New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-11-15
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Adequate Punishment Recon-
mended for Army Oeserters.
TYrpm The Tribune Bureen1

WASHINGTON NOye1DOSf A.
FEWER DESERTIONS LAST YEAR.
IN his annual report Major General F. C.
.Ainsworth. the ah.utant general OF the
Mruay makes a spirited rejoinder 20 the
critics who have been asserting that de-
eertion was getting the better or the mini
tsry authorities and that this state OF al
fairs was due to severity of punishment ana
she practice OF taking photographs ana
making finxer print records OF recruits
The adi1rtant general says that the deser-
sions for the last fiscal year were hnucf
:o1er than in any other year since leS', ahn
he attributes this entirely to the policy OF
pursuing every deserter and punishlns MIN
when he is apprehended
The report shows that where the punish
rnent has been moderated or omitted the
effect was detrimental. OF the ~ men VINO
we're retained in service after having beeh
tried for desertion 100 have already de-
serted since their trial OF the SIX men VINO
were acquitted and restored 10 duty WITH
GU. Punishment OF any kind four have al
ready deserted since acqiiittaL leniency
manifested b.- military court toward de-
serters has almost ipv:-~iao oily wrought
harm. and General Ainsw orth has specific
Instances TO fortify this assertion. He points
out that desertion cannot be net success
fully by a display Of that sentimentallty
shat would codGle and pamper the would-he
<eserter into an observance Of his solemn
cath OF enlistment that would restore
THE convicted deserter. whether young and
,houghtless or old and depraved, with little
or no punishment. 10 a status Of honor in
g service and under 4 flag upon both of
which he hiss brought discredit by his de-
eertiou.
The adjutant general ADDS: The army
S. NOT a reformatory for its own criminals
or for criminals from civil life, and it can
Tot be made one without doing great dam
ere TO the service il clenlency Is to be
shown TO the convicted deserter because OF
his youth and irexperience. or for any other
reason. il should be shown TO him after he
.has been separated from the military ser
vice and after he has suffered some ma
.eraI part Of the punishment 10 which he
became subjected by reason OF hs convic-
Iion and sentence"
The War Department. the showing
made bv the adjutant general, will adhere
90 its policy OF experimenting deserters, and
VIII seek 10 impress military courts with
rhe necessity Of imposing adequate punish
-uent. instead OF exercising clemency on the
.heory that it affords a culprit an oppor-
;tunty 10 redeem himself.
RETIREMENT OF BRIGADIER GEN
TRAI. AYER-After a lifetime in the
errny Brigadier General Albert J. Myer
was retired from active service to-day be-
cause Of age. General Ayer Won his high
frank by exceptional military efficiency He
did not have the advantage OF West Point
'1raiEinS. but entered the army as a private
,tR October 1855. when only nineteen years
iold- His rise in rank was slow but STEADY
and three wears ago he was gwen the
ishoJ.lder straps Of a briga0ler general Cen
or N
(which place he viii return 10 spend the re-
tnainder Of his days
REAR ADMIRAL ARNOLD RETIRED
Rear Admiral Conway Il Arnold L s N.
was placed upon the retired list to-day He
twas born IN New York City, and is sradu-
.ste OF the Naval Academy. Admiral Arnold
IS president of the naval examining and re-
hiring board His retirement results in the
promotion of Captain Thomas b Howard TO
hhe rank OF rear admiral AT present he Is
in command of the fourth division of the
Atlantic feet.
SANATORIUAI FOR PHILIPPINE SOL
DIERS.-United States soldiers who are TAX
On sick In the Philippines in future will be
treated at Baguio. in the island OF Luzon.
where the government maintains a sana-
roriuYa instead Of being brought home The
decision Nyas reached to-day by Secretary
Dickinson
orr ltEhS ~ NilNt>SS t-NfDoSi +
TESLA party OF prominent navy and
pernnv officers left Washington tonight for
:,Torfolk 10 witness The high explosive eX-
rI,erin>ent 10 which the monitor Puritan will
he Subjected tomorrow Among the off
GERS were Admiral Mason. chief of the
naval bureau Of ordnance: Admiral Watt.
.Chief OF the naval bureau Of construction:
General Murray. chief Of coast artillery.
isnd Colonel Bailey. Of the coast artillery
soTUs.
ORDERS Issued following orders
have been issued
ARMY
cfsfor JOHN r STONE. medical corps. from
Fort sam Houston December 10. 10 Fort Nc
Iutosh. Vica Major ROBERT r. Cru BIS,