There is many a creak in most U.S. defence preparations, but recently one job had boom Completed in a way the U. S. had every right to be proud of, says "Time." Toward the end of last summer Brig-Gen. Holland McTyeire ("Howlin Mad") Smith of the Marines, an impatient man in any weather, almost came to a boil. Chunky General Smith wanted to take his First Brigade of Marines for needed training in the outposts of the Caribbean, where they might later see action. Yet somebody in Washington, demurred. Reason: there Was no housing for troops near Guantanamo, on the southeast coast of Cuba, where General Smith proposed fo set up training headquarters. "How-lin' Mad" finally went to Washington to see his boss, Maj-Gen. Holcomb, commandant of the Corps, Tommy Holcomb heard General Smith's lava-like flow of words, told him to go ahead. Last October, the First Brigade, 3,000 strong, heaved its sea bags aboard the transport Barnett at Norfolk and shoved off. Last month the last units of the outfit came back. It was now li sion, US.M.C., more than 8,000 strong, and "Howlin' Mad," ruddier than ever, had the two stars of a major general on his shoulder straps. He also had a story of training to tell that will be required reading for other officers, if General Smith ever calms it down fo writing.
When the First Brigade got to Guantanamo; it debarked in a juicy mango swamp near the Navy síation. General Smith took one look at underbrush that no man could walk through, began snapping peremptory messages to Washington, Soon building materials and half a dozen bulldozers arrived from the States. The Marines prepared for housekeeping.
Howlin' Mad" worked his men from 530 a.m. to 6 pin. seven days a week. No hands were excused from work. They cleared 500 acres, cleaned out underbrush at the rate of an acre every 20 minutes. When building began, smart Marine sergeants discovered a construction genius in the uniform of a private, first-class. He was put in charge, bossed sergeants along with the rest, Said Gen. Smith of this uncanonical procedure: "He just had a hell of a knack for building things." Prize building achievement was a mess hall. The first concrete was poured one noon. By dark next night it was finished and men were at table in it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.