The Washington times., 1933-09-07
z BATTLESH|PS
MAY ACT AS
TRANSPORTS
Secretary Swanson on Way
to Havana; Mississippi
Heads for Cuban Waters
(continued from Page ~

OllIC6TS SHpISSSeu Vic UtllcA
that if the fliers are called out to
work in conjunction with the ex-
pedition, they would be based at
the Naval Air Station at Pensa-
cola, Fla.
This station is but a short hop
from Cuba and is fully equipped
to handle as large force as
might be called out.
If the Cuban expedition is or
dered, it will be "home coming"
for the regiment, for the
Seventh passed its time in Cuba
during the World War.
While the corps was making
history in France, the regiment
was stationed at Guantanamo.
A Young Regiment
It is a young regiment. Many
of the Marines are recruits. How
ever, the majority of the officers
are overseas veterans, and their
blouSes are embelliShed with many
campaign and decoration ribbons.
The non-coms, 90, are veteran
soldiers, and are keen to take
their squads and platoonS into
action.
There were many reunions as
the regiment assembled at the
base yesterday. Scenes reminiscent
of the war days were enacted as
train after train pulled in and
the Marines, in full field equip
ment hoped off.
They snapped into formation.
did squads right and marched
away at route step to the bar
racks, while general and staff
officers nodded approval at their
military bearing.
Ready for Action
Git and ready to embark the
minute orders are received"
That was the way their COM
mander, Col. Richard P. Williams,
described them.
Organization of the regiment is
for three battalions, each made
up Of three rifle and one machine
gun companies. Each battalion
consists of approximately. 400 Of
ficerS and men.
The machine gun companies
have eight guns, a trench mortar
and a 81 nm hoWitzer, vicious
little gun that can lay down a
Shrapnel barrage mile away and
cover the advance of troops.
While 5he regiment as whole
has not seen action, many of
its veterans have. France, Mica
ragua, Haiti they have been un-
der fire and carry as souvenirs
battle scars and many ribbons.
Belief that the regiment will
see action was strengthened with
the arrival of a group OF ten
Navy doctors during the early
evening.
Use Navy Doctors
The Marines do not have their
own medical corps. the Navy
supplying this branch of the
service.
Field ambulances are on hand
at the base, ready for Thipment
If the regiment moves, and first
aid kits we're carried by each
man as part of his field equip
ment.
AS the various detachments
arrived from Washington. Phila-
delphia, Norfolk and Paris Is
land, Colonel Williams and his
staff inspected them.
After reveille today the regi-
ment was assembled and another
and more rigid inspection was
held.
Heavy packs we're carried by
all. Half a shelter tent, blankets,
cooking utensils, Iron rations,"
cantee.l, first aid kit. spare CLOTH
ing, rifle and bayonet and am
munition were carried by all.
Summer uniforms, the same as
those worn in the tropics, we're
worn, khaki breeches and shirts
with no blouse.
At the base ammunition depot
there was much activity as Of
ficers and men checked over sup
plies for the rifles, machine guns,
howitzers and mortars.
With the Marines ready to
sail, naval forces were concen-
trating in Cuban waters today
Headed south under forced
draft, is the speedy light cruiser
Indianapolis carrying Secretary
Of the Navy Swanson on board.
Also southbound is the huge
battleship Mississippi, one of the
crack ships of the fleet.
Slim destroyers are headed
south, with orders to base at Key
West, only few miles from
Cuba, and await further instruc-
tionS.
Plans Not Definite
With the majority of the fleet
on the West Coast, practically
every available ship on the At
1antic seaboard is either headed
south or under orders to stand by.
by.
Should the necessity arise, Off
GERS pointed out, Marines from
the Pacific Coast could be placed
on board fast cruisers and de-
stroyers and brought through the
Panama Canal to join with the
force from here.
One possibility seen by officers
was that the Seventh might sail
with orders to proceed to Guam
tanamo. This is an American
naval base, and such movement
could not be considered in the
light of intervention.