Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-04
OBSERVING FALLS OFF
Decrease From s Per Cent in
1907 to 4.6 in 1908.
WHITES MORE CULPABlE
Only 0.57 Per Cent of Colored Left
the Service
GEN. AINSW0RTH'S REPORT
Nineteen Officers Retired as a Re-
suit of Riding Tests Ordered
by the President.
WHITES MORE CULPABLE

The campaign of the War Department
against desertions from the army is meet
ing with success. according to .Adj. Gen
Ainsworth who announced in his annual
report to the Secretary of War. made
public today. that the relative number of
assertions was less in 1908 than in any
other fiscal year since 1901
The desertions during the fiscal year
1908 were 4.50i. 4.6 per cent of the
whole number of enlisted men in service
in the army during that year. In 1907
the percentage was per cent. and IN
1906 il rea ched tho record of A per cent.
Every branch of the service showed n de-
crease in the number Of assertions during
the year. with the s;,.sle exception of the
Hospital Corps, where there was d slight
increase.
In analyzing the problem Of dealing
with desertions the report says that the
14tn Cavalry had the largest relative
number of desertions of any organization
in the service. while the Sd Infantry came
second and the 18th Cavalry third. In
Troop G of the 18th Cavalry the deser-
lions amounted TO IL per cent of the
whole number of enlistment contracts
that might have bean terminated by de
sertion. Boise barracks. Idaho. enjoys
the notoriety of having the most deser-
tons of any post. the number there reach
ing 1865 per cent. while Fort William
Henry Harrison Mont: Fort Brady,
Mich: Fort Duchesne. Utah. and Fort ID.
A. Russell. Wye. proved unattractive In
the order enumerated.
Few Colored Men Desert.
The adiutant general points out the sig
njficant fact that of the white troops 40
per cent we're reported as deserters, while
| only O.a7 per cent of the colored men in
4 he fact DEM
onstrated in the report is that in the
| springtime Young mans fancy gently
I turns away from the army. leading to
| more assertions in April. My and June,
| at least in 1908. than in other months of
| the year. The adjutant general says ma
| tionality is not an important factor in the
question of desertions, and adds that the
certainty of punishment after apprehen-
sion has operated TO reduce the number
| Of assertions.
Increase in the Army.
| 1t is pointed out in the report that al
| though there was an increase in the all-
| thorized enlisted strength of the army,
| there was a much larger increase in the
! actual strength. which was only 9.3lo en-
listed men short of the authorized strength
/ October 10, 1908. against a deficiency
of &C, 80 enlisted men October 10, 1901
The total actual strength of the army.
not including the Hospital corps. oFtnbe!
Is 1908. was 1876. as compared with
5S,99S year previous.
At the close of the fiscal wear 2o.?l per
cent Of the line officers and 1911 per cent
| OF the general and staff officers were alb
sent from their commands. Gen AIMS
worth points out that at the close of the
| preceding year 2I.1i per cent OF the line
| officers and 1916 per cent of tive general
| and staff officers were absent.
Nineteen officers Retired.
| AS result Of the riding tests ordered
by the President nineteen officers wer"
placed on the retired list
In commenting the difficulties eN
perfenced in the past in obtaining re-
cruits Gen. Ainsworth SAYS that as
result of the earnest and continued eff
forts Of the officers engaged in recruiting,
sufficient number of recruits was OBJ
tanned not only TO fill the vacancies
curing during that year. but also to
make considerable progress in filling the
army to its maximum authorized
| strength.
Permanent and adequate relief for the
! destitute Alaskan Indians by Legislation
| is suggested Not only are the Indians
themselves affected by the existing con-
| dirions. says Gen. AinswCrth but il is
reported that the spread of pulmonary
| tuberculosis among them is a source of
danger to the troops stationed near
them.