Great Falls tribune., 1922-03-13
The HaSki,l Letter . ';ssss:as s:sa
SERVICE CREDITS FOR PEACE VICTORIES

during the blizzard which visited
Washington during the last week in
January. Owing to snow and cold,
| railroad traffic was at standstill,
| tracks were blocked, switches in the
Washington railroad yards were
frozen and no trains moved for three
days. Washington's food supply was
| running low and the city was threat
ened with a shortage as railroad Off
cials feared it would be many days
before traffic could be resumed.
Calls for labor were sent from Bos-
ton to Richmond, but 1t was impos-
sible to secure enough men to make
In the emergency the railroad Off
cials applied to the federal govern
ment which turned to the marine
corps. As a result, the engineering
force at Quantico, 80 miles south OF
Washington, was sent to the WASH
ington railroad yards together with
nearly a thousand marines. BIO"
torches, portable furnaces and neat
ing devices were set up and the ma
switches and clearing the right -of-way
under expert supervision, with the re-
suit that within "a hours the task
which had baffled the railroad authorl-
ties was accomplished and traffic was
resumed.
Marines Halted Mall Thefts
Another sensational incident OF the
peace-time service of the marine
corps is the work done by marines
guarding mails. During the week pc
fore the marines took over the task
more than a million dollars had been
lost by the government in two man
robberies, occurring within q few days
of each other. in New York and Chi
cago. During a little more than q
wear prior nine million dollars worth
of cash and securities had been stolen
by mail robbers and large quantities
Of valuable documents lost and de-
stroyed. The postoffice authorities
were contemplating organizing force
of guards, but were staggereA by the
difficulties Of organization and the
prodigious cost. In the emergency the
late assistant postmaster general
Col, Shaughnessy, suggested that the
marines be called on, which plan ap-
pealed to all as the solution OF the
difficulty.
corps respond to orders from the presl-
dent to supply postal guards that IN
less than II hours after orders were
received, mail trains leaving New YORK,
New Orleans, San Francisco and other
cities, carried marine guards armed
II is an astonishing fact that when
marines took over this task attempts at
robberies stopped as if by magic. over
the whole time since the marines nave
been guarding mails not one cent mas
heen lost by the post office depart
ment through a hold-up. -e
Not the least interesting feature OF
the new policy Of the peace time ser
vice is the manner in which 1t mas
worked out inside the corps: Marines
now build houses for themselves sur,
yey and direct their own camps, ou1la
athletic stadiums for their own amuse-
ments and do all manner OF WORK IN
their own behalf Engineers, aren't,
tects mechanics and specialists OF all
kinds have been developed among both
efficers and men SO that almost any
task no matter of how technlcal
nature can be accomplished without
calling for outside help.
Cost Per Marine Is Cut
Not the least interesting Of the
achievements Of the marine IN the nne
~ efficiency has been the work done
Thoso have made an economic survey
Of the corps with a view to establish.
ing the most economical and efficient
systems W with the result that costs have
come down in surprising manner and
efficiency has been raised to even
higher standards.
The effect of these economies Is best
shown in the returns of the marine
corps quartermasters department,
which shows that, exclusive. of pay, the
cost Of maintaining marine in l9l9
was $1127 for the year, and IN e:c i92o
S95s. In 1921 it had fallen to $694,
while for the current year the marine
corps estimates that $3.50 per man will
be sufficient 1t points with pride to
the fact that the actual expense for
the maintenance of 21,o0o men for this
year will be only about nine dIn ana one
half millions, whereas, in l92o, tor
maintaining $4,000 men. the. cost was
more than seventeen millions.