The Washington times., 1908-10-11
Department of the East Has
Nearly 5000 or It's
Fifty Posts.
GOOD RESULTS IN
COOKING SCHOOLS
Increased Interest in Target Prac-
tice-DesertiOn Still Ere
quent Offerse.

Maj. Gen. Frederick Dent Grant.
commander Of the Department Of the
East. in his annual report TO the adju-
tant general for the last fiscal year.
shows that the aggregated strength Of
the troops in his department is 5i2 com
missioned officers and 12,22S enlisted
men. distributed about fifty garrison
posts and at Pine Camp.
In the inspection of militia, General
Grant detailed officers Of the regular
army to inspect the particular branches
OF the militia with which they were con-
nected in the regular army. These
Inspections were made with great care
and thOrOughness, and the reports stare
that a general Improvement in the mil
tia over former years was noted.
During the year there were S57 trials
OF enlisted meI- and FIVE officers There
were SIS convictions. u acquh tails, ana
L trials Of military cOnvicts- a resume
OF thu oHenses Of the enlisted men
shows that desertlon was he most IRE
quenJ onense, there being 800 cases; az
sence without leave, Igl; drunkenness
on duty. 3: drunk and disorderly. >,
and fraudulent enlistment. SO.
Army Trains Cooks.
Satisfactory results rom the esJab-
lishment OF cooking and baking schools
are reported. The schools nave turned
out a number Of qualified men. who are
capable Of preparing the army ration
properly, and of giving the maximum
amount Of noUrishment and sausfac-
tCn. Good health. coEtentment, and
greater efficiency among the soldiers
has consequently resulted
4 remarkable decrease in the number
of admissions TO the hospitals cor ma
IariaI fever is reported, there having
been but 269 as compared with the $50
OF the year previous. This decrease was
due chiefly 10 tre vigorous campaign
that had been carried on at various posts
against mosquitoes
The extra pay for superior marks
manship has caused enlisted men 20 take
a great interest in target practice and
the report holds that officers and en-
listed men should have practice to-
gether. as the target practice is the
most important Of all military insJruc-
ton The report recommends the pur-
chase OF land IN the vicinity OF Wash
lngton. New York, and Boston for the
creation of new ranges, as the troops
stationed AZ these places now have no
such points of practice.
General Grant cOncUrs in the recon-
mendations Of Major Iallory that the
skirmlsh fire Of thirty shots be sub
stituted for the forty-shot method now
ustL He also strongly urges the in
PRODUCTION Of firing at moving targets.
single hgJ es. and groups.
Cannot Decrease Pack
General Grant says that lie does not
see how any decrease in the number of
articles to be carried in a pack By an
infantryman can oe made. He con-
siders the present clothing generally
satisfactory. but thinks the khaki uni
form is not satisfactory for field ser
vice and ought 10 be limited to garrison
use IN warn: climates. The picket pin
Is obsolete. toe genera. says. and ought
10 DE abandoned
Among the recommendations the re-
port urges that a limited amount OF
lnGOOr eNerClse be given TO coast arrIl-
lery troops curing the indoor period
and that Congress authorize the tranS-
pOrtatiOn OF the wives and children OF
officers and accommodated officers
who are travelling with troops. Zach
pest should be supplied with a few
standard law books 10 use in courts
martial