The free press., 1893-05-25
OUR SOLDIERS OF THE SEA.

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THE MARINES WHO GARRISON
UNCLE SANS FLOATING FORTS.
The New Style Man-o- Wars Man is
Not Much of a Sailor-The Horse
Marines
HHE United States Marine Corps
~ is likely to be increased nu-
merically by the new Congress.
More of these fighting men are
needed for the battleships which are be-
ing added to the Navy. At present they
number only about 1000. 1t is begin
ming to be realized that few more bat
talions of these hardy fellows are
required to garrison Uncle Sans floating
fortresses. A marine is sea soldier,
highly disciplined, with sea legs and
sea stomach; trained gunner and sharp
shooter, able and accustomed to do every
thing sailor does, except going aloft.
But going aloft is an obsolete practice
on modern war vessel, which carries
no sails, having only one mast, called the
"military mast" with two tops, whence
rapid-tiring guns are designed to hurl a
shower of projectiles against the enemy.
The new style man-o'-war's man is
rather soldier and mechanic than a
sailor. He forms an integral part of a
body of regular troops, housed in an
enormous mass of floating machinery,
which is lighted and ventilated by elec-
tricity. Only few sailors are really
needed on board such ship, for handy
work of certain kinds. Vessels for coast
defense are best manned wholly by sea
soldiers. The Naval Reserve now be-
ing organized and trained as a sort Of
ocean militia, is really body of marines
though the men composing it are dressed
in sailors clothes.
The idea which they represent is not
at all an economical one, inasmuch as
they get seamen's wages. Oddly enough,
the pay of sailors is nearly twice what
marines receive. A marine is allowed
only $13 month during his first term Of
enlistment, whereas seaman gets S24
month, and even a lubberly landsman on
vessel is worth SIS. The reason for
this difference is simply that sailors are
difficult to get and to keep, so that their
value is higher in the market.
Thus, 1t is readily seen that great
saving would be made by reducing the
number of seamen in the Navy and in-
creasing the force of marines.
Experts are of the opinion that war;
ships complement of men should be not
less than three-fourths marines. 1t is
rather interesting to consider the fact
that the first beginning of navy for this
country was the raising of two battalions
of such sea soldiers by the Continental
Congress in 1775. Since then they have
formed part of the company of every
sea-going vessel belonging to the Govern
ment. Forces of them are regularly
stationed at Newport, Boston, Brooklyn,
Washington, Norfolk, Sitka in Alaska
and six other places.
While guarding Uncle Sans property
at those points they are being trained to
take the place of other marines who are
doing sea duty on board of ships. Mear.
while they are ready to be called on as
regular troops in case of riot, fire or
other emergencies. How useful they are
on such occasions will be presently
shown. Whenever there is trouble at
any port where United States vessel
may be, force of marines is landed to
restore order and maintain it, just as was
the case only the other day at Honolulu.
The headquarters of the Marine Corps
is at Washington. Officers assigned to
this branch of the s..'vice on leaving
Annapolis are trained for one year in
school at the barracks here before join
ing any ship. They are taught how to
make cartridges, port-tires, signal lights
and rockets, learning also how to manu-
facture explosives, fuses, torpedoes and
other engines of destruction. They are
instructed in the art of preparing and
controlling submarine mines, at the same
time getting an acquaintance with the
uses OF red hot shot. They are drilled
in all sorts of tactics, such as have refer
ence to the crossing of rivers and thread
ing of defles in the presence of the
enemy, as well as night attacks.
They find out how to build walls with
loop holes, and acquire knowledge OF
the methods by which the bundles OF
sticks called fascines and gabions are put
together and built in with enbankments
of earth to give the latter solidity. Be-
sides all this they hear lectures and pass
examinations on first aids to the inquired,
comprising the treatment of the gunshot
wounds, frost bites, poisoned wounds,
fractures, and the restoration of persons
partly drowned.
Perhaps the most picturesque feature
of the corps is the Marine Band. This
band is considered in manner to belong
to the President of the United States. 1t
is always at his disposal. so that the finest
music is at his command whenever he
cares to listen to it. At White House
it is on hand with its most
strains. Every member of it
must enlist in the ordinary way and serve
five years as a private at Sl3 month,
after which he may be promoted through
the grades of first, second and third-class
musician.