The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-23
TEE NEED ora LARGER MARINE CORPS
Not Men E.eugh In Brooklyn FOR Sentry
Duty, soue OF the Ofncers Say.

Not Men Esough In Brooklyn Tor sentry
Duty, Soue OF the Ofncers Say.
The officers Of the marine corps atthe Brook
Ign Navy Yard do not favor the suggestion OF
some naval officers. given In TIE SuN yester-
day. that the marines should be withdrawn
from sea service altogether and reserved for
shore duty. The reason for the suggestion OF
tho naval officers lies in n little argument over
the question Of the command and handling
OF the secondary batteries on board the ships.
The marine officers want them, and the naval
officers fear that It will be taking away some
OF their power to give the batteries up
Whether the marine corps has anything at all
to do now with the guns depends on the ships
commander. On many Of the ships they have.
It is q matter that never has been officially
settled.
Speaking on the line Of Major Charles Hey
woods report on the needs Of the marine
corps. Major Huntington said yesterday that
the imperative need Of the service was more
men. and that in the Navy Yard in Brooklyn
alone 100 moro men were needed. The men
now are overworked. and try as they may they
cannot do the work assigned to them perfect
ly. The guard duty allows them day on and
day of. and they should have day on and
two days of. In the army the men have day
on and three of Of guard duty.
Another need is training and handling guns.
In time OF war. Major Huntington said. the
marine corps should be capable gunners.
part Of the guard on board ship should have
the working Of some OF the big guns or OF the
secondary batteries. and those not needed
for that purpose should act as sharpshooters.
To make them competent gunners they, must
be taught when they enter the service the aTT
az nss. and tSa 1s e.
leased from, tho service. After the teaching
s statoeed q are cities where Very to
have eI little better than 81 ootine gallery The
sa tsss is te s hope sSme aa
e 5h sbs Dp %sass tes Ms asrH
have high brick sides and an srched top that
tho 90 service sniW Major Huntingto otsa number
s e IKE senres on not Be
Es o1d at s pesrs stFh ire to 1s
e men ..,G I'M Jay allows s,G US 1890
sSo1 n 1915 sssk 'sss9s s1ss ons
tSSsd sopSpsn to pay
at sea in small body guards. ranging
from sixty men eacn down 70 sixteen
The force left ashore for duty at tho various
stations is not large enough. Here at the
Should SaSy have $50 nS Tse a most q them
recruits They come here and find the
duty anything but what they :, pictured
worked. Little wonder. then. that so
many Of them desert With q sufficient num-
Der OF men to do the work the assertions. am
Confident, would fall to less than one-ha!f the
present average. and all the men would be
better satisfied. Give the corps the 1000 men
for complaint" .
Lieutenant said he thought they should have
charge OF the secondary batteries. They
talk q great DEAL" he said. OF the big guns
that will shoot ten and twelve and fifteen
miles. and will sink ships at that distance.
That is all very we'll. but think naval warfare
ip the future will be carried on as In the past.
at decidedly short range. Both command
ers will be anxious to use their torpe-
does and they must get within 300 yards
OF each other The danger OF attack will be at
night. These new ships can travel very rap
idly, and 1t does not take long for one to come
within torpedo range. The man to discover
an enemy approaching will be the marine who
is on sentry duty. He and his companion on
duty could operate the rapid-flre guns or any
he is q good shot could sink the other boat
possibly in the time it would take to get the
other men aroused.