Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-16
THE M AR NE COR
Views of an Officer Upon the Pending
Hale Bill.
Injustice Done In Its Provisions to an
Important Branch Of the
Naval Service.

Important Branch Of the
Naval Service.
Most Of the published criticisms Of the
Hale bill for improving the personnel OF the
navy have emanated from officers of the
staff and the marine corps or their friends.
They have boldly asserted that the bill was
prepared solely for the benefit of the line
OF the navy at the expense Of the other two
branches named. Many line officers have
been asked by Star reporter to give pub
lie expression of their views in regard TO
the bill. but have unanimously declined to
say anything on the subject One of them
admitted that they had seriously considered
the question of replying to the attack
made upon them in the press and that it
had been decided to ignore them altogether.
1t is learned from another source that Sec
rotary Herbert has formulated a plan for
improving the personnel Of the navy and
that the officers of the line desire to avoid
any public agitation Of the question pending
its consideration by the head of the depart
ment.
The subject is one of great interest in the
navy and it is not at all difficult to persuade
some of the younger officers to talk about
it in a confidential way. An officer of the
marine corps consented to the publication
of his views on the bill provided his name
was not mentioned.
a Marine Corps Officers Views.
1.-THE report accompanying the Hale bill :"
raid he. contains so many unique state
ments that they ought not to pass un-
noticed. The first paragraph says that il is
desired to promote the military efficiency
to increase the fighting efficiency, to pro-
mote economy and to avoid injustice to
any corps. and then the bill proceeds to do
away with the only real military body on
board, and to substitute in their places a.
greater number of men at a much higher
rate OF pay, thereby increasing the ex-
pense. The bill practically does away with
several corps noted for their faithful per-
Torrance Of duty. Isn't that an injustice
to those corps?
las is said in the third paragraph, this
is truly a bill to reorganize the line Of the
navy, but 1t does it in a purely selfish way
and at the expense OF efficiency, economy
end due regard for fair treatment of
slowness OF promotion Is discussed, and all
will admit that this subject demands the
closest attention, but not alone for the line
Of the navy. for in several other corps the
promotion Ii quite as slow and Just as i'm
portant.
"A great point is made in favor Of having
twenty rear admirals besides the rank of
rear admiral for chiefs Of bureau, so that
nag officers may have four years in their
grade and 30 be able to complete a cruise
in command Of q squadron. Why not pro-
mote to that rank by selection as Is done in
the army and in the case Of naval bureau
chiefs. That plan seems to give satisfac-
ton. 1t certainly gives an officer something
to work for.
Proposed Transfer of Marine Corps
Omcers.
I'm proposing to transfer to the line Off
GERS in the marine corps, who graduated
at the Naval Academy, the author of the
bill seems to think that these officers will
jump at the chance and thus play traitor
to the corps where they have been SO fairly
dealt with, and where there is an esprit de
corps far greater than in some other
branches of the service. And then the older
marine officers, many of whom served dur
ing the war, are to be rewarded for their
faithful service by being made captains of
the watch at navy yards. Really this is a
worthy recommendation, probably from
some young lieutenant who was a baby
when they were doing duty in the field or
on fighting ships.
1T is also stated that the pay corps is to
die out and that line officers are to do their
duty. do not say that any officer Of intel
hgence cannot do the duty, but 1 do say
that when it is stated that the duties of
paymaster on board ship require but little
of his time very great mistake is made
IL paymaster does his duty his time is as
well occupied as that of any officer On ship
board.
The marines were an important element
on board ship in the days of press gangs
and mutinies, and they are just as import
ant today, as is shown by numerous letters
from officers in a position to know. The
1ackey today is no more of an angel than
he was in days gone by and a little watch
ing does him no harm. The author Of the
.t,o1a he.w
the angelic tars on the Baltimore who re-
fused TO coal ship until compelled by the
marines. or of those sailors on the Mohican
who took possession of Sitka and had to be
arrested by marines, or Of the jackeys on
the Boston who made so much trouble at
Montevideo. The individual who thinks
that restraint and guarding will injure the
jackey is probably the same. who a few
years ago asked all the masters-at-arrns
on ship board to get up petitions among the
sailors to have the marines removed be-
cause they felt that they were degraded
by their presence
Plea for the Marines.
1T is true the marines DO not assist in
handling the ponderous. complicated and
delicate machinery connected with the
armament and the engines. Neither do the
line divisions, for that matter, but why co
not the line officers assist in working the
guns? Simply because the jealousy Of the
v
ever marines have been stationed at the
guns they have done such excellent work
at target practice that the guns have been
taken from them by order of the depart
ment. The marine officers at sea are iearly
all graduates of the Naval Academy and
are just as competent to do any duty on
board ship as their classmates in the line.
IAN they ask is to be made use of on
board ship, and not relegated to the posi-
ton of sharpshooters. when it is well known
that most battles will be fought at ranges
beyond the range of their rides The
secondary battery is their proper place
There their training in rife firing on shore
will be of great service to them.
THE statement that marines only do
guard duty on shore is not a fact, for the
marines, like the army. are available
and often are used infantry to uueli
riots. ETC., and for special service like that
rendered by them in Panama in 1887. Con-
seQuently ii is not fair to assume that the
S>UO,oo0 appropriation for the marine corps
is spent simply in guarding navy yards
The fact that nearly half the corps is at sea
disposes of that theory. Why not utilize
the marines at the batteries of the new
ships instead of getting additional men for
that duty? All the marines ask is that
they be made use of and they will guaranteed
good service. and that at a great saving to
the government"
Damages for Being Expelled,
A Commercial Gazette special from Della
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