and exhaustive tests have shown it to be well adapted for use on any road or across any country which can be traversed by wagons or guns. The present expedition to Haiti has been partially equipped with motor trucks, and the adoption by the Marine Corps of this form of transportation will, it is expected, result from the experience to be gained there..

GUAM.

57. The marine battalion on duty in Guam has, during the past year, been engaged in extremely arduous and important work, in connection with the placing of that island in a state of defense. In addition to the purely military work referred to above, the battalion has constructed roads and bridges, and built temporary quarters for its own use. Numerous urgent recommendations for an increase in the battalion have been received from the commanding officer, the inspecting officer, and the governor of Guam. These recommendations are based upon what amounts to military necessity, and are concurred in by this office, but owing to the important and exacting nature of the other duties assigned to the Marine Corps it will not be practicable to add to the force in Guam, unless the number of officers and enlisted men in the Marine Corps be increased as recommended in this report.

The officers and men in Guam at present are occupying temporary huts erected by the labor of the troops, and should, at the earliest date practicable, be supplied with permanent quarters. This can not be done, however, as stated in a report from the governor of Guam, until the question of land titles is settled, and the location of the quarters for the various detachments, into which the battalion would necessarily be divided, are decided upon and selected. It is urged that steps be taken to have the decision in regard to the abovementioned matter expedited. In the meantime the officers and men must be provided with shelter, and estimates for the erection of temporary structures have been submitted.

EXPOSITION DUTY.

58. Upon the urgent request of the officials of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco, Cal., and the Panama-California Exposition, San Diego, Cal., exposition guards were established at both places. The Fourth Regiment, which had been assembled on the Pacific coast for expeditionary duty, was utilized for this purpose. Regimental headquarters and the second battalion were stationed at San Diego, and the first battalion at San Francisco. These organizations have been held in readiness throughout the year for expeditionary duty, so that their being stationed at the expositions in no way interfered with their being available for active service. Both battalions have performed their duties in a most satisfactory manner, and their military appearance and bearing have been highly commended by the exposition authorities and by a large number of prominent officials who have attended these expositions. Their being stationed at these expositions has been of great educational value, and has enabled a great many people to become in23871°-Ab. 1915-vol 1-64

formed in regard to the Marine Corps who previously had little or no knowledge on the subject.

During my tour of inspection on the Pacific coast, Marine Corps day was set apart and observed at the San Francisco Exposition. The following prizes and medals have been awarded to the Marine Corps: Manufacturers, general exhibit of uniforms, gold medal; transportation, arms, and equipment, medal of honor; Marine Corps camp, grand prize.

RIFLE PRACTICE.

QUALIFICATIONS.

59. The number of men in the Marine Corps who have qualified as marksmen or better has steadily increased, as shown by the following table:

The increase in the number of marksmen and expert riflemen and the attendant decrease in the number of sharpshooters is due to the fact that the prescribed course of firing for qualification was radically changed for the present target season.

While every possible effort has been made to enable all enlisted men of the Marine Corps to fire for qualification, the limited facilities of the corps in the matter of available ranges has been a very detrimental factor.

RANGES.

60. The Marine Corps range at Winthrop, Md., was opened on April 5, and is being used by the posts at Indian Head, Washington, and Norfolk, and by some of the marine detachments from ships. Arrangements were made for the use of the Bay State rifle range at Wakefield Mass., under a lease, and a camp of rifle instruction was in operation there from June 15 until September 1. The smaller ranges at Pensacola, Annapolis, and Las Animas were utilized as much as possible, while it is expected that the commands at Port Royal and Charleston will have an opportunity to conduct target practice on the range at the former post. Practically all marine detachments on board ships of the Atlantic Fleet were enabled to fire either at Guantanamo Bay or at one of the ranges in the United States, and at the present time there remains only a part of the First Brigade, which has had no opportunity to hold target practice. However, the Artillery Battalion, which is a part of the brigade, succeeded in finishing the prescribed course. The remainder of the

brigade, owing to its transfer to expeditionary duty, has to date been unable to hold rifle practice. Should this expeditionary duty terminate before the present season ends it is hoped that arrangements can be made whereby the regular course of firing can be held.

