Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-27
THE MARINE CORPS
Gen. Heywood's Annual Report to the
Secretary of the Navy.
ALL BRANCHES IN GOOD CONDITION
The Recognized Band is Highly
Commended.
Gnnn CEpVIrE PFNDFRE ED
GOOD SERVICE RENDERED

IGOOD SERVICE RENDERED
| The prominent and highly creditable part
| taken by the Marine Corps in the military
| operations in our island possessions during
| the past year is set forth in detail In the
| annual report of Brigadier Gen. Charles
| Haywood commandant of the corps made
| public by the Secretary of the Navy today.
TT gives me great pleasure" says Gen.
| Haywood "to mention the fact that not
| withstanding the large increase of the
corps and the consequently Increased vol
| ume of work in all the departments, with
out any additional clerical force, the adju-
| tant and inspector quartermaster and pay
master. and their assistants, have been I'M
| firing in their efforts to meet the largely
| increased demands upon their departments,
and have. at all times, kept their work up
to date. During the year three battaliOns
have been fitted out for foreign service, de-
VOlving upon the quartermaster' depart
ment the duty of procuring a large guam
tity of equipments and supplies of various
sorts. All this work was performed IN the
most expeditions and satisfactory manner
by the quartermaSter and his assistants,
and the quartermaster department met
every demand upon it without delay. | Leg
leave to invite the attention of the depart
ment to the fact that all the regular APP
Preparations of the corps, and the several
allOtments made for the Marine Corps, from
the national defense appropriation during
the with Spain. have been carefully
and judiCiously expended, every purchase,
large or small. being properly substan-
uated by vouchers. and that there have
been no irregularities, CheckageS or dlSal-
lowances of any kind, and no complaints
about ratiOns clothing. any other sup
plies furnished and [ feel justified in stat
ing that the record of the corps, which
have the honor to commend, most
credltable during the war with Spain.
The Marine Band.
In a chapter regarding the condition ard
needs of the Marine barracks at the various
navy yards is included an estimate of 81
500 for the erection of a building for the
Use of the Marine Band as a practice room
and enlisted mems quarters, at the Ma
rine Barracks, Washington, D. c. He says
the present band room was made for the
original band of thirty pieces. By the act
of March 3, 1899, the size of the band was
doubled, rendering the present practice
room entirely insufficient for the purpose.
The construction of this building, he says,
Will enable the present band room to be
used quarters for enlisted men, which
are very much needed at the post He con-
siders the sum asked for very moderate,
and hopes the suggestion will meet with
the approval Of the Secretary.
provided by the act of March 3, 1899" Gen.
Haywood says, has placed the band upon
a thoroughly efficient and satisfactory
footing. As reorganzed. the band consists
of one leader with the pay and allowances
of first lieutenant: one second leader,
with pay at the rate of $50 per month and
the allowances of a sergeant major; thirty
first-class musicians, at $50 per month. and
thirty secOnd-class musicians at $50 per
month, and allowances of a sergeant. The
band has been increased to its full author
lied strength. The number of applicants
was sufficiently large to permit of the best
musicians for each instrument being Sc
lected. The work of the leader in bringing
the band to its present high state of eff
cheney and harmony is commendable, and |
feel confident that the Marine Band is now
the best band in the country"
New Office Building Needed.
The commandant invites especial atten-
ton to that portion Of the quartermaster
report relating to the condition of the
building occupied Offices at ma
rine headquarters. This building is a
wooden structure, in which nearly all the
records of the corps are stored 1t was in
spected by the inspector of buildings of the
District of Columbia in October, 1897, and
reported by him to be in bad condition and
in danger of collapse. In view OF that fact,
a special estimate for the erection of a new
building for use offices at headquarters
was submitted to the department in No
Vemher, 1897. Gen. Haywood says that as
the Secretary did not approve that esti-
mate. 1t has not been renewed in the estI-
mates. but he feels 1t his duty to again call
attention to the necessity for the erection
OF a new office building. Every precaution
he says, has been taken to make the build
ing as safe as possible by removing heavy
weights from the second story, lining all
fues to prevent danger from fire etc.
Owing to the increased duties of the ma
rines in Alaska since the discovery of the
gold fields, bringing many unruly charac-
tiers there, the cOmmandant says that the
strength Of the post at Sitka will have to
be increased. and therefore it Is essential
that the officers quarters should be finished
as soon as possible, in order to give more
space In the barracks.
Increased Strength of the Corps.
Under the provisions Of the naval per
sonnet act the strength Of the marine
corps was increased during the past year
to I'll officers and 5000 men, exclusive of
the band. The reorganization provided
for by that act" Gen. Haywood says, will
not only relieve the officers and men from
a portion Of the extremely arduous duties
they have had to perform in the past, and
permit of a similar superintendent Of duty
to that followed by the army of this coun-
try and the military organizations of other
nations but will also allow sufficient time
to be given to the thorough. detailed and
technical training of officers and men, and
make the corps. when it is recruited to its
full authorized strength more efficient than
OF the navy. 1t will also permit of main
tanning the several posts of the corps at
their proper strength instead of, as has been
necessary in the past, depicting the marine
strength of such stations. to meet the nu-
merous demands for men for service at sea-
in our new possessions, or for any unusual
duty. The provision making 1t possible for
a non-commissiOned officer of the corps to
rise to commissioned rank, as well as the
addition of four sergeant majors, nineteen
quartermaster sergeants. seve oty-two gun
merry sergeants and ten first sGrgeants, has
already done much to stimulate the ambi-
ton of the enlisted men of the CORPS and
induces excellent class of young men
to enlist and will in the future be of ines
Unable advantage to the organization. 1t
Is thought that the gunnery sergeants will
be an exceedingly efficient and valuable
addition to the corps. 1t is the intention of
the brigadier general cOmmandant to insti-
tute course of theoretical and practical
instruction for gunnery sergeants at the
Marine barracks. Washington, d. c., in the
near future. The provision in the act for
tweny Quartermaster sergeants permits of
the assignment of one Of these non-commis-
officers n each most of he onrpS