Office. 
The physical condition of the recruits received during the 
year has been much better than formerly, although there is still 
. I - rh. th ■ l ' *» •' t • • . -:.h ; “ • . * ' ■ v ■ • ' • • ' ' -r V ' 
- .• tV • • 4 — 7 /y, • • 
*;*■. 1 \ . . ' ■ ■ hiV* '' ' ' • . » . . - 
■ " •- - • r ■ . • • •• * . {. 3^7 ■ • '* . : \ . -■> ■, „ • 
an opportunity for improvement. 
* - . _ . ‘ 
There have been no desertions in the Department of North 
Philippines since its formation,December 1st,1901. 
The morals of the troops in the Department are quite as good, 
«• ' i 1 . , 
V ' :A4sVrv - • 
if not bet ter, than the morals of troops in the United States. 
Among troops engaged solely in garrison duty intemperance 
* '• *' - . . i'.fH'A - • - • % 't- ■ 
• . 1 . ■ *.«♦« <*»•' . ' i * ^ <- * *. . * • •. > . . • t 
has increased somewhat since the closing of the post exchange,but 
•among troops engaged in active field duty it has almost disappeared. 
The greatest amount of dissipation has occurred among enlisted 
men casually in Manila awaiting transportation to the United States 
for discharge by expiration of terra of servioe. 
Some of these men,who have been many months at isolated sta- 
j. . > 
tions,on arriving in Manila,throw off military restraint and commit 
■ 
■ 
excesses of various kinds. If some military duty could be devised > 
to occupy the time of these men it would be much better for the ! 
men themselves and would do much toward emptying the Manila 
• . . ‘ ■ ■ > ’ ■ . \ 
hospitals. 
In some localities venereal disease is very common,while in 
others,notably at the more remote stations,it is practically 
unknown. The main source of infection is Manila,.from whence it 
is gradually moving out into the provinces. The frequent inspec- 
