Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-05-11
10LD or THE MARINES
AN IMPORTANT THOUGH Mvcn
ADueeD FACTOR m A NAvv.


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There is. perhaps, no body Of men IN
the service of the United States govern
ment who have como IN for . greater
share Of contumely and received less
praise for actual service rendered than
have the marines Of tho United States
navy. From time immemorial Il has
been Jacks saying In response to al
doubtful stories, ''Tell that to the ma
rines." for the tars a. sct are the most
incredulous fellows. and the hearty con-
tempt In which they hold the marines
= sufficient to incite the firing Of a volley
Of epithets at the latter on the slightest
provocation
ft b amusing, too. to eco with what
avidity the young apprentice seize hold
Of the prejudices Of the able seamen. and
person only need go aboard one Of the
cruising training ships to hear the young.
sters bawl out with all the sest Of an old
shell back. "Ohi you Hottentot marinef"
The duty Of marine aboard ship 10
essentially that Of policeman, and by
reason Of this very duty no fraterniEing
can be safely permitted between "the
guard" and the men forward. Az TO the
tar. any one acquainted with his devil
ms-care spirit and wild. fun loving nat
ure must know how he looks upon any
one put over him as q check. The tar
looks up TO and respects his officers, for
he fears them; but the marine he hates,
for Il IL the marine who gets him In
: trouble. But II marines were not q feat
ure Of a man-of-war II is doubtful wheth-
er the discipline required Of a crew of
800 men would be Of that efficient nature
now In force. Our navy is peculiarly
distinctive In its method Of mobilization
when compared with similar institutions
abroad. In tile first place, our service
offers better pay. better duty and greater
cmoIuments than does any other service
In the world.
All United States war vessels carry
marine guard, ranging In size, however,
from captains command Of fifty to
sixty men on flagship to corporate
squad on a monitor. When a ship Is
about to 60 In commission her marine
guard. which has been previously do
tailed, Is marched aboard and stands In
readiness to salute the ensign as II floats
out from the peak. From this moment
until the expiration Of tho three years
cruise the guard watches that ''element
forward" with constancy that allows
Of no relaxation. When the three years
cruise Is at an end, when tho eeamen who
have been shipmates through every trial
and hardship are about to march ashore
and sever their associations, that stern
and implacable marine guard may he
seen In line on deck and under arms
the last to leave the vessel-and as the
flag Is hauled down they give the last
salute to tho colors they have defended.
SHOOTING FROM THE RiaaINa.
Tho marines have warm admirers in
those persons who are acquainted with
their sterling worth and necessity. Says
Admiral Wilkes: 1.-THE marines consti-
tute the great-I had almost said tho
only-difference between man-of- war
and privateer." "They are." adds an
other writer, "the bulwark between the
cabin and the forecastle," while Rear
Admiral Stewart remarked, "the sup
port afforded by steady column Of
bayonets has rendered mutinies scarce"
The marine is peculiarly u soldier. He
is dressed. equipped and handled as a
soldier, and his whole life il the very op-
posite to that of sailor.
In time Of action aboard ship the ma
rines arc either stationed at one of the
heavy pivot guns. or else disposed about
decks and in tho tops to act as sharp
shooters. II was marine who from the
top Of the Frenchman alongside the Vic
tory at Trafalgar, shot down the brave
Nelson as he stood on tho deck of the
latter ship. The guard messes, eats and
sleeps In body. always apart and dis
tinct 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 tho crowded ham
mocks where 800 men are sleeping. Not
o sound is to be heard save the steady
tread Of the marine sentry overhead,
while tho swish Of tho black water
against the sides breaks tho ominous
silence. AS the bell strikes "eight," the
HouT VI iuiiIliSut, u 6OlttdTy UPuT0 III
full uniform, with sword and pistols,
steps noiselessly from the cabin door.
He stops and listens for n 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 tho 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 tho ship.
As IL by magic 500 men leap from their
hammocks, hastily pass three lashings,
and throwing them against the sides Of
the ship. rush half naked to the guns.
In three minutes after the first sounding
Of that call to general quarters" the
guns are cast loose and the glare of tho
battle lanterns along the deck reveals
the crouching forms Of the tars as clus-
tered about their pieces they wait the
word to open fire. And again all is
silent along that deck. the same as when
a few minutes previous every man was
wrapt in slumber Not word of warn
ing had been given, and the sudden
alarm aptiy proved the excellence of the
ships discipline. New York Times.