Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-06-09

ID not at all discouraged by Gne oIncers
since by its very existence better dis
: cipline is maintained.
The Marine Corps dates back as far a
the days OF Salamis, and the wars of tn
Romans, later on, furnish numerous in
stances where mention is made of jus
}. such an organization. The magni6cen
body of marines in the British navy o
to-day dates its formation from the tim
1 of Sir Henry Percy (Gunpowder Percy
the first Colonel Commandment of tn,
Corps. The British recruited their Ma
rine Corps from the American Colonies
quite frequently before Revolutionary
days, and great numbers of the officers
were of colonial birth, appointed tc
command by the Crown. The American
I contingent was usually distinct, for al
) one time two separate battalions were
organized exclusively from among the
colonists. These same men served with
marked distinction during the momentous
periods covering the great mutinies ri
Bantry Bay, Spithead and the More.
On the creation of the United States
Navy the importance of marine corps
was early recognized, and its mainten-
ance has never ceased. The corps is al
lowed at present complement OF 1900
men, of which seventy-six are officers.
While abroad American vessels of war
are often called upon to land marines in
order to protect American property and
American consulates. The manner in
which this duty was performed at the
late bombardment of Alexandra is
familiar to all, and needs no present
encomiums. very pretty incident
which. stands to the credit of the corps
was the taking of fort in Corea in 1867,
the act being occasioned by the natives
firing on some American Merchantmen.
Punishment had to be melted out
to the natives and Captain Nc
Lane Tilton, United States Marine
Corps NOW Major Tilton), was de-
tailed with 200 marines and a body of
blue jackets to do the business. To hear
the doughty Major tell of the manner in
which his lads trudged through bogs and
swamps, often up to their armpits, but
managing all the time to keep their
pieces ready for work, and the way in
which the whole line scaled the hill and
swarmed over the defenses and right into
the dense mass of humanity inside, re-
minds the heares more of the late war
than OF some far-away skirmish. The re-
suit OF this affair was the killing of 243
natives, the capture of fifty flags and the
destruction Of 48l pieces of native ord
nance, while more than 1000 men were
put to flight.
In time of action aboard ship the
marines are either stationed at one of
the heavy pivot guns, or else disposed
about the decks and in the tops to act as
sharpshooters. 1t was marine who,
from the top of the Frencnman alongside
the Victory at Trafalgar, shot down the
brave Nelson as be stood on the deck of
the latter ship. The guard messes, eats
and sleeps in body, always apart and
distinct from the crew.
Let the reader imagine himself at mid
night on the gun-deCk of large vessel OF
war lying quietly at anchor. A dim
light is burning forward, throwing
a heavy glare among the crowded ham,
mocks where 500 men are sleeping.
Not a sound is to be heard save the
steady tread of the marine sentry over
head, while the swish of the black water
against the sides breaks the ominous
silence. AS the bell strikes "eight," the
hour OF midnight, solitary figure in full
uniform, with sword and pistols, steps
noiselessly from the cabin door. He
stops and listens for a moment, as the
turning OF some restless sleeper in his
hammock attracts his attention. He is
the commanding officer. Walking for
ward he bends over the hammock of a
drummer boy and whispers word in his
ear; the only reply is a bound to the
deck, and the next instant the long roll
is sounding through the ship. AS if by
magic 500 men leap from their hammocks,
pass three lashings, and throw them
against the sides of the ship, rush half
naked to the guns. In three minutes
after the sounding of that call to "gen-
eral quarters" the guns are cast loose
and the glare of the battle lanterns
along the deck reveals the crouching
forms of the tars, as clustered about
their pieces, they await the word to open
fire. And again all is silent along that
deck, the same as when few minutes
previous nearly every man was wrapt in
| slumber. Not n word OF warning had
been given, and the sudden alarm aptly
proved the excellence of the ships dis
cipline.
The British service maintains two dis
tinct organizations in the Marine Corps,
known as the marines of the Red' and
MARINE Artillery" The former COM
pare with the style of the American
forces. These are enlisted for the United
States Marine Corps in the same manner
az for the infantry in the army. The
period OF enlistment is for five years, I'M
less sooner discharged. On enlisting,
the recruit is sent to one of the navy
yards and quartered in the marine bar
racks. AS soon as drilled, he is ready
for duty afoat, and he is liable to be
drafted to the next vessel going into COM
mission. His cruise will last three years,
and the remaining two years will, in all
likelihood, be spent aboard a receiving
ship or in some navy yard. The pay is
the same as in the army, and by eeono-
mya man may save the greater portion
of his pay. The clothes he does not
draw are credited to him. That the ma
rines can be rapidly mobillzsd was DEM
onstrated most aptly in April OF 1886,
when 800 men were concentrated at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard within thirty
hours after orders were issued to EN- bark
all the available marine force in the
country for the Isthmus OF Panama.
Fully equipped and prepared for any
amount of service, they were inmedi.
ately marched aboard the steamers in
waiting. The manner in which they
cleared the isthmus and restored traffic
to its normal condition is still fresh in
the memory of all.
The Marine Corps cannot complain of
lack of appreciation on the part of Con-
gress, for that body has extended it's
thanks no less than twenty-five times.
The fire and spirit OF the corps have yet
! to be dampened bV a check or ravaraa