The New York herald., 1872-07-13
RECRUITING FOR THE MARINE CORPS.
Five Hundred Men Required for tho
Servfcc-Tho Strikes-Voterans OF the
French War.

Five Hundred Men Required for tho
French War.
About month since the Secretary OF the Navy
organized recruiting service for the Marine Corps,
comprising an unusually large number of officers
who are now engaged in obt hing men to Ill up
that branch OF the service. law and estimates
Of Congress contemplate the force to consist OF
$500 men, exclusive OF non-commissioned officers
ana musicians, but IN consequence Of recruiting
having been confined for u considerable length OF
time to Philadelphia and, also, In consequence of
discharges and other casualties, tho rank
and hle, 80 to speak, has diminished con-
siderably From five hundred to six hundred men
are now to be raised to bring up the force
to the standard required by law and to the necess
Ties OF the service. Lieutenant Colonel Charles G.
McCawley has been appointed to superintend the
business, which Is carried in New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Massachusetts and in New York. The
ofcc In this city is at No. 80 Chatham street, and
tho rendezvous is In charge OF Captain Henry A.
Bartlett.
SERVICE AND PAY.
The Marine Corps stands high rs a superior body
OF soldiers. 1t has distinguished itself In oil the
wars In which the United States has been engaged,
and during the attack on the Corean forts IN June
last year the marines Of the Asiatic fleet were
specially mentioned for good conduct Recruits
who now go in enlist for five years, and will see
during that time service both and
'tand. There Is perhaps something attractive
In the idea OF travelling to different parts OF the
world and becoming acquainted with men and man.
ners In foreign countries. Marines. during their
service, perform at least cruise consisting Of
about three years; The remainder OF the term is
spent doing duty at the navy yards on shore. The
pay Is $l3 per month for the Grst two years, with
clothing and rations. This is increased 81 per
month for each successive years service, which
gives to the soldier during his fifth year $16 per
month In case Of reenlistment So additional is
paid monthly. Of course the compensation OF nom
commissioned officers is larger, and it may be safely
stated that young intelligent, temperate and SOL
dier-like men quickly gain promotion after learning
ing muskets, ana their uniform Is neat and attrac-
tive.
STATIONS OF THE CORPS.
The principal station headquarters Of the
Marine Corps Is at Washington. Parties are also
stationed at the navy yards at Portsmouth Boston,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Pensacola and
Mare Island, California, and at the Naval Academy,
at Annapolis. In addition to dlschargng their
ordinary duties at sea and on land they have been
employed during the past year to accompany the
various surveying parties on the istmuses and have
on several occasions been called upon for the pro-
lection Of the civil officers engaged In the execution
OF the revenue laws. The Illicit distiilers IN Brook.
lyn are well acquainted with the blue coats and
white pants of the marines, who as pleasantly as
they could laid waste the stills and tubs that oper
ated contrary to law. For their efficiency and
services in this behalf they have received the thanks
of the Treasury Department..
RECRUITING RENDEZVOUS.
fair amount of success has been attained by
the recruiting parties, and doubt is entertained
that In q month or six weeks the full number OF
men required win be enlisted Besides the oiiice
In New York there are two open in Philadepha, a, in
charge of Major Thomas Y. Field; one at scranton,
Pa, In charge OF Lieutenant Charles F. Williams; at
Reading Pa, Lieutenant Albert H. O'Brien; at
Springfield, Mass, Lieutenant William Wallace,
and at Newark, N. j., Lieutenant II. O. Cochrane.
The full complement OF men for the corps iS $500,
exclusive of commissioned officers and musi-
clans; but at the present time the number lacking
is 1000 About two,thlrds o the force Is always
absent foreign stations. The recruits, as en-
listed are forwarded in detachments to the near
est navy yards-those raised in New York and New
Jersey to Brooklyn; In Massachusetts to Boston,
and in Pennsylvania to Philadelphia.
1t was thought that the strikes that have taken
place in the great industrial centres would have
had the effect OF bringing considerable number o.
desirable men to the rendezvous This has not
turned out to be the case. rev OF the mechanical
classes have presented themselves, and In towns
expectation they had, after lew days. to be
closed and the recruiting parties transferred tc
voluntarily remained idle received certain degree
OF support from trade organizations and expert
enced little OF the Inconvenience resulting rom loss
OF income Colonel McCawey had calculated
largely on obtaining men in Massachusetts and New
Jersey in consequence OF the strikes, but he has
now to fall back upon the young and adventurous
to whom the life OF a soldier has attractions.
RECRUITS OBTAINED.
The recruits so far obtained are about equally
composed OF Americans, Irish and Germans. Tht
qualifications required are somewhat greater thar
in the army. The men must not be less than five
feet six inches high, unmarried, OF good physica
appearance, and able to speak the English Ian
.guage. They must be between the ages OF twenty
one and forty years. and no minor i
rents or guardians About twenty men offel
themselves daily In this city. Only small
portion are accepted, as the medical examination
Is strict and the officers in charge seem deter
mined to accept only the very best men to b'
found. Formerly, when the English government
maintained a large garrison In Canada, deserters
from that service frequently presented themselves
for enlistment In the army and navy or the United
States and were accepted. These men, though
having the benefit OF good training, were found, al
q general thing, to prove bad soldiers. The ofiicer
could not look with favor upon men who deserted
their cOl0rs, and, when INSTRUMENTATION and evi
example were thrown in, prejudice has grown III
against this character OF recruits. occasionally
man offers to enlist at the present time who bear
upon his person an indellibe mark which, OF
being discovered, causes his instant rejection.
GERMAN VETERANS.
or an entirely different class are the German
who desire to enter the Marine Corps Scores o
soldiers who served at Wessenburg, Sedan, Paris
Strasburg and Toul offer themselves, but, being un
acquainted with the English language cannot b.
accepted. Some OF these men have been decorated
with the Iron Cross and pear scars received durnj
the French war. Their regimental books evidence
the time OF fentering the service and their discharge
small number c0nversant with sufficient ~Englisl
have been enlisted, and no doubt Is entertained
that they Will prove excellent soldiers. Seldom o
never does q Frenchman seek for service. Th
: business or recruiting now depends solely on th
attractions OF the service. No bOunties are offered
ana the work OF raising 500 men, which would hav
been an easy matter during the war; now require
many weeks.