No. 86 OPERATION OF THE NAVAL SERVICE IN NICARAGUA LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY TRANSMITTING IN RESPONSE TO SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 198, CERTAIN INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPERATIONS OF THE NAVAL SERVICE IN NICARAGUA, TOGETHER WITH A STATEMENT GIVING DATA AS TO COST OF MAINTENANCE OF MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL IN NICARAGUA FROM MAY 4, 1927 TO APRIL 16, 1928 APRIL 17, 1928.-Ordered to lie on the table and to be printed UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON OPERATION OF THE NAVAL SERVICE IN NICARAGUA NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 17, 1928. MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: Replying to the Senate Resolution 198, directing the Secretary of the Navy to communicate to the Senate certain information in connection with the operations of the naval service in Nicaragua, I have the honor to advise you as follows: 1. There is inclosed herewith a statement in tabular form giving data as to cost of maintenance of Marine Corps personnel in Nicaragua from May 4, 1927, to April 16, 1928. The data is assembled so as to show average number of officers and enlisted men in Nicaragua, May 4, 1927, to April 16, 1928, together with the cost of force maintained in Nicaragua, expenditures that would have been necessary had the force been maintained at regular stations, and additional cost incident to maintain the force in Nicaragua. 2. The amount stated in the accompanying table as representing additional cost incident to maintaining Marine Corps expeditionary force in Nicaragua, viz. $1,530,170, after being broken down into subheads, appears as follows: 3. Considering each subhead the following detailed account is submitted setting forth purposes for which expenditures were made: PAY, MARINE CORPS 4. Expenditures have been made chargeable to "Pay, Marine Corps" in the amount of $34,320 to cover cost of mileage for officers to and from ports of embarkation, mess bills on Government transports, commercial fares to and from Nicaragua when Government transportation was not available, travel expenses of officers on expeditionary duty away from their stations, and payments of allowances to enlisted men on duty in Nicaragua. GENERAL EXPENSES, MARINE CORPS 5. Provisions.-Expenditures have been made chargeable to this subhead in the amount of $340,000 in the procurement of necessary subsistence stores required for shipment to Nicaragua in order to establish adequate reserve stocks of these stores so that the force can be adequately provisioned. Owing to the remoteness of the station and long time required for transportation of supplies, the establishment of these reserves became absolutely necessary. It was imperative that a minimum of six months' provisions be placed in the hills during the dry season so that the force could be subsisted during the approaching rainy season, during which season supplies can not be transported. The cost of subsistence required for stocks to be maintained in the hills alone approximated $125,000. 6. Clothing. Expenditures have been made chargeable to "Clothing" amounting to $240,000. These expenditures represent purchases of shoes, campaign hats, blankets, ponchos, hobnail marching shoes required for use of troops in the hills, khaki suiting for use in the manufacture of summer uniforms, cotton undershirts, cotton socks, and rubber boots. Procurement of additional quantities of articles named was necessary to meet immediate requirements of the troops and to provide adequate stocks in Nicaragua from which issues can be made as required. It has also been necessary to employ additional labor at the Marine Corps supply depot, Philadelphia, Pa., to manufacture uniforms for shipment to troops in Nicaragua. 7. Fuel.-Expenditures have been made chargeable to this subhead amounting to $49,500. These expenditures cover cost of motor fuel purchased for operation of truck transportation in Nicaragua and cost of fuel for cooking food and cost of electric current purchased for use of marine forces in Nicaragua. 8. Military supplies and equipment. Expenditures have been made chargeable to this subhead amounting to $267,000. This expenditure represents the cost of radio equipment, ammunition, Thompson submachine guns, gas masks, spare parts for rifles, signal equipment, field wire, pyrotechnics, maps, lumber for tent floors, canvas for tentage, Very pistols, and other miscellaneous articles of military equipment. 9. Transportation of troops-Recruiting.-Expenditures have been. made chargeable to this subhead in the amount of $47,000, which represents the cost of commercial water transportation for officers and their dependents en route to and from Nicaragua, no Government transportation being available, the cost of rail transportation for officers and enlisted men and their dependents in the United States en route to or from the port of embarkation or debarkation, and the cost of rail transportation in Nicaragua. 10. Repairs of barracks.-Expenditures have been made chargeable to this subhead in the amount of $21,200, which represents the purchase of wire screening for protection of enlisted men against mosquitoes, lumber and miscellaneous material for use on buildings occupied, and payment of rental for premises occupied as quarters and storerooms. 11. Forage.-Expenditures have been made chargeable to the subhead "Forage" in the amount of $29,250, which represents purchase of forage for rationing approximately 884 animals maintained and used in connection with operations in Nicaragua. 12. Miscellaneous supplies and expenses.-Expenditures have been made chargeable to this subhead in the amount of $501,900 for the procurement of trucks and tractors, parts for trucks, lumber, nails, cement, typewriters, tire press, plumbing supplies, motor cycles, Ford automobiles, and motor oil for use of troops in Nicaragua, and include the following: Freight charges on supplies shipped to Nicaragua, no Government transportation being available, approximately $40,000; procurement of mule pack train, approximate cost, $21,000; wharf charges on supplies landed in Nicaragua approximating $21,000; purchase and hire of horses and mules in Nicaragua for use of expeditionary force approximating $85,000; and hire of bull carts approximating $87,000; together with purchase of and payment for other miscellaneous supplies and services necessary for the maintenance of this force. 13. The amount stated in column of accompanying table headed "Cost of officers and enlisted men maintained as Marine Corps expeditionary force ashore in Nicaragua May 4, 1927, to April 16, 1928," viz, $3,536,300, represents pay of officers and enlisted men; the cost of subsisting, clothing, and providing individual equipment for the enlisted men, and in addition the added expenses that have been given in detail in paragraphs 5 to 12 hereof, inclusive. The following statement is submitted pursuant to Senate Resolution 198 and gives the average number of officers and enlisted men of the Marine Corps in Nicaragua from May 4, 1927, to April 16, 1928; cost of maintaining this force in Nicaragua for the period stated; expenditures that would have been necessary for the maintenance of the same number of officers and men at regular stations; and additional cost incident to the maintenance of said force in Nicaragua: Average number of officers and enlisted men in Nicaragua May 4, 1927, to April 16, 1928 |