Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-02-28
TIE POLICE OF THE NAVY.
DUTIES OF THE MARINES ON WAR
SEIPS.
They Are Heartily DisliIsed by Jack
Tara Lazy, ListIess Life-The
Pay and the Togs.

sailors that he sees ashore as marine.
For If there is anything in the world
that the true sailor hates more than
work it is marine.
There are several reasons for this
dislike, and not least among them is
the fact that the marine wears soldier
clothes, and on shipboard he is moth
ing moro nor less than policeman,
who will report Jacks every infringe
ment of the rules. Jack does not like
rules much better than he likes the
marine, and SO the good sailor breaks
the rules and fights the marine when
ever he gets a good chance.
Another thing that adds to the sail-
or's hatred of the marine is that,
though the sea-going soldier will re-
port sailor at every opportunity, he
will not report brother marine when
there is any possible way to avoid it.
For anyone looking for q life almost
devoid of work the marine corps is
the place for him, but marine has
many troubles that are even worse
than the sailors work.
1t is a very easy matter to get in
the marine corps, as there aro recruit
ing stations all over the country, and
any man over twenty-one and un-
der thirty years of age, who is in good
physical condition and of fairly good
character may be enlisted.
After the ceremony known rs sign
ing the articles has been gone through
the marine is taken to the barracks
and receives an outfit from tho slop-
chest. This outfit consists OF a fatigue
and dress parade suit-four flannel
shirts, two suits OF underwear and q
pair of shoes, if needed. And then
the new marine must get into his
Government togs" and go out among
his comrades to show them that he
has for $l3 month and $l20 worth
Of clothes annually agreed to serve
his country for three years.
The marine during his term of en-
llstment has two years ut sea and one
year in barracks, and on his enlist
ment he begins with six months of
his barrack life and does the other six
months after he has been two years at
sea.
In barracks the sea soldier is placed
in the awkward squad, and there he
spends some time learning the myster-
les of ''facing," dressing" and start
ing off with the left foot. Next comes
period of single rifle drill, and then
the marine is assigned TO his company
and regiment.
His life then is simply round of
meals, drills and guard mounts, and
just as he is beginning to think he
knows pretty near all about soldier
ing, he receives orders to prepare to
go on board some man-ofwar, and his
sealaring life begins.
Ono day to prepare his bag for in
spection, and then with his enlistment
record in his hand, his knapsack on
his back, and in company with some
eight or twenty men, as new in the
service us himself, he marches to his
floating home and takes up his quar-
ters.
AT night the marine guard is called
aft by the officer in charge, and the
men receive their instructions. They
are told to report all breaches of dis
cipline and regulations and also how
often they are TO go on sentry duty
(about six hours out OF every twenty
four and then they march back TO
their q larters and think OF what an
easy time they are going to have on
shipboard.
The hammock is something of n
puzzler to the new marine, and it will
be quite an hour after taps before ne
learns to stay in it without holding on
TO the beams. When this lesson is
learned, however, he turns over and
goes to sleep as quickly as he can.
But the marines first sleep on ship
board does not last very long, for the
apprentice boys single out one or two
OF their number for a court martial,
and when the soldier gets we'll asleep
his hammock is cut down, and as he
strikes the deck with bump a blan
ket is wrapped around his head.
Almost smothered and wondering
"where he is at" tho marine is led to
some quiet place under the forscastle,
the blanket is removed and the court
convenes.
lie is asked his name, and if he hai
any sense at all he answers civilly, fol
If he does not some strong, young ap
prentice will strike him on the heaG
with IA stuffed club and some one els,
will wrap the blanket around hi.
mouth to prevent his making an oat
cry.
Any well constituted court will orde,
that the marine walk the plank" ant
the marine, blindfolded, is made te
perform this dangerous feat-only the
plank is turned inshore. Then he will
be pounded with stuffed clubs until the
boys get tired or the officer of the decl
interieres.
A marine on shipboard rises at 5. &c
or o'clock in the morning, accord
ing to the watch that he had the night
before. If bis was an evening watch
he rises with tho early men, but mai
standing morning or mid-watch is al
lowed to sleep on until o'clock.
y.