The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-12-16
BY Associated Press

France, Secretary DICKINSON comes
out in his annual report with a strong
endorsement Of the flying machine and
with a recommendation to congress
for an appropriation to provide the
signal corps with a reasonable num-
Der Of the better type of machines for
instruction purposes and field work.
He recalls the fact that the United
States was the first nation officially
to recognize the aeroplane for military
purposes and conducted at Fort Meyer
in 1908 the first public fight of a
heavier than air machine, yet it has
since that date made no addition to
its aeronautical equipment, which at
present consists of one small dirigible
balloon, one Wright aeroplane. and
three small captive balloons. Nor has
it added to its trained personnel. which
at present consists of one signal corps
| lieutenant and nine enlisted men, on
duty in connection with aeronautics.
There is only one officer who is a Ii
censed pilot for free balloons.
The secretary calls attention to the
fact that the entrance to Chesapeake
Bay, one of the most important points
strategically on the Atlantic sea coast,
is wholly unfortified, not single gun
being mounted to defend the channel
between Cape Charles and Cape Henry
At another important point-the west
ern entrance to Long Island Sound
additional guns are needed Except
for these instances. so far as guns
alone are concerned, the sea coast de-
fenses at all home ports are in a very
satisfactory state. but much remains
to be done in providing such auxiliaries
as search lights and in developing the
fire control system. which will require
about $4,000, 900 of expenditure.
Congress is asked TO authorize an
expenditure of $19,546,849 for the for
Itification of the terminal of the Pan
anna canal, including the construction
of posts for the permanent garrison,
and 100000 of this sum should be
made available Immediately in order
to complete the project within three
years The additional sum of $4,000
900 is also wanted Immediately to be
applied towards the creation of naval
establishments in the canal zone as a
necessary part of the defense of the
canal
The secretary notes with gratifica-
tion a reduction by 306 per cent in
the number of desertions last year
compared with the preceding year
Altogether there were 3,464 desertions
or percentage of 3.66 of the strength
of the army which was less than any
fiscal year since 1899 The decrease
was most marked in the engineers.
| field artillery and cavalry
This is believed to be the result of
the extraordinary effort made by the
department in the direction of prompt
and vigorous pursuit of a deserter by
means practically certain to result in
his apprehension and subsequent
punishment as a military convict un-
der the hard and rigorous conditions
of prison discipline.
The attitude of the department is
that its duty is to safeguard and pro-
| tect the interests of the army to cor
rect the evil rather than to reform the
evil doer-and to impress the fact that
desertion from the army, which in
time of war may be punishable by
death. is in time of peace a criminal
offense and that the punishment of
the deserted will be severe.
The death rate in the army last
year was the lowest that has ever
occurred, the total number being $40
of which 22S were from disease and
142 from injuries, six Of the latter be-
ing killed by hostile Moros in action
or while on sentry duty Tubercu-
losis claimed the greatest number of
victims. numbering 43 and there were
81 deaths from gunshot wounds There
W re 33 suicides and 10 homicides
A remarkable fact is that no deaths
occurred from sun stroke or snake
bite among the troops in the tropics
nor from cold among the troops in
Alaska and along the northern from,
tier Alaska by the way, as in former
years, had the best health record, de
4 cidedly excelling the United States
which came second, followed by Porto
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines. The
rates for the Philippines however i'm
proves year by year and now approx
mate more closely to those of the Unit
ed States than those of the United
States does to Alaska
Dealing with the regular army or
ganization, the secretary urges the
adoption of a provision of law. similar
to that governing the navy for the