.
Pretty often assertions become cpl
demic in military post Any mum.
Der of things can start an epidemic of
assertions. and nothing can stop 1t
short of switching the whole layout to
another post, and even that doesn't al
ways work.
Il recall the desertion epidemic that
broke out in Fort Sheridan few
years ago. Inside of three months
only skeleton of the command was
left. The thing was started by an out
fit of unpopular officers. who fell to
quarreling among themselves.
One domineering or unjust officer
In post can cause more assertions
than bad rations or crucfying ia
tigue or practice march duty. Once
knew little runt of a shavetail Just
out from West Point cause % men
from one cavalry troop to jump the
outfit within two months after he'd
joined down in Arizona.
The death of well liked officer or
even of very popular enlisted man
will often start an epidemic of deser
tons. Once at little two-battery
post in the far northwest where ! was
stationed there died 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, it
seemed almost unCanny without him
Little unscheduled things will start
assertions. The temperance at a
post of former member of the out
tit logged out in joyous multi and
showing other evidences of prosperity
always has the effect OF getting the
gang a-going
Once | belonged to an outfit that
was stationed at the Preside of san
Francisco. One of our men caught on
as a faro bank dealer OF big San
Francisco gambling house at the wind.
up Of his second enlistment 1t wasn't
long before he had an interest in the
bank himself and he got the money
fast
We'll, all diked out In expensive
clothes and wearing the sparks and
dingdongs, he used to drive out to the
Preside behind stylish PAGER in
trig trap with yellow running gear.
After few months of that the com
handing officer of the Preside had to
request that eX-swaddle as a special
favor to him to cease his visits at the
post. large number of dcsertions
We're easily traced to his visits
"The gang would look their ex-mate
over and become ambitious all of a
sudden If he had made such a fine
thing of 1t in civil life why couldn't
they do the same, or make some kind
of a stab at it anyhow? SO they
hoped out Of the Preside gate. not to
come back any more, Just because
they had seen all Of these signs of
prosperity on a man who had once
bunked under the same roof with
them
'Rumors about the transferring OF
outfits. too, is another cause, and I'm
the aggregate big contributing cause
to the desertion business. Men who
enlist in certain part of the country
for service in that section don't like
to make a long shift to another part
with different climate More dcser.
tons result from the shifting about of
regiments than ever appear in the fig.
ures.
Queer, too, the distance some sol
diers will go when they get mixed up
with women. The most aggravated
case of that kind | ever saw was when
| was in the Philippines the first
time
with my outfit was snappy,
hustlng youngster from Tennessee
boy not much past his majority. who
got the corporals cheyrOns very soon
after hitting the islands for nervy
work in campaigning The kid had all
the markings Of "A fine soldier, and, as
ne was well educated. commission
wasn't any too high for him to look
If he'd been Of that mind and had
kept ont Of trouble
But he got all wrapped up with
Filipino girl, the daughter of Fill
Pine president down MindanaO way.
and when we were ordered to Manila
to take the transport for the United
States he couldn't see the thing Of
leaving the girl believe they'd been
married. Anyhow, when we went to
Manila this judgment-lacking gossoon
stayed behind with the Filipino wo-
man.
but he did something even more
idiotic than that When the old man
sent non-cOm and some bucks back
for the kid he was insane enough to
join the enemy-the war was still
going on down there-instcad of Just
taking TO the underground and stay
ing there for "A spell until the search
for him was over. They got him by
the time our transport reached the
States.
Well, dye know what that nice
looking and bright kid from Tonnes
see Is doing now? He's doing 80 years
on AlcatraZ island for deserving to the
enemy-the Courtmartial's sentence
was death, but it was changed to 80
years for him, Did you ever happen
4, tal, ICnk At Alpotrnyp N.II