The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-17
Gen. Doycn's Marines.
(Fronn Sea PoWcr.l


Brig. Gen. Charles A. Doycn. Or
Sanizer drill-master and fighting
commander OF our marines, whose
daring victories on the Marine have
thrilled the nation, has been invalid
cd home just as fame crowned him
and his men. The tactics and success
of his brigadeE have been the adn1i-
ration Of the allied nations, and it
will not be improbable to inquire
whether their training or leadership
nave been along special lines offer
ing helpful hints for preparing futul@
troops.
While cur army forces abroad ar1
drilled and commanded By Wa-a
Pointers. or by those whose tact;cs;
and Inspirations are OF military acad-
ciny origin and whose lives have
been spent on shore, the higher mt-
rine officers were trained at the na-
val ;icadcf2y ard have been sailor
mon for !ears. General Doycn. The
Ictuil field commander, is Il mean
hcr @: the naval ac.,den:y's famous:
class Of 1881; 50 are Major Generai
Barnett. commander in chief Of :hc
Marine corps. and Brig. Cen. LAUGH
hci!aer. VINO. practically speaking is
lie chic: OF staff Of the corps. Brig
2dicr General Lejeune-wio has gone
over to relieve Doyen-and the Two
rcSimcntal commanders, tae gallant
Colonel Cat!in. severely woGndcd in
leading his regiment, and Co!ona:
Nevi!!e-Wllom Vera Cruz Will lons
remember-are a! Annapolis nen.
sailors BY education ard practice.
Conditions IN the army are SO diff
terent from those IN the navy that tra-
ditions and drill methods are not the
same in the two services Lie or
shirboard and work in snail bo";s,
tend to develop individual initiative.
more than does the bar-&cll system.
Of SQUAD control. For trench o.e:,a-
:,ition the army system has obvious
advantages. hut we should, ncyertle-
less. expect the individual marine &c
handle himself somewhat better than
u soldier IN the special case OF an
attack across broken ground. Then
;;boai',. ship target practicc-indir!-
dual target ri;,3t: :cc--:s almost q sub
ject Of Worship. The recort;& o! M
tional and International rifle matc:.e ;;
are witness 30 the ;tb;!ity Of our
small narinc corps OF pre-wa" dr.
20 wreSt t;li:Sct lautcls from the large
service. II NAY sc noticed 100 ihal
Majoi. Hoiconli-the spirit Of marin.
corps target practiGc-nas been Ell
@cctivei& hu&y with the marines WHO
are in Franco The developments OF
trench fighting h:jy. led the arni. to
;hc use OF tac 'iand grenade, nc
li2caiEc san. etc, iiaps 70 the 1:!.-
;:Eo:da;nle sighting o. ri.!e inst.,ie.
ton
The aavv has Watched with inter
est :l:e working out O: tacse .,Tc
systems IN our training camps ii,
france. We h.vc seen General nar-
.siiiaS's soldiers rcce :V:j:2, The .,...,
.N,ncr;can amy s.Estc:n Of; tr.,sls ~
modified by lessons learned from nill
:i1ies. It the sane Gn.e We hive
senn G;enei.s! Hc:siiii5 approving and
.nco;:I;.-siilsc Tic &oIn,.yehat di'ie.-ani
dri'i& Instituted b.. Dcyrn for his i.l;!-
iincs. N D"Ec.;s cs;t,ps lhe.e .lae
hecn rifle practice evory d;ty f"r
c:>hodS-. con cntio,;;1l ;eir.e:S nc
fant;eS havc been almost t,thoo n
s,e,,,i There it,s icct. :. :'ics q: ), .,,..
VII. lin c.:n& 10 rei...: ilti
German heln>cs;; tai post; ana ~:
ones. pests eres.t &pd re,.uf.i. -
como vests il, t;,n cIa,, ..,.,4, :,