Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-09

WASHINGTON, March 6-Victo-
ries of peace and public service are
to be entered on the records of ma
rines alongside the entries o SER
vice 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,
commandant of the Marine Corps.
The order relates to the members
of the Marine Corps who took part
in the perilous work of r%escuing the
imprisoned and injured at the Knick
erbocker theatre disaster and di-
reefs that a commendatory notation
similar to the marking of credit
given for participating in battle be
entered in the seryiee-record book
of every marine 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 warlike enter
prises.
The decision of the Marine corps
to award credit equal to battle credit
for the hazardous and heroic SER
vice in peace of the men who took
part in the work Of rescue at the
Knickerbocker is a continuation OF
the policy of the Marine Corps
adopted about a year ago by which
it was determined that almost as
great service could be rendered to
the American public, by marines
| during peace time as during war.
According to General Lejeune this
policy is based on a theory which
| has seldom been considered in con-
nection with the military service,
namely, that the Marine Corps ex-
lists not only to serve the nation in
war. but to constitute a reserve OF
educated, trained, technical mer
ready to como to the aid Of the
country in any ann in which
their services may De needed II
emergencies of peace. At the same
time it is his theory that a mos
important factor in the mission o.
the Corps is to administer its af
fairs so efficiently and economical,
that it's cost may not Re a heav,
public burden.
Surprising Results Already
Since the summer o. 1920, Whel
a beginning was made toward put
ting this theory into \practice, re
suits have been obtained whicl
have surprised and delighted evel
it's warmest supporters. The prac
tice of placing the marines i'll al
localities at the service of the com
munity in every emergency has ena
bled them to be of service in a mul
titude of and instances an
, has built for the Corps u reputatio
for peace-time usefulness which ha
, rendered it in public opinion MOI
than ever an indispensable adjunC
of the government. During this pc
/, riod, also, efiiciencies have been in
PRODUCED and economies put into
feet which have cut the cost to tn
government of maintaining til
Marine Corps, per man to less tina
half the sum formerly ~necessar.
An apt illustration of the mannt
, in which the Corps new policy he
put all marines ION their toes" I
, serve the nation whenever needles
i, is furnished in the happenings {
the collapse of the Knickerbockt
theatre. The roof of the ill-fate
building fell shortly after eigl
o'clock on the evening of Januai
rs. A few minutes after the disa'
ter q private of marines, who's
name has never been ascertaine'
Itelephoned the news to Lieutenan
iColonel Robert Y. Rhea, command
ing officer of the marines at I'll
f Washington Navy Yard. Withoi
awaiting authority or orders fro
: ANYONE, Colonel Rhea sem orderli'
dashing through barracks and squa
1 rooms with orders to turn all me
, out, and telephoned the news to II
: nearby Marine Barracks. where tt
commanding officer. Major Clayto
, B. Vogel, took similar action, wit
Y the result that within a quarter I
an hour, more than 200 marin'
with trucks containing jacks ace
ylene torches and other device
were bucking their way through II
| heavy snow to the scene of the a.
cident two miles away.
"Thank God For the Marines"
Their work on arrival is too we
known all over the country to nee
retelling. The ejaculation of OF
OF the survivors: THANK God +
the marines," sums up public sent
4 ment in a sentence. After workin
for five hours cutting steel beam
| lifting concrete blocks and carr,
ing out crushed and mangled VIZ
. Tins, the marines We're relieved
| two o'clock Sunday morning by a
!, Army detachment from Fort Meye
| Va, which had been sHnmene
Through the usual military chan
nels.