Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-06-14
TILsoN OPPOSED TO
LONGER ENLISTMENTS
Believes II Would Decrease Efficiency
of the Army.
lSnaciaI to The Bulletin. ]

Washington. June 13.-When asked
what he thought of the bill of Repre-
sentative Hay. chairman Of the mill
tary committee of the house, increas-
ing the term of enlistment in the reg
ular army from three to five years,
Major Tilson said:
Il was uncom promisingly opposed TO
the five year enlistment bill before |
made my visit to the troops, and what
| saw there strengthened me in my
belief. Not only would the five year
enlistment bill unjustly reduce the pay
of the enlisted men. but it would. in
my opinion. greatly decrease the eff
cheney of the army. In talking with
the enlisted men at the manoeuvre
camp l found that even the consid-
Grafton of legislation providing for
term of five year enlistment was hav-
ing a demoralizing effect upon the
troops. \ number of them with
whom I talked were completely dis
couTaged by the report that congress
intended TO extend the term of enlist
ment and cut off some of their allow
ances I do not doubt that some OF
the desertions from the manoeuvre
division resulted from the agitation CT
this question in congress, and the.
sooner that it is known that the SEN
ate viii not pass such legislation the
better it will be for the army.
I am opposed to any legisla ton
that will reduce the pay or allowance
of enlisted men in the army l am
against the reduction OF the wages #
laboring men in any walk of life. The
enlisted men in the army represent the
Iaboring classes. and it is contrary 10
republican policy to reduce the pay of
laboring men in any avocation they
happen to be engaged in.
You cannot convince me that the
lengthening Of the term of enlistment
viii not make it more difficult to Sc
conditions it will be impossible to
keep the army anything like enlisted
up to it's authorized strength under
five year enlistment law. The enlisted
men in the army realize better than
the average congressman does now
much the decrease in his pay viii lie
as d result of a five year enHStme emf
law. and recruits viii not be willing
to serve five years as they will three
years. Between the decrease in en-
listments and establishments our army
under peace conditions will drop to a
dangerous point. Even under the
present enlistment law it was neces-
S2ry to throw so many raw recruits
into the army that it was in no con-
dition to invade Mexico if it had been
necessary to cross the border when
the troops reached San Antonio. The
recruits are now about ready for ser
vice in the field, but the country would
Mexico Immediately upon tn cir arriva l
at the border if there had been Il
wholesale Slaughter of American citir
zens. / do not doubt but that the
army would have given d good &C
count of itself, even with its raw re-
cruits. but it would not have been in
condition to meet a formidable force.
Above all things. the concentration IF
a division upon the Mexican border
has emphasized the necessity of hav-
ing the army recruited up to as near
as possible TO its authorized strength,
even in time of peace
The reports Of desartions printed in
some apers are grossly exa ggerated.
Taken as a whole a superior body Of
troops was never modified. Of course
there were desertions especially from
the recruits. Many of them had en-
listed because they expected war. and
when they were disappointed were
anxious to get out of the army. Es-
pecially on account of the extreme hot
weather. when the officers were trying
to get them into shape for service l
am pleased to read the report that It
is the intention of the war depart
ment TO bring the troops back from
the Texas border. In my opinion there
viii be fewer desertions and the officers
could get better results if the troops
were taken into a cooler region. Tha
soldiers would be perfectly willing to
stay in a semi troDical climate if there
was a prospect for fighting, but are
naturaly disconnected when required
to drill under the conditions at the
camp"