II. FINANCIAL.

TABLE NO. 3.-Statement of total cost of maintenance and of average cost per diem for maintenance and subsistence at naval hospitals for the fiscal year 1914.

TABLE NO. 4.-Statement of the activities of naval medical supply depots.

REPORT OF THE MAJOR GENERAL COMMANDANT OF THE UNITED

STATES MARINE CORPS.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS,

Washington, October 2, 1914.

From: The Major General Commandant.

To: The Secretary of the Navy.
Subject: Annual report of the condition and service of the United
States Marine Corps for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1914.
Reference: (a) Official memorandum, Secretary of the Navy, August
3, 1914.

1. In compliance with the department's instructions contained in reference (a), the following report of the condition and service of the United States Marine Corps for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1914, is submitted.

2. During the period covered by this report officers of the adjutant and inspector's department have made the usual inspections, and the reports in connection therewith have shown satisfactory conditions as to the health, discipline, and efficiency of the corps. In this connection, however, the undersigned desires to state that in his opinion the long-continued service in the tropics occasioned by the frequent expeditions that have been sent out is bound to have an unfortunate effect on the health of the Marine Corps. At some of the posts the lack of adequate and sanitary barracks has caused adverse reports to be made, and the necessity for buildings to be used as drill halls and gymnasiums and for facilities to provide legitimate amusements within the garrisons for the enlisted men thereof has been the subject of numerous reports. These conditions are being improved so far as practicable from year to year, but the amount that can be used, with the regular appropriations, is of necessity limited. When such buildings are provided the tendency is for the men to remain within the limits of the garrison, but where the men are required to go into the near-by towns and cities for their amusements the result is usually unfortunate and causes overindulgences of various kinds, frequently culminating in trials by court-martial or in desertion. In this connection the undersigned wishes to state that he considers it essential to the efficiency of the Marine Corps and for the information of headquarters that at least yearly inspections of all posts by officers of the adjutant and inspector's department be made. Such inspections not only bring to light but also remedy irregularities, cause commanding officers and organization commanders to use greater effort to bring their commands to a state of proficiency, and at the same time enable the commandant of the corps to take the requisite steps to bring the corps to a higher state of efficiency. Owing to the absence of a large part of the Marine Corps on expeditionary service, the undersigned has made no personal inspections, but upon the return of the

brigade now in Mexico to the United States it is deemed essential that he should inform himself, by personal inspection, of the needs of the various posts and organizations of the corps.

INCREASE IN CORPS.

3. In view of the varied and important character of the work performed during the past year by the Marine Corps in the way of expeditionary work, and especially that pertaining to Mexico, it has been necessary to practically deplete the barracks in this country, and it has also been almost impossible to keep the complements of ships up to the quota which has been established by the department. The requirements of the past year have fully and clearly demonstrated the absolute necessity for a very definite increase in both officers and enlisted men of the corps, not only properly to do the work which it is called upon to do, but also to maintain the high standard which the corps has previously attained and which the department requires it to maintain. The increases which are requested and which are tabulated herein are not based on imaginary or hypothetical contingencies or any desire to stimulate promotion or to create easier duty, but these increases are requested simply and solely because of the absolute necessity for them. The corps can not much longer remain efficient under the strain to which officers and men are now almost continuously subjected both at home and abroad, and it is feared that a continuance of the character of work which has been performed during the past year will result in physical degeneration, and such a condition is bound to result in decreased efficiency.

4. I have directed that the following increases in officers and men be incorporated in the estimates for the coming fiscal year:

In addition to the foregoing, attention is invited to the fact that the department has frequently decided that the Marine Corps enlisted