The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-15
Department Sends Full State
ments to Committee Of
the House.
BETTERS SERVICE,
DECLARES DEWEY
Admiral Approves Presidents Or
der, Showing Value OF
New System.

tween LA5 navy D6pHFJTuen ana Con-
| gress ever the Presidents order with
drawing the marines from warships.
took new turn today in the sendir9 9
to the House Naval Affairs COMMITTEES
& statement by the department defend
ing the order and opposing officially the
/ threatened action by Congress to re-
store them TO their original status
The scope OF the executive order Is
! explained. and the defense is based on
letters from Admiral Dewey and active
| commanders OF the battleship feet.
Admiral DeWey's comment is, In p~r.,
as follows:
1T Is the policy Of the department 20
employ the marines as an integral part
Of the navy, and our war plans are
worked out accordingly; but when en-
barked they viii be on ships especially
fitted TO carry eXpeditionary forces and
advanced base material.
Expeditionary Force Necessary.
Il regard it as a matter Of very great
Importance for the Navy Department to
have under its orders. ready for i'm
mediate use at any time, an expedi-
tionary force of sufficient size to ASSIST
the fleet IN capturing and holding an
advanced base. The Marine Corps. sup
plies this force.
IF there had been 1900 marines under
ny command at Manila Bay. the citv
would have surrendered to me on MAY
!. 1895, and could have been properly
gaTrisoned. The Filipiuos would have
received us with open arms. and there
would have been no insurrection."
Economy In the Move.
Secretary NeWberrz-- in his Iefrsr ~
transmittal, states that reports from the
feet show that the withdrawal OF the
marines has increased the efhciencv. Of
the navy: that the records Of target
practice demonstrate that the efficiency
CO De su8s manned by the marines is
much lower than the efficiency OF those
manned by the blue Jackets. He adds:
The additional expense of replacing
the 2.l00 marines afiOat on cruising ships
VIII be about 80. 600 a year As marine
officers afOat need not be replaced
there viii result a saving of the ex-
pense OF their maintenance. of about
81, 600 q year or replacing marines and
pfnceTs on cruising vessels by sailors.
will result in a saving 10 the Govern
ment Of about $9s.oo0 year
Statement of Department.
The statement submitted by the de
paTtment IS as follows,
81. The Presidents order concerning
withdrawal of marines from ships mere
Iy specifies additional duties for them
on shore. i'm strict accordance with the
Revised statute Of the United states
- The present organic law concern
ing their employment is not changed.
.'3. Tie navy regulations concerning
marines ahoat remains unchanged eN-
cept as 10 the fleet marine officer and
= TIE order does not prevent their
employment aaoat in case they are
IS. = does net contemplate their re-
movsl from receiving ships or trans
ports.
.'8 It does moi prevent their being
used as a reserve for the navy in case
OF emergruCv-
Increase IN Efficiency.
90. 1t gives opportunity for their more
complete and permanent organization
and instruction as a mobile force to
work with the navy al all times
IS. It is Of the utmost Importance that
The Marine Corps remain absolutely un-
der the control OF the Navy Depart
ment, and all war pI-us thus far laid
down provide for the close cooperation
OF the Marine Corps with the navy,
afOat and ashore.
'9. The following extract from the Re
vised Statutes of the United States be-
an Executive order Section 1921 The
Marine Corps shall al all times. be sub
1eCt 20 the laws and regulations eStab-
Ushed for the government OF the navy.
except when detached for service with
the army by order of the President. and
when SO detached they shall be subject
to the rules and articles of war pre-
scribed for the government OF the
army
Admiral Dewey's Letter.
Admiral Dewey's letter is as follows
sir. ] have been requested TO appear
before "a subcommittee or the Naval
Committee Of the House of Representa-
tives iu connection with the recent action
Of the department iu withdrawing ma
riros from duty on board battlesnlps
and cruisers. / regret that the state
o. my health viii not permit me 90 APP
pear i'm person, but I submit herewith
Iiy views on this subject should you
desire to forward them to the suDcom-
mIttee.
to this subject having i'm view the most
recent requirements OF In. fleet. and ]
was heartily In favor OF Executive or
der No. 969. for while the marines will
no longer form parts of the crews of
the ships, the navy is 10 have the ser
wees OF this fine corps for the lm-
puTtant and necessary duties laid down
ir that order
"8. Ia is the policy of the department
part Of tho navy. and OUT war plans
are worked out aCc0rdiugIy- but when
embarked they will be on ships especial
ly fitted TO carry cApcditiOuary forces
and advanced base material
IT regard II as a matter OF very great
importance Tor the Navy Department
TO have under its orders, ready for im-
mediate use at any time. 8u expedition
dTy force OF sufficient size TO assist the
fleet in capturing and holding du ad-
anced base. The marine CORPS supplies
this force. II there had been 5U0D ma
rines under my command at Manila
Bay, the Ciry would have surrendered
to me on MAY +, 1885, and could have
been properly EaTrisoued. The FiIIi-
pInos would nave received Us with Opcu
arms, ard there would have been no
iusurTact1n. The capture and 0rDuqa-
ton Of Guantanamo during the Spanish
American war, giving tine fleet a base
without which the difficulties of block
GContluued on Second Fagel