Evening star., 1896-02-22
INSPECTING THE INDIANA
Naval Circles E1psctant Over the Report
of the Board.
Marines Assigned to Gun Duty Said
to Have Been Acting as "POw-
der MOnkeys.''

Naval circles are IN state of expectancy
not to say excitement, over the probable
result OF the visit Of the board Of inspec-
ton to the battle ship Indiana, which is
now in progress. The mechanism and the
substantial qualities of the vessel are not
expected to furnish any opportunities for
criticism, but there Is well-defined i'm
preston that something of a surprise will
lie given Secretary Herbert when that por-
tion OF the report relating to the personnel
Of the Indiana and the manner of its dis
position reaches his eye.
1t wilt be remembered that when The In
diana was placed in commission and Capt.
Robley ID. Evans was assigned to her COM
mand he recommended that no marines he
placed aboard the vessel The reason as
signed by Capt. Evans for this request
was that the quarters on the Indiana were
limited and there would be accommoda-
tlons only for the crew.
Rear Admiral Ramsey. chief of the bu-
reau of navigation, approved this recon-
mendatiCn, and it was forwarded TO Secre-
tary Herbert. To the instant surprise and
utter aMaZemcnt of the naval and marine
officers Secretary Herbert refused to in
dorse the suggestion. The attempts which,
it is claimed, had been made for years by
influential naval officers 10 ignore the ma
rine corps and bring it into disrepute and
disuse branch of the naval service had
been brought to Secretary Herbert's at
tcntion first by The Evening Star, which.
in September, 1894, published the teSti-
mony given by Col. Haywood before the
congressional committee on the reorgani-
cation Of the navy. He pursued his inqui-
rieS further, and, 1t Is asserted, dlscov-
cred that upon every United States war
vessel where marines had been assigned to
the batteries the efficiency of the boat in
target practice had been increased by
large percentage.
Secretary Herbert then replied to Capt
Evans recommendation by directing that
guard of sixty marines, under command Of
their proper officers, should be placed
aboard the Indiana and assigned to duty at
the guns. The marines went to their duty
on his ship. Ii is now stated that since that
time the marines on the Indiana have been
doing duty only as powder monkeys" as
the men are called who carry the anmuni-
ton to the batteries.
Naval officers declare that this conet,tutes
violation of Secretary Herbert's positive
orders, and that the claim made by Can't.
Evans friends that powder monkeys" are
really doing duty at the guns is a tech
nical excuse, and viii not be considered bv
the Secretary.
In his annual report Secretary Herbert
praised the value of the marines I'm high
terms, declaring their superiority over the
sailors as artilierists by reason of their
greater experience and constant drilling
win this in view conservative naval of
ilcerS say that he will take measures to
have his orders regarding the marines on
the Indiana carried out to the letter when
ne reads the report of the board of in
spection of the battle ship Indiana of which
an officer of high rank in the marine co,ns
is q member
Interest in the outcome OF the affair has
been greatly heightened by the fact that
Secretary Herbert yesterday sent a letter
TO the House committee on naval affairs
recommending an increase Of the marine
corps by 500 men.