Smyrna times., 1889-06-05
TOLD OF TIE MARINES.
AN IMPORTANT THOUGH MUCH
ABUSED FACTOR IN > NAVY.

The Tar's Prejudice Against tho Navy'4
PoIiceman-Tho Admirals and Captains,
However, Praise the OIarines-CaI to
General Quarters"
There is, perhaps no body of men in
the service of the United States govern
ment who have come in for a greater
share of COntumcly and received less
praise for actual scrva,c rendered than
have the marines of the United States
navy. From time immemorid it has
been Jacks saying in response to all
doubtful stories, "Tell that to tho ma
rines, for the tar5 as a set are the most
incredulous fellows, and the hearty con
tempt in which they hold the marines
is sufficient to incitethe firing Of a vollcy
Of epithet5 at the latter on the slightest
prOvOcation
1t is amusing, too, to see with what
avidity the young apprentices seize hold
Of the prcjudices Of the able seamen, and
q person only need 60 aboard one Of the
cruising training ships to hear the young
Ster5 bawl out with all tho zest OF an old
shell back, "Oh, you lIottentot marine!"
The duty Of marine aboard ship is
essentially that Of a policeman, and by
reason Of this very duty no fratcruizinG
can be safely permitted between "tho
guard and the men forward. As to the
tar any one acquainted with his devil
me-carc spirit and wild, fun loving nat
ure must know how ne looks upon amy
one put over him Us check The tar
looks up to and respects his officers, for
he fears them; but the marine he hates,
for it is the marine who gets him in
trouble. But if marines were not feat
ure Of a man-of-warit it is doubtful wheth-
er the discipline required Of crew Of
500 men would beof that efficient nature
now in force Our navy is peculiarly
distinctive in its method of mobilization
when compared with similar institutions
abroad. In the first place, our service
offers better pay, better duty and greater
| omoluncnts than does any other service
in the world.
All United States war vessels carry q
marine guard, ranging in size, however,
from a captains command Of fifty to
sixty men on flagship to a cOrpOrals
/ squad On a monitor When a ship is
about to 90 in commission her marine
/ guard, which has been previously de-
/ tailed, is marched aboard and stands in
/ readiness to salute the ensign as it floats
out from the peak. From this moment
until the expiration of the three years
cruise the guard watches that element
/ forward with a cOnstancy that allows
Of 10 relaxation. When the three years
/ cruise isat an end, when the seamcn who
nave been shipmates through every trial
and hardship are about to march ashore
and sever their associations, that stern
and implacable marine guard may be
seen III 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 the colOrs they have defended.
SHOOTING FROM THE RIGGING.
The marines have warm admirers in
those persons who are acquainted with
their sterling worth and necessity. Says
Admiral Wilkes: "The marines consti-
tute the great-I had almost said the
onlv-difference between a man-of-war
and privateer" "Thev are" adds an
other writer, "the bulwar1 between the
cabin and the forecastle," while Rear
Admiral Stewart remarked, 1.-The sup
port afforded by a steady column of
bayonets has rendered mutinies scarce. -
The marine is peculiarly a soldier. He
is dressed, equipped and handled as a
soldier, and his whole life is the very op-
posite to that of a sailor.
| I'M firoa Of 9ofior1 lhp01-fl cbir, fbo ~ ~.
rines are either stationed at one of the
heavy pivot guns, or else disposed about
decks and in the tops to act as sharp
shooters. 1t was marine who from tho
top of the Frenchman alongside the Vic,
tory at Trafalgar, shot down the brave
Nelson as he stood on the deck of the
latter ship. The guard messes, eats anC
sleeps in body, always apart and dis
tinct from the crew.
Let the reader imagine himself at mid
} night on the gun deck of a large vesse
of war lying quietly at anchor. A din
light is burning forward, throwing
} heavy glare among the crowded ham
mocks where 500 men are sleeping. No
a sound is to be heard save the stead,
: tread of the marine sentry overhead
while the swish of the black wate
r against the sides breaks the ominou
f silence As the bell strikes EIGHT" tn
t hour Of midnight, a solitary figure i
. full uniform, with sword and pistols
! steps noiselessly from the cabin door
He stops and listens for a moment, as tn
+ turning of some restless sleeper in hi
r hammock attracts his attention. He
= the commanding officer Walking fol
a ward, he bends over the hammock of
+ drummer boy and whispers a word
+ his ear; the only reply is bound to tn
e deck, and the next instant the long 70
$ is sounding through the ship.
s As if by magic 500 men leap from the
II hammocks, hastily pass three lashing
5, and throwing them against the sides
II the ship, rush half naked to the gun
e In three minutes after the first soundir
e OF that call to general quarters" Il
8 guns are cast loose and the glare of Il
IS battle lanterns along the deck revea
1t the crouching forms of the tars as clu
of tered about their pieces they wait Il
word to open fire. And again all
u silent along that deck, the same as VIII,
Is few minutes previous every man W
y wrapt in slumber. Not a word of war
l. ing had been given, and the sudd
I. alarm aptly proved the excellence of t
al ships disciphne-NewY York Times.