New-York tribune., 1910-07-23
MAY ABOLISH MARINES
Naval Officers Think the Corps
Doomed to Extinction.
OUTLASTED ITS USEFULNESS
Officers and Enlisted Men of
Navy Could Take It's Place
New Navy Regulations.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

tFrom The Tribune Bureau.J
Washington. July 22-There is gossip
IN the naval service that at its next ses-
sion Congress may take up for serious
consideration some plan which has for
its ultimate object the abolition of the
marine corps. This gossip has been
stimulated by the recent important and
startling changes of station in the high
ranking personnel Of this branch of the
military establishment. Apprehension is
increasing among marine officers that
more radical changes are in contempla-
ton, or, at least, may involve the corps
Congress.
The abolition Of the corps would not
be accomplished by any drastic measure
which wholly discharged members of the
commissioned personnel and the enlisted
force. That result would be achieved by
the somewhat familiar process of ANAL
gamaticn, by which the existing marine
officers would become a corps of the
navy, with provision for the gradual ex-
tinction of the species. 1t is very well
known that there is a distinct naval SEN
timent which believes that the navy
should get along without the marine
corps, and that such duties as are now
devolving upon that branch could be pre-
formed by officers and enlisted men of
the navy, the number of the former and
the force of the latter being increased
eventually in case of necessity.
Such a proposition will. of course, meet
with opposition within the marine CORPS
but with most of the officers of that
branch who have exercised influence
with Congress hitherto transferred to
distant posts-to the Pacific Coast or
the Asiatic station-the obstruction to
any plan Of obliteration will be mate
rally diminished, and some of the ma
rine officers believe that this gives aid
and comfort to their critics.
With the occasion of the appointment
of a new commandant, upon the retire
ment Of Major General George F. Elliott,
in a few weeks, there is a chance for
the selection of an officer who Will not
be able to resist whatever inroads are
planned upon the functions of the corps
In the attack upon the marines which
was aroused by President Roosevelt's
there developed a powerful influence
with Congress to restore the marines by
legislative enactment. 1t is quite appar-
ent that if another similar occasion arose
now there would be little chance of the
same successful reversal of that Execu-
tive policy The question is one which
has aroused keen interest on account of
the vital results upon the welfare of the
marines, and, indeed, their very exist
ence.
A change in the navy regulations, ap-
proved by President Taft, was made to-
day. which completely breaks up the
system by which staff officers of the
corps have enjoyed life duty at desks in
Washington. Heretofore, the regulations
have provided that the chief officers of
the staff should be located here. Under
the new regulations they will be required
TO do duty wherever they may be as
signed by the commandant. Under the
spector took charge in the absence of
the commandment Hereafter the Secre-
tary of the Navy will designate an off,
Ger to fill such a temporary vacancy.
Practically all the lines of succession ex-
listing heretofore are wiped out, and the
assignment of duty and the location of
staff officers are left to the discretion
of the commandant OF the corps and the
Secretary of the Navy.