Evening star., 1898-10-15

increase of the number of officers to meet
existing conditions X is further submitted
that the marine corps. as one of the co-or-
dlnate military branches of the government.
ana numbering over 5000 men. is entitled
to have at its head a brigadier general,
thus placing the commandant on an equal
lty IN this respect with the corresponding
rank held by heads of departments in the
army and bureaus in the navy.
"The Men Behind the Guns"
For some time after establishment of
the new navy" says Colonel Heywood cit
was question whether or not 1t would be
advisable to station marines at the rapid
fire and secondary batteries l maintained
that the men of TIE corps could do this
work, and do it well, as the marines are
thoroughly trained as sharpshooters, and
it has been demonstrated that a good
msrksman with the rife is a good gunner,
ard, furthermore, many of the men are
thoroughly drilled at the small guns before
going on board ship. l accordingly urged
that the marines should be given a trial at
these guns. After due consideration the
department accepted my suggestion, and
included in the regulations orders to sta
ticn them at the secondary batteries and
rapid-fire guns. By the reports received
after the battle of the Sd of July, when the
Spanish fleet off Santiago was annihilated,
and the reports of the Spanish officers VINO
were on board these ships, it was shown
that the greatest damage on the enemy S
vessels resulted from the fire of the sec
ondary batteries and the rapid-fre guns,
this fire being effective that the enemy
Were driven from their guns. AS great
number of these guns on the ships engaged
We're manned by marines l feel safe in as
sorting that the department did not make
a mistake when it directed that the small
guns should be manned by marines. | have
received reports from many commanding
officers Of marine guards of ships Whlch
took a prominent part in this action, IN
dorsed very favorably by the commanding
officers of the vessels, showing the stations
and services of the marines.
The very careful attention given to tar
get practice in the past has shown excel
lent results during the war, and great at
tention will continue to be given to the
subject soon as the men are again STA
toned in barracks.
After my last report the marines sta
toned at Washington who could be spared
We're ordered into camp at the Ordway
range of the District National Guard, in
order to enable them to complete their
long-range practice. The results were very
satisfactory, and a. large number of the
men qualified sharpshooters and marks
men. This spring, before hoSt1ltles COM
meDcod, the men were again sent TO camp
at Ordway for long-range practice.
Tine practical instruction which many OF
the officers, non-commissoned officers and
privates obtained at the school of applica-
way was very useful to them in Cuba in
establishing the camp and throwing up in
trenChments. etc, and it is my purpose,
with the sanction of the DEPARTMENT. to
have a yearly encampment for at least one
month at Seaveys Island, Portsmouth, n.
H., where the officers and men can be
thoroughly instructed in camp life.
The discipline and instruction of the
Marine Corps have been maintained at a
high standard, and to this is attribuated in
a large measure the efficiency of the ser
vices rendered by the marines in the war
between the United States and Spain. One
of the instances of discipline connected
with the war which attracted public at
tention- was the conduct of Private VIM.
Anthony in performing the very letter of
his duty orderly on the occasion of the
destruction of the battle ship Maine in
Havana harbor by going below to the cap
tain's cabin. irrespective of danger, and in
forming him that the ship had been blown
up and was sinking. For his action on this
occasion Private Anthony received com
mandatory letters from Capt G. ID. Sigs-
han 80 ne Maine and the Secretary of the
Navy, and was promoted to the rank of
sergeant by myself