Evening star., 1901-06-27
THE MARINES AT GUAM
GEN. HEYwOOD CONsULTs ACTING
SECRETARY HACKETT.
I'm Commander Schroe-
der's Order May Result in q
Court of Inquiry.

The attention Of the Navy Department
has been formally called to what appears
to be an unsatisfactory condition Of affairs
in Guam. The incoming mail has brought
q copy Of an order issued by the naval
commandant Of the island. Commander
Seaton Schroeder, denouncing the hood
lumism and lawlessness." which, he states.
are rampant at the station" The order
refers to terrorism. to theft. gambling
and drunkenness which have brought the
United States force into disrepute.
Reference is also made to the theft OF a
barrel Of whisky from the medical store
the only spirits on the island-as well as a
sum of money amounting to about 5000
from one Of the marines. and the order
closes with the imposition of the restric-
tions on the liberty Of the marines.
No Report to Gen. Haywood.
So wholesale Is his denunciation Of the
marines that 1t is believed that the Navy
Department will be obliged to look into the
matter. General Haywood, the command
ant Of marines. who has received reports
in that capacity OF the happenings in
Guam. has been called upon to fuynish such
information as he has, and it may be that
a court of inquiry will be appointed.
General Haywood was at the Navy De-
partment during the morning, and had a
conference with Acting Secretary Hackett.
He stated after the interview that the in
coming mail from Guam had brought him
no report from Major II. X. White. the
ranking marine officer on the island or
from any other source, concerning the re-
ported troubles. The general is naturally
very much surprised, to say the least. at
the extraordinary scope and language of
Commander Schroeders order, rejecting.
as it does, upon the integrity of every Of
hcer and man on duty in the island.
Com a nHnr SchrnaLors~
The following is the text Of Commander
Schroeders order, issued on May 5:
Naval Station Order, No. 4.
1. The attention of the command CT this
station is directed to the hoodlumism and
lawlessness which are rampant in it.
2 1t is not necessary to mention all the
instances of terrorism, theft. gambling and
drunkenness which have brought the United
States forces into disrepute among the
peo. e of this island. But there is reason
for alluding to the theft a few weeks ago
Of a barrel of whisky from the naval hos
pital that was the last and sole supply of
the medical department for medical pur-
poses.
An officer on duty here has since then
been so reduced by climatic fever that a
certain amount Of whisky was considered
necessary to keep him from utter prostra-
ton; fortunately a small supply was OBJ
tanned from passing vessel; had that ac-
cidental supply not been forthcoming, and
had that officer succumbed his death would
have rested upon the heads of the scoun-
drels who committed the theft. There are
many who know who those thieves are,
but they apparently have not the courage
to denounce them; they are afraid. This
gang operates in the United States uni
form, although not always in the uniform
OF their own corps: their latest victim is
an enlisted man in the battalion, from
whom they have stolen clothing and over
$500 In Mexican silver.
3. For the present and until further
orders all enlisted men in this station shall
live In the barracks provided for them and
no liberty shall be granted after taps. Com
necessary number Of sentries to enforce this
order, and will direct the officers Of the day
to have the roll called in any or all of the
barracks whenever there may seem to be
reason for 1t. even II that be at every fif-
teen minutes during the night.
4. The many honorable men Of the COM
mand, men who do not steal, nor gamble.
nor get drunk, are invited to bestir them
selves. When they shall have attained to
real manhoodS estate and decided to take
courage and put a stop to these practices
by bringing the offenders to light, then
regulations under a cloud may be cleared
and the command become a source Of pride
instead OF being a source of shame to
their officers and disgrace to their coun-
try and to their uniform. Until then, and
while the guilty remain unconvicted, none
are innocent.
'SEATON SCHROEDER,
Commander U. 8. N, Governor"