Evening star., 1927-12-04
MARINE CORPS

At the coming session of Congress,
1t is officially stated by the authorities
of the Marine Corps, there will be no
request for an increase of officers or
men. The authorized strength Of the
Marine Corps is 27,40o, but at the last
session of Congress there were appro-
priated funds sufficient to carry but
$4,000, which sorely taxed the entire
corps to the utmost in later having to
meet the situations which arose in
China, Nicaragua, etc. Notwithstand-
ing that the headquarters Marine
Corps officials have not been consult
ed anent the subject, there is move
ment on foot in veteran Marine Corps
circles now in civilian status to use
every influence that can be brought
to bear upon Congress to give the
corps a permanent strength of $4,000
enlisted men, exclusive of those in
training or who may be carried on the
rolls in an inactive status. such as
those in hospital awaiting medical dis
charge. etc.
The question OF establishing per-
manent Chemical Warfare base for
the corps on both the East and West
Coasts will be given serious considera-
tion by Marine Corps officials. Here.
tofore it has been the policy to detail
o. few commissioned officers to the
Chemical Warfare School Of the Army
at Edgewood Arsenal, Md, but taken
as whole it is said that those who
have heretofore graduated are in no
position to disseminate their acquired
knowledge to the entire corps. hence,
In view of the great advances in
chemical warfare, the future company
officers of the Marine Corps to be eff.
cient must be schooled in the uses of
toxic smokes. carrying smokes, alkali
smokes and heavy metal smokes car.
rying volatile vapors.
Brig. Gen. Dion williams. assistant
TO the major general commandant, has
been attending to the recruiting inter-
Osts OF the corps in addition to his
other duties during the past week.
Maj. j. c. Fegan Is on an inspection
tour or the Southern recruiting diyi-
sion and Is expected back at headquar.
ters.
The United States Marine Corps Re.
serve Officers Association, District of
Columbia branch, will give a dinner
at the Army and Navy Club December
13. officers will be elected and Ad.
miral Billiard, commandant of the
Coast Guard, is scheduled to make an
address. Capt. Harvey w. Miller.
Capt. Charles A. Ketcham and Lieut.,
Sisson will be in charge. All officers
have been notified to appear in uni
form.
The adjutant and inspectors depart.
ment Of Headquarters Marine Corps
will play host at noon December "a.
when those attached to headquarters
will gather round an old-time Christ.
mas tree which will be trimmed with
favors and Illuminated with electric
bulbs, for the benefit of grown-up chill
dren. The tree will be erected on the
third floor Of wing of the Navy
Building. Eighteenth and B streets.
The Headquarters Marine Corps
Welfare Association has delegated the
following committee in charge of ac-
tivities of the association: Chairman.
Robert M. O'Toole; Thomas L. Miller.
Emerson w. Giles. Edward J. McCabe.
David A. Mckee, Mrs. Roy Kenna,
Paymaster Sergt. Joseph Jenkins and
Staff Sergt. Julian Byrd.
Interest is being evinced throughout
the stations of the corps near Wash.
xngton as to the names of those Off.
GERS who will proceed to China in Jan.
uary via the naval transport Hender.
son, scheduled to sail from the West
Coast. Up to the present no announce.
mea*s have been made.