On the west coast the new range at Mare Island and the range at San Diego have furnished ample accommodations to all troops, with the exception of those stationed at the navy yard, Puget Sound.

It has been impracticable to secure the use of the range at Fort Shafter for the use of the marine detachment stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the men there have had no opportunity to fire during the present season. All other permanent posts outside the continental limits of the United States have had ample facilities to conduct practice.

Additional ranges are needed at New Orleans, Bremerton, and Pearl Harbor. Efforts will be made to have ranges constructed at these places in the near future, and when this work is completed every enlisted man in the Marine Corps will have an opportunity to engage in target practice each year.

65. Gains and losses in the enlisted force during the year have been as follows:

66. Summary of distribution of officers and enlisted men June 30, 1915:

The following shows the distribution of officers and enlisted men on September 30, 1915:

68. Since the last report the following campaign badges and bars have been issued to officers and enlisted men of the Marine Corps: Three West Indian campaign medals, 2 Civil War campaign badges, 23 Spanish campaign badges, 27 China campaign badges, 60 Philip-` pines campaign badges, 875 Nicaraguan campaign badges.

GOOD-CONDUCT MEDALS.

69. During the past year 762 good-conduct medals and 161 goodconduct medal bars have been awarded to enlisted men of the corps.

Increase in medical surveys of 1.5 per cent.

Cost per recruit, excluding transportation.

Discharges by medical survey within 3 months from date of enlistment..

Cost per recruit, including transportation..

$59.07 $47.40 $39.93 $38.07 $28.57 $26.51

4,042

3,889 4,068

913

856

786

6.1

6.0

5.4

262

400

205

177

185

192

723

854

820

There are now 3 recruiting divisions, 20 districts, and 132 stations. The recruiting service has been very economically and efficiently administered, and there has been no difficulty in keeping the Marine Corps recruited to its full strength; in fact, the difficulty has been to prevent the corps from getting above its authorized strength.

The cost, including transportation, was decreased during the year by $7.47 per recruit.

The number of reenlisted men, including those from the Army, has been steadily increasing from year to year, and is now 31.4 per cent of the total enlistments.

The above table also indicates that the percentage of desertions is steadily decreasing.

EQUIPMENT AND MILITARY STORES.

71. In accordance with instructions issued by the department, the Marine Corps is now in process of being supplied with the Army infantry equipment. It is expected that by the end of October a sufficient amount of this equipment will be in readiness for the whole corps.

Owing to the limited capacity of the blanket-roll attachment, it has been found necessary to supply each man with an individual clothing bag, fitted so that he can carry it with him with facility whenever he is transferred or when sent on expeditionary duty.

The adoption of the infantry pack standardizes the equipment throughout the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. This is most desirable, and enables any department to draw on the others for supplies in case of emergency.

NAVY DEPARTMENT,

DIVISION OF NAVAL MILITIA AFFAIRS,
Washington, D. C., October 1, 1915.

From: Chief of the Division of Naval Militia Affairs.

To: The Secretary of the Navy.

Subject: Report of the organization, training, etc., of the Naval Militia from July 1, 1914, to June 30, 1915.

1. The following report of the organization, training, etc., of the Naval Militia for the fiscal year 1915, with recommendations for the improvement of the Naval Militia, is submitted.

OFFICE MANAGEMENT.

OFFICERS.

2. The Chief of the Division of Naval Militia Affairs during the year was Capt. F. B. Bassett, jr., United States Navy.

3. Lieut. (Junior Grade) A. S. Carpender, United States Navy, reported for duty as assistant to the Chief of the Division of Naval Militia Affairs on August 4, 1914.

4. The following officers are now on duty in the division:

Capt. F. B. Bassett, jr., United States Navy, chief of division.

Lieut. (Junior Grade) A. S. Carpender, United States Navy, assistant to chief of division (personnel).

Ensign F. G. Blasdel, United States Navy (retired), assistant to chief of division (material).