The Washington herald., 1909-01-14
MAY RESCIND ORDER
House Committee Friendly
to the Marines.
NAVAL MEN WANT CHANGE
Officers OF the Corps Appear Before
House Naval Board and Unani-
mSusly Express the Opinion that
Their Service Should Be Again Re-
stored to Duty on War Ships.

The Marine Corps scored yesterday be-
fore the House Committee on Naval AZ
fairs, when the matter OF President
Roosevelts order detaching marines from
war ships was threshed out 4 strong
effort viii be made 70 induce the Presi-
dent 10 rescind ms order. and it is prob
able there VIII be legislation 20 prevent
similar executi-e action in the futIre
Naval officers are divided as 20 TIE
wisdom OF the Presidents course. while
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress. as well as the commissioned per
sonnel OF the Marine Corps. are agreed
that the discipline and moral OF the scrv-
ice require that the marines shall be re-
stored TO their former sea-going status
At the hearing before the Naval Com
mittee officers Of the Marine Corps ap-
peared IN force, unanimous IN the opinion
that the discipline and morale Of the serv-
duty on war ships.
List OF witnesses.
Those who addressed the committee
were Brig. Gen. G. F. Elliott, command
ant OF the corps; Col. Frank L. Denny.
chief Quartermaster; Col. c. II. LAUGH
helmer. chief adjutant Inspector; Col
P. 5. Murphy. Col L. ". T. Waller.
Lieut. Col. J E Mahoney. Lieut. Col
c. A Goyan. Lieut.. Col C. F. Richards.
Capt. Logan Feland. and Capt F. z
Dunlap, all from stations IN the eastern
part OF the United States.
Rear Admiral R r. Ingersoll. a mem
Der OF the Naval General Board, who
was Chief OF StaT 10 Rear Admiral Rob
lantic feet from Hampton Roads 70 san
Francisco, was present also as a repre-
sentative Of the Navy Department
Some interesting testimony was given
by General Elliott as 10 how the order
for withdrawal of marines from ships
came 20 be issued. According 20 rum0rs
in Washington. General Elliott was
partly responsible for the Presidents ac-
tion and he has been credited with hav-
ing been favorable 10 IL General FL
Hott-s testimony before the Naval Com
mittee was 10 the contrary and he proved
70 be q strong advocate OF the restoration
Of the marines 10 the ships
He said President Roosevelt had given
him personal directions 10 draw an order
describing the duties OF the marines in
the future Omitting' from It duties 70
be performed on shipbOard. This order
was signed BY the President and trans
mitted 10 the Navy Department. where
upon Rear Admiral " s Pilsbury.
Chief OF the Bureau Of Navigation.
promulgated the order taking the marines
from vessels of war.
The burden Of the evidence offered was
that the marines were an efficient body.
that they performed valuable service on
shipbOard. that the Corps was maintained
economically. and that Il was a vaIu-
able asset TO the naval service Il was
maintained that the Presidents order had
demoralized the Corps. and that enlist
ments had fallen of seventy five per
cent as a result
Some Of the witnesses declared that the
Of the marines from sea duty
would increase the cost OF the naval
service II was estimated that the in
creased cost would be about s. 5000 for
the first year
Interesting Feature.
An interesting feature Of the hearing
was the attitude OF the marine officers
toward statements made by Commander
". s. Sims. inspector Of naval rife prac-
tee, as 10 the relative efficiency Of ma
rines and bluejaekets as marksmen. The
figures OF Commander Sims tended 10
show that the marines were 40 per cent /
behind seamen in target practice with 1
the secondary batteries. He arrived at
this conclusion by dividing the number
Of shots by the number of hits under all
possible conditions. The marine officers /
presented new figures
A tentative decision has been reached 4
in the Naval Committee that the naval 4
bin, which viii be reported I
soon. shall contain provision recon- 1
that the marines De restored TO +
the status they formerly had in the naval 4
service.
Admiral Dewey. president OF the gen I
erai board Of the navy. has prepared a /
letter approving the withdrawal Of the .