Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10
1926 MARINES
ON FOREIGN DUTY
Corps on Wartime Basis
With Only 6,805 at Home
Awaiting Call.

Facing unusual peace-tiille coilui-
tons, the United States Marine Corps
is living up to its tradition as
soldiers of the Sea-" with two-thirds
of its total enlisted strength on
foreign duty at the present time.
Out of total strength of $4,000
men, 1926 are recorded at Marine
headquarters as being assigned TO
foreign duty, leaving 6,S05 at home
stations. With the number OF men
required for ultimate service IN the
Chinese emergency representing an
unknown factor, Ii was declared that
any future call for reinforcements in
the Orient necessarily must drain
further the rapidly diminishing force
of Marines remaining in the United
States.
Virtually on Wartime Basis.
The situation which confronts the
Marine Corps, the emergency eX2edi-
tionary force OF the Government, is
unprecedented in the records of the
past 20 years, except during the
World War Placed virtually on
wartime basis, though the United
States IS officially at peace with the
world, the Marine Corps is under
orders to stand by" for any further
call for armed forces in the Orient
Less than three months ago the
Marine Corps faced the necessity,
under the limiting features of the
budget, Of reducing its enlisted
strength by more than 1900 men. AL
most without debate Congress recti
fed this and made provision for tho
full strength of $4,000 men. Without
realizing at the time the tremendous
drain that was to be made later on
the man power of the corps, the wis
dom of this action on the part of
Congress has been justified by the
events of the past two months.
Men Now EncircIe Globe.
The 1925 men of the Marine
Corps assigned to foreign duty today
virtually encircle the globe. OF this
number, it was explained at Marine
headquarters, $500 are on Chinese
service; 1850 in Nicaraguan waters;
2,l42 are "af1oat," and 1903 are at
various foreign naval station.
Approximately 1,455 men and "A
officers are assembling at San Diego
under orders to embark for Shang-
hal. This number, 1t was explained,
is included in the $500 men on Chi
nese service, since they have been
detached from service in the United
States.
Emergencies in Nicaragua and
China, demanding protection of Amer
lean lives and property have all but
depleted the East Coast Expeditionary
Force, the pick of the Marine Corps,
centered at Quantico. From the Vir-
ginia base were sent the 1,750 men of
the famous 5th Regiment under COM
nand Of Brig. Gen. Logan FeIand, vet
80 I,
these man arrived on the scene and
reported the situation well in hand"
than Brig. Gen. Smedley d. Butler,
whose fighting qualities won him two
congressional medals of honor, was or
dered to Shanghai in command of the
Marines hastily dispatched there.
Only 1000 Left At Quantico.
Since then drains on the Quantico
force to, augment the re-created 9Th
Regiment, sister regiment to the 9Th
during the World War. have left
scarcely 1000 men of the force of
about $500 stationed at Quantico
The remaining 6.S05 in the United
States available for duty are at widely
scattered posts and naval stations.
Anticipating another call from Ad-
miral c. s. Williams. commandment.
Corps headquarters has made a sur
vey of all attachments in the United
States. While no specific orders have
been issued, all units are in readiness
for a call on short notice. This was
demonstrated by the rapidity with
which the 1,455 men of the 9Th Regi-
ment were assembled and started off
Cor the Pacific Coast.
The next call for achievements in
China, should there be one, will be
met by a further depletion of the men
stationed at home posts. Under exist
ing conditions. it was said, no consid.
Grafton is being given at this time to
the possibility of sending any of the
1850 men in Nicaragua to China. 1t
also is considered unlikely that any
would be withdrawn from Haiti, the
Virgin Islands. or even the Philippines.
Calls Met Quickly.
While the Marine Corps is facing
this great peace-time demand on its
services the 'minute-man' policy
under which the corps operates has
served to meet these conditions with
q minimum of delay and confusion
Considering the fact that the entire
enlisted strength of the Marine Corps
is no larger than the war strength
of combat division, it has been pos.
Sible to concentrate in molding into
shape perfect fighting machine.
Difficulties in the way of mobilization
lie in the fact. that the force in this
country is scattered from coast to
coast.
Thousands Of miles of ocean sepa.
rate the 1903 men on duty at the
various naval bases outside the United
States from the Caribbean Sea to the
outposts of the Pacific. These posts
are located in Haiti, Guantanamo.
Cuba, the Virgin Islands, Panama
Canal Zone, Hawaii, Guam, Samoa
and scattered through the Philippine
Archipelago. OF these, II was stated,
II would be hardly practicable to send
any as endorsements for service in
China in event of a f,,rtto,. llor.nn "a