DESERTION, the act of forsaking or abandoning ; more par ticularly, the wilful abandonment of an employment, office or duty, in breach of a legal or moral obligation. For naval or mili tary desertion, see MILITARY LAW ; for desertion from the mer chant service, see SEAMEN ; for desertion of husband, see DIVORCE; for the desertion of children, see CHILDREN-PROTECTIVE LAWS and INFANT.