Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-29
j. S. MARINE CORPS
:
Annual Report Of J, It's Opera
tions Last Year
I'D
IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
LANDINGS IN sANTo DOMINGO
AND ON THE IsTHMUs.
Efficiency of the Corps in Its Varied
Duties-A Chapter on
the Band.
IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES


Corps during the past fiscal year. made pub
lie today. is signed by Major General
Charles Heywood who retired few weeks
ago. In addition to their services in the
Philippines and other insular possessions,
and their regular duties in the United
States and on shipboard, marines were
landed in Santo Domingo and on the 18th
mus of Panama last year for the protection
of American interests.
In Santo Domingo.
General Haywood says the marine de-
taahment remained ashore at Santo Do
nfneo City in April last for twenty days.
and the officers and men performed their
duty in an exemplary manner. as indicated
In the report of Commander w. H. Turner,
United States navy, commanding the q. s.
g. Atlanta which reads as follows:
During the whole of the stay ashore
(twenty days. the behavior of the marine
guard of this ship was excellent in every
way There was not a single infraction OF
discipline and the consul general. in whose
house they were stationed spoke TO me IN
warm praise of their quiet and orderly bear
ing"
A marine battalion, commanded by Lieut.
| Col. b. R. Russell, was on the isthmus dur
| ing the revolt in the fall of 1902 and did
good service in protecting the plant, prop
| erty, lives and liberty of the Americans
and other peaceable employees connected
with traffic and transit across the isthmus.
| One company of eighty men, under com
| mand of Major George Barnett, United
| States Marine Corps, was left at Colon,
| wi lie the other three companies, under COM
| mand of Lieutenant Colonel Russell, were
| directed to proceed to Panama and occupy
| the railroad station there, and such
| wharves as might be necessary.
On the Isthmus of Panama
"The duty of the battalion consisted in
mand of officers, for trains leaving Panama
and Colon the guards changing trains at a
point half way across the isthmus, and re-
| turning to their respective stations. A
guard of twenty men was maintained at the
railroad station at Panama. This post was
continued until October 10, when it re-
lieved by order of the commanderin-chief,
the conditions at Panama having quoted
down. and 1t being considered dangerous to
| the health of the men to quarter them In
close proximity to the barracks of the Co
| lombian soldiers, who did not live under
| very desirable or sanitary conditions. Dys-
EMERY, yellow fever and malaria rife
| among the Colombian troops.
| I'm two instances the marines had slight
difficulties with the Colombian forces. and
| serious situations were aYerted only by the
| tact displayed by the marine officers in
command on these occasions. On Septem-
Der "a one of the passenger trains from
| Panama to Colon was Threatened by force
of about 15c armed insurgent soldiers at the
railroad station at Empire. They attempt
ed to board the train and seize Colombian
colonel who was on board, the latter being
in civilian clothes Under the orders of the
officer in charge of the train First Lieut.
B. F. Rittenhouse, United States Marine
Corps. this attempt was resisted and pre-
vented, and a Colt automatic gun was
brought to bear on the insurgents. 1t was
not necessary to open fire, however, al
though some of. the boarding party were
injured by the butts of the marines rifles
Colonel Russell reports that "a serious diff
Guilty was prevented only by the discipline
of the marines and the Judgment and cool
ness of the officer in charge"
"On October -, 1902, the commanding
officer of the marines learned that, con-
trary to standing orders. the railroad Of
ficials had sent three carloads of guns and
ammunition from Colon to Panama. and
were about to unload them at the station
at the latter place. section of marines
urder command of Capt. Dion Williams, L.
S. Marine Corps, was Immediately dis
patched to seize the guns and ammunition
and to bring the cars to the wharf occupied
by the battalion. Upon his arrival Capt
Williams found the station and platform
occupied by a company of sixty Colombian
soldiers, who had established guards over
the three cars in question. The Colombian
officer in charge having refused in answer
| to a request to that effect to vacate the
and twelve men were ordered to remove
the latter by force. This was quickly anC
| effectively done. The Colombian officer
thereupen formed his company in the
| street opposite the station and prepared tc
| load, whereupon he was informed by Capt
| Williams that in case the Colombian troops
| loaded their rifles the marines would be
| compelled to open fire. The Colombian Their
desisted and withdrew. -'--
| Suffered From Fever