No More Marines

ARMY & NAVY

Came a call, last week, for 600 more U. S. Marines to be sent to Nicaragua. The caller, Brigadier General Frank R. McCoy, is in Managua, Nicaragua, entrusted with the task of enforcing, next Fall, a fair and impartial election (TIME, May 28, et ante). He was doubtless chagrined, last week, when the Navy Department responded to his call with, in substance, the following reply:

So many marines are now protecting U. S. lives and property in foreign climes that no more are immediately available--on land.

To meet this serious situation Secretary of the Navy Wilbur finally decreed, last week, that the battleships Texas, Idaho, New Mexico and Pennsylvania shall be stripped of their Marine complements to provide leathernecks for Nicaragua.

During the week 17 so-called "American Observers" arrived at Managua. They were: 9 majors, 4 captains, 4 lieutenants.

Last year the Coolidge Administration announced that 1,200 Marines would be kept in Nicaragua until after the election; but that number has now been multiplied 4 times. Colonel Clifford D. Ham, who has been Nicaraguan Collector General of Customs for the past 16 years, said recently, upon resigning his post:

"The Marines should not be withdrawn after the elections. It makes no difference which side wins." Colonel Ham is succeeded as Collector General by Irving A. Lindbergh, who has been Deputy Collector General for 16 years.