Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-19
Col Haywood Urges an Increase
Of Its Enlisted Strength.
MEN ARE WORKED. TOO HARD NOW
More Are Needed for the New
Warships.
VALUE OF THE SERVICE

Col. Charles Haywood, commanding the
marine corps. in his annual report to the
Secretary of the Navy, makes an earnest
and urgent appeal for an increase in the en-
listed strength of the corps in order to
meet the additional duties imposed upon 1t
by the increase of the navy. During the
past year." he says, 1.-The number of men
allowed the corps has been continuously in
service and 1t has only been by the most
careful and constant watching that the
number has not been exceeded, and several
times it has become necessary to cease re-
cruiting altogether, which Is the case at
present. 1t is very easy to obtain the most
desirable men, and If appropriation was
made for 800 additional men they could be
enlisted IN short time.
Insufiicicncy of the Force.
"In this connection it again becomes my
duty to lay before the department the fol-
lowing statement regarding the INSULT
cheney of the present strength of the corps,
and to urge in the most forcible manner
that some action be taken toward increas-
ing it at once. In spite of the fact that the
corps Is up to its authorized allowance,
duty on the men is very severe, and nearly
everywhere they are on guard every other
day, and have but little time for rest or
recreation, and 1t is matter Of surprise to
me that there are not more assertions,
which l can only account for by the diff
Guilty in securing employment outside and
the care our recruiting officers exercise in
the selection of applicants for enlistment.
The rapid strides made toward building
the new navy have long since demonstrated
the need for additional men to man the
ships, which resulted in the authorization
OF LOCO seamen by the last Congress, and
Will doubtless be followed by an equal num-
Der when the next Congress conveneS, as
vessels cnmnlatiOn have
crews, which at present it Is not possible to
furnish unless other and serviceable ships
are put out of commission.
The same need for these men for the
navy exists in the marine corps, as 1t is
necessary to furnish guards for all these
vessels; yet no steps have been taken to-
ward providing for them, and at the same
time alternating the hardshps which now
result from the increased duties the ma
rines are required to perform.
Continuous Requests for Men.
"Commandants of stations and command
ing officers of ships are continually asking
for more marines, which requests l am I'M
able to grant from paacity of numbers. and
dissatisfaction as well as continuation of
the hard duty inevitably follows
THE marine corps has time and again
demonstrated its usefulness to the country
both ashore and atioat, and that it is econ
omically administered. and even with its
reduced numbers it is today an efficient
and well-organiZed body of men, but the
limit of human endurance has about been
reached. and 1T will be impossible longer
to maintain the present duty at the shore
stations and on board ships and at the
same time furnish guards for the new YES
sells of the navy soon to be completed
Il have repeatedly made requests on the
department for an increase of men, but the
urgency has increased day by day, and 1
trust that no longer delay will be coun-
tenanced." - |-.
Only Needs an Appropriation.
Col Haywood says that careful study of
the subject shows the necessity of 800
marines on shore for the protection of mil
lions of dollars worth of government prop-
erty In their charge, number 800 In excess
of the marines now engaged in that duty.
In addition to this 1t Is estimated that about
40 more men will be required for the new
vessels now under construction.
Col. Haywood says that in his opinion 500
more men will answer all purposes for the
present, and he has accordingly prepared es-
Inmates for that number in the following
proportion: Ten sergeaats, forty corDoraIs
twelve drummers, twelve filters and i26 pri-
Yates He adds that an appropriation is all
that Is required to provide for these men
the legislation for their enrolment being
already in existence, as section 1916 Re-
vised Statutes, which has never been re-
pealed, provides for 3.073 enlisted men. He
says this is a matter of greatest interest to
the marine corps at this time and homes
the department will not again disregard