Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-24
MORE MEN DESIRED
Increase in the Marine Corps
Recommended.
REPORT OF GEN. ELLIOTT
New Barracks Needed at Number of
Stations.
CROWDING AT HEADQUARTERS
Additional Space Required for Trans
action of Business - Larger
Force in Philippines.

In his annual report Brig. Gen. G. F. Ell
lott, commandant of the Marine Corps, calls
attention to the necessity for an increase
in the commissioned and enlisted person.
mel Of the corps, and he says the reasons
set forth in his last annual report obtain at
the present time with greater force, as no
increase in numbers was granted by the
last Congress, while the demands for both
officers and men are daily on the increase.
He says that unless prompt action is taken
in that matter by Congress during it's COM
ing session he will be unable to carry out
the directions of the Secretary of the Navy
with regard to details. both ashore and
afoat, and the efficiency of the corps will
suffer materially. Gen. Elliott is of the be-
lief that there is no question of greater i'm
portance to the future efficiency of the
corps.
The recommendation is made by Gen. Ell
lott that the provisions of the general
orders of the War Department by which en-
listed men of the army are entitled to cam
pagn badges for service ashore In CUBA,
Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands dur
ing certain periods, and for service ashore
with the Picking relief expedition during
the Boxer rebellion, be made applicable TO
the men of the Marine Corps who were at
that time serving with the army.
New Barracks Recommended.
In speaking of the conditions of Mare
Island, Cal, the general says the barracks
at that place are unsafe, inadequate Tor the
purposes intended and are obsolete In de-
sign and construction. The sanitary condi-
ton is bad, and he recommends that an estl-
mate of 100000 be inserted in the estimates
for new barracks and 100000 for officers
quarters. The report also states that . il
accommodations for the marines at the
naval station, Cavite, P l., are not only IN
sanitary and inadequate, but OF such
character as to conduce to doscontent anu
as the ORDINARY cohi,o..s
are not granted to the men. He submits an
estimate of $4,000 for the Improvement OF
the grounds and the building of barracks.
An estimate of 100000 is submitted Tor the
construction of barracks and of1cers quar-
ters at the navy yard at Charleston, 5. e..
General Elliott says report received
made by the surgeon attached TO the ma,
rine detachment on duty on the lsthmus OIL
Panama shows the necessity for the I'M
mediate construction Of proper barracks
which he thinks are essential not only as
conducive to their happiness and content
but especially necessary LOT sahi-
tary reasons ,
In connection with the statement OF the
estimate submitted for public works OF the
corps Gen. Elliott thinks 1t pertinent TO
bring to the attention Of the departme en-.
Marine Corps including those recently
can be replaced by new build
ings at a cost of not more than $1.5OO,OoO
Difficulty in Securing Men.
IT is expected that the high physical mental
and moral standard which is endeavored
to be maintained, coupled with the made
ouate appropriations, as well as the great
demand for labor of all kinds throughout
the country, makes 1t very difficult to Sc
cure a large number of men VINO can
meet the Requirements OF the Marine corps,
but under the present lmproveo metnods
and the present rate of recruiting 1t Is
believed by the commandant that the Ma
rine Corps will be recruited IN Its 1uii
strength before the end of the present
calendar year.
to establish a school of instruc-
ton for cooks with view to the more
economical and better preparation OF the
ration.
Marines in Philippines.
AS soon as the condition of the corps will
permit it is intended, says Gen. Elliott, to
increase the marine contingent In the Phl1-
ippines to a total of LOCO men. That is
the number recommended by the general
board of the navy, and approved by the
Department, and is believed to be required
for the proper performance of duty In
the archipelago At present there are 50
officers and 1880 enlisted men III the
islands.
Gen Elliott says he appreciate the
Justice of the recommendation made by the
Secretary of the Navy in his last annual
report that the commandant OF the Marine
Corps be given the rank of major general
He believes that such rank is appropriate
and proper for officer who is by law and
regulations made responsible for the dis
cipline and efficiency of 2lS officers and
S,111 enlisted men.
Recommendations are made for the pur-
chase of land and the equipment of target
ranges for the Marine Corps. rifle range
has been maintained throughout the year
at Camp Admiral Harrington. Williams
burg, Va. a tract of land rented for the
purpose, with beneficial results to the OFF,
GERS and enlisted men participating in the
Elliott says he will send the marines at
Annapolis, the two posts in Washington
and those at Norfolk, Va, to the range at
Williamsburg. Va, for target practice.
Headquarters Crowded.
Regarding purely local Institutions, Gen.
Elliott says:
1.-THE attention of the department is in
vIted to the comments in my last annual
report on the question of the congested con-
dition of marine headquarters, which has
not been improved. 1t is again recommend
ed that either additional space in the Mills
building be assigned to the Marine Corps
or that provision be made for the rental of
ample quarters for these headquarters
somewhere in the immediate vicinity of the
Navy Department, not only owing to the
reasons above stated, but also for the fur
Their reason that it is deemed highly essen
tial that suitable facilities and protection
be afforded the permanent and valuable rec
ords of the corps, which are now stored in
an infiammable building in the Marine Bar
racks in this city. Frequent reference is
necessarily made to these records, and much
valuable time of the clerks Is wasted by
reason of their being obliged to go back
and forth to obtain information.
New Marine Barracks.
''The addition to the marine barracks,
Washington, d. c., which was erected I'M
der contract with the Charles McCaull Com
pany of Philadelphia, Pa, was completed
IN January last and is a very satisfactory
structure. The work under contract with
the same firm for further additions to the