Evening star., 1933-01-11
MARINE CORPS CUT
HIT IN REPORT OF
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Continued From First Page)

Continued From First Page.)
the Bureau OF Navigation and the chief
co-ordinator of the Government was to
the effect that the United States has
no force that could be used as the
Marine Corps is used, that the.e should
be some such force specially trained for
the duties required Of the Marine Corps,
that the present strength Of the corps
does not enable it to fully perform all
the functions for which it Is needed,
and that a further reduction would be
disadvantageous to the corps, seriously
impairing its efficiency and thereby de-
stroy its best service to the country.
THE committee has been forced.
from its study Of the question, to reach
the same conclusion"
Would Lower Ratio.
The committee pointed out that since
the beginning of Marine Corps in 1877,
the corps has been maintained gener-
ally with the proportion Of one-flfth
of the number of enlisted men in the
Navy. The proposal Of the Budget
Bureau would cut the strength OF the
corps far below this ratio The Bud
get Bureau made no recommendation
for a reduction of the enlisted person.
mel Of the Navy, which is left at 79,-
TOO. The appropriated strength Of the
Marine Corps for the fiscal year 1881
was 1900, and it was generally under
stood this was about the size at which
the corps was to be permanently.
In the next fiscal year the corps was
cut 500 men, and for the present fiscal
year, 1888, further reduction OF 2,l51
men was made SO as to leave the en-
s.tn na1 ~ N.
posed cut for the fiscal year 1884 goes
into effect 1t means a net reduction OF
4.400 enlisted men below the strength
of the corps in 1881, or reduction OF
PA per cent in less than three years.
Members of Congress who are opposed
to cutting the Marine Corps point out
that there has been no effort made to
reduce the personnel of the Navy or
Army. They are at loss to understand
why the Marine Corps should be at
tackled and its efficiency jeopardized,
particularly at this time when conol-
tions in the Far East indicate that
expeditionary forces of the United
States might have TO be increased at
any time.
Would Hamper Training.
During the hearings before the Naval
Affairs Subcommittee, it was pointed
out that the proposed reduction in the
Marine Corps would make 1t Impossible
to give the necessary training and IN
struction to maintain the corps at lts
present state of efficiency. All training
and instruction in the Marine Corps, ex-
cept such as could be given by small
scattered detachments and forces on
foreign service, would cease, 1t was
fYa To
that the corps as an enclent mlhtary
organization would cease to exist.
The Naval Affairs Committee In its
report called attention to the fact the
training station ct Paris Island, S. c.,
established for the training OF recruits
enlisted east of the Mississippi River {;
the training station at San Diego, Calf.
for the West Coast and the general
Marine barracks at Quantico, Va, rep
resent a very large governmental ex-
penditure. 1t pointed out that II the
propose ed cut is made in the Marine
Corps it is likely that the Paris Island
Training Station would have to be
closed
Due to the reduction in strength OF
the Marine Corps to the present
strength" the report continued, there
are practically no combat troops avail
able or ready as nucleus 1or expeul-
tionary duties, or for other strictly mil
itary duties, with the exception OF avia-
ton at Quantico. II the strength be
further reduced as recommended, the
reduction at Quantico will mean that
it will be impossible to employ the force
stationed there, other than for main
tenance, fire protection and guard duty
to safeguard the personnel and ade.
quately protect Government property.
Efficiency Already Impaired.
The conclusion of this committee is
that the efficiency Of this organization
has already been impaired by the re-
duction of its present strength and from
full investigation of the subject the
committee feels that the Marine Corps
should have a force Of at least 1900
men"
Although approximately 500 Marines
were withdrawn the FIRST Of the year
from Nicaragua, It was pointed out
those men win be needed almost imne-
diately for other service. It Is expected