356 MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFPICEKS. 



speedily as tlie distance of the place and muster will admit. 

 Any officer who knowingly makes a false muster of man or 

 animal, or who signs or directs or allows the signing of any 

 muster roll knowing the same to contain false muster or false 

 statement as to the absence or pay of an officer or soldier, or 

 who wrongfully takes money or other consideration on muster- 

 ing in a regiment, company, or other organization, or on sign- 

 ing muster rolls, or who knowingly musters as an officer or 

 soldier a person who is not such officer or soldier, shall be dis- 

 missed from the service and suffer such other punishment as a 

 court-martial may direct. 



FALSE RETURNS— OMISSION TO RENDER RETURNS. 



Aet. 57. Every officer commanding a regiment, an independ- 

 ent troop, battery, or company, or a garrison shall, in the be- 

 ginning of every month, transmit, through the proper chan- 

 nels, to the War Department an exact return of the same, 

 specifying the names of the officers then absent from their 

 posts, with the reasons for and the time of their absence. 

 Every officer whose duty it is to render to the War Depart- 

 ment or other superior authority a return of the state of the 

 troops under his command, or of the arms, ammunition, cloth- 

 ing, funds, or other property thereunto belonging, who know- 

 ingly makes a false return thereof shall be dismissed from the 

 service and suffer such other punishment as a court-martial 

 may direct. And any officer who, through neglect or design, 

 omits to render such return shall be punished as a court-mar- 

 tial may direct. 



DESERTION. 



Art. 5S. Any person subject to military law who deserts or 

 attempts to desert the service of the United States shall, if the 

 offense be committed in time of war, suffer death or such other 

 punishment as a court-martial may direct, and, if the offense 

 be committed at any other time, any punishment, excepting 

 death, that a court-martial may direct 



