Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-09
BY FREDERIC J. HAsK1N


WASHINGTON, d. c.. March g.
Victories Of peace and public service
70 be entered on the records of marines
alongside tho cntrics for service in
war and equal credit Is to be given
for each. according to a new policy
outlined In a recent order of Major
General John A. Lejeune, Command
ant OF the Marine corps.
The order relates to the members OF
the Marine corps who took part in the
pcrtlous work of rescuing the i'm
prtsoned and injured at the knicker-
booker theater disaster and directs
that commendatory notation SINH
lar to tho marking OF credit given for
participating in battle be entered in
rine who participated in the work of
rescue. Prior to this time such credit
has been given only for service in
battles, skirmishes. campaigns and
/ other warltke enterprises.
The decision Of tho Marine corps to
award credit equal to battle credit for
the hazardous and heroic service in
peace OF tho men who took part in the
work Of rescue at tho Knickerbocker
is n continuation OF tho policy OF the
Marine corps adopted about year
ago by which it was determined that
almost as great service could be rem
dered to tho American public by ma
rnes during peace time as during
war.
According to General Lejeune this
policy is based on . theory which has
seldom been considered In connection
with the military service. namely. that
the Marine corps exists not only to
serve the nation In war. but to con-
sututc e reserve OF educated. trained,
technical men ready to come to tho
aid Of the country in any manner In
lx,l, I~Ie Ia AAa IN
emergencies OF peace. At the same
time II In his theory that a most I'M
portant factor in the mission OF tho
corps is to administer its affairs so
efficiently and economically that its
cost may not be q heavy public burden.
SURPRISING RESULTS ALREADY
Since tho summer OF 1920, when
beginning was made toward putting
this theory into practice, results have
been obtained which have surprised
and delighted even its warmest sup
rorters. The practice OF placing the
marines In all localities at the service
OF the community in every emergency
has enabled them to be OF service In
a multitude OF manners and instances
and has built for the corps reputation
for peace-timc usefulness which has
rendered It in public opinion moro than
over an Indispensable adjunct OF the
government. During this period. also.
efficiencies have been introduced ana
economies put into effect which have
CUT the cost to tho government OF
maintaining the Marine corps. per
man, TO less than half the sum form
erly necessary.
An apt illustration of the manner
in which the corps' nNw policy has put
all marines ION their toes' to serve
tho nation whenever needed. is fur
nished in the happenings OF the col
lapse of tho Knickerbocker theater.
The roof OF the ill.fatcd building fell
shortly after 8 o'clock on the evening
OF january .sth. A few minutes after
the disaster. a private Of marines
whose name has never been ascer-
tained. telcphoncd the news to Lieu
tsnant-Colonel Robert 7. RhUA. COM
mandIng officer of the marines at the
Warrington Navy Yard. Without
awaiting authority or orders from any
one, Colonel Rhea sent ordcrl,cs dash
ing thru barracks and squadrooms
with orders TO turn all men out. ana
teIcphonci the news to the nearby
Marine barracks. whore tho command
Ing officer. Major Clayton r. Nogel,
took similar action. with the result
that within a quarter OF an hour. more
than 200 marines with trucks con-
tanning jacks. ncctylene. torches and
o,hcr devices were buckinE their way
thru the heavy snow to the scene OF
the accident two uiilcs away.
THANK GOD FOR THE MARINES
Their work on arrival is too well