The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-04
MARINE CORPS
ACTIVE IN SERVICE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4--Three ma
rine flying fields in this country and
flying detachments for the marine
forces in Haiti and Santo Domingo are
the active aviation program of the ma
rlne corps, according to the annual re-
port OF the corps commandant Just
made. to secretary of the navy Tho
detacnments with our island forces have
been In operating during the past year,
while construction and improvements in
the three flying fields are nearly com
pleted. The fields, from which marine
| aviation operations viii be conducted
are the Dutch Flats barracks, at San
Diego, Cal, Paris Island barracks, South
Carolina, and Quantico Va.
The aviation section Of the corps got
we'll under way during the war and per.
formed valuable sntisubmarine observa-
ton work during the war, One Of the
marine aeronRutic attachments was on
| duty at naval base No. 10 In the Azores
during the war, while another at the
| Miami naval air station performed val.
uanie patrol duty y, for teat section q the
| personnel Of the flying section of the
corps has now been demobilized
In Haiti and Santo Domingo the flying
squadrons are making reputation for
themselves In cooperating with the
| United States forces on duty there. One
|
planes and six land planes, Is operating
with the expeditionAry brigade in Haiti,
and one flight Of six land planes is OPP
Grating with the evolutionary brigades
in Santo Domingo. These two organiEa-
lions have proved q great help In
conducted by natives In both these
islands, and the commanding officers
! IN charge OF the marine brtgades at both
stations are enthusiastic about them.
| Among their duties are offensive OPP
eratons with machine guns and bombs
against these guerrilla bands; photo.
| graphing various operations of the enc
my and Photographic map making; con.
tact patrol and cooperating with
ground troops; quick transmission Of
messages, papers and officers, as well
as keeping up regular mail service be-
tween various units.
In addition to their military opera
tons, the flying units are conducting
contour and coast line Photographic Qp'
erstions at the request Of and in CO.
operation with tho interior department.
In this manner they are affordng the
take several years Of surveying to SC.
lcure by ordinary land methods.
| The authorised strength of the marine
corps aviation section Is 100 officers and
LOCO enlisted men. The pilots are Sc
lected from eligible officers of the corp.
and the mechanics are especially trained
in the navy mechanics school, at Great
Lakes III. The marine corps also has
small lighter. than-a air dirigible like
the British Blimps under construction.
! In speaking OF training Of marines
for the war the commandment paid q hist
tribute to the officers and men who die
training work on this side during th'
war.
Il think can safely say that never
before in the history OF the corps have
better drilled nor more generally eff
cient men been turned over ready foi
duty upon the completion OF their re
cruit training, and to this factor is,
believe. largely due the splendid RECORD
: made by the marines during the war.
he said IN his annual report. Accord
ingly ! can not give much praise TO tht
) officers and enlisted men who were eli
gagged in the training Of our recruits,