The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-05


Gus than d breach of contract for en-
ployment in order to accept better
job somewhere else. Public sentiment
is not In the direction OF ostracizing OF
the deserter.
In the last two years the War De-
partment has been carrying on Sc
we're campaign for the arrest of desert
ers. The Bertillon system Of measur-
ing and photographing is now used
upon each new recruit The method is
just like that used for rogues' CALLER
les. The reward for the apprehension
of dcserter has been increased from
ten to fifty dollars.
.In time of war deserter is shot.
In time IF peace, under present condi-
tions, 1t is the belief among many hu-
manitarlans that he might as well be.
When n man deserts from our army
in these peaceful times, he loses all
his rights of citizenship. his pay ana
his clothcs; is dismissed with dishonor
from the service, and IL captured Is
condemned to hard labor and prison
fare. If in the meantime, he should
try to return to the army by going 10
another post, he Is not only sentenced
for desertion, but also for fraudulent
enlistment"
In England, almost the reverse sys-
TEN IS used in handling deserters. The
percentage Of DISCRETION there is less
than one-third Of that In this country.
There a deserter is merely detained IN
barracks for a period of seven to twenty
eight days. There is no Bertillon
system; they do not measure soldier
as il he We're doomed to criminality.
In 1908 there were 4.T6G assertions in
the English Army, but 1,72S men re-
enlisted Mr. Willard says:
'grhe military prison at Fort Leav-
enworth is Uncle Sans great crimo
hatchery. OF late e. new and stronger
prison is being built to accommodate
more young men who have found that
in the army Jumping a job is not
like lightly leapingi from an office or a
shop. The young man who Is liberated
from the military prison at tile end OF
his term of sentence goes forth a re-
leased convict, with a convicts shame
and disgrace, conviet's view of soci-
city, and a convict's keen desire for re-
vcnge upon it."
One fact there Is that stands out In
favor Of the American soldlery. During
the Spanish War less than one per cent.
were reported as deserters. In the
Boer War 90 per cent of the whole
British Army deserted. American sol
diers do not desert in time of war, be
1t said to their credit.
While 1t is probable that less rigid
set of regulations as to desertion would
help the situation, the remedy for the
condition seems hard to find. 1t has
been suggested that the providing of
amusclnents for the soldiers in the way
OF shows and concerts might be a good
thing, but we do not see how the doing
of mental tasks is to be avoided. There
is much work of that sort to be
done, and this country has no money TO
squander on a special and Independent
class of servants, who shall relieve the
soldiers of their rough work. The
United States cannot afford to maintain
vast number of gentlemen who do
nothing but dress and drill The life
of ease with dignity" never has been
and. we hope. never will be the soldiers
| life. Conditions are improving and are
making for the greater comfort of the
soldier. The conditions in our army
regarding desertion ought to be stud
| led with view to effective remedy;
but the War Department will hardly
make the enlisted mans life a sinecure.