These total numbers are not very helpful. I'd be more interested in the percentage of soldiers deserting compared to say the previous three years, and the years before that, or to the numbers deserting during previous conflicts to get some historical perspective. At the moment this seems like another scare story to undermine the government, and the army. I'm more concerned with the government's tinkering (supported by some senior generals such as Jackson it should be said) with the regimental system.