Evening star., 1898-09-21
The United States Marines Will
Reach Washington Tomorrow.
Will MARCH TO TEE BARRACKS
Dazzling Record Added to the
Brilliant History Of the Corps.
H E A LTHY AND HARD Y

The battalion of United States marines
from Cuba, who went from Washington TO
make another glowing chapter in the al
ready dazzling history of the corps, will
return to the marine barracks here tomor-
row afternoon at 1912 o'clock. The COM
mand, 200 strong, will be received by the
marines now here and escorted through the
city to the barracks with the full Marine
Band. These brave men were part of the
force under command of Lieut.. Col. Hunt
ington, who performed such valorous duty
at Guantanamo and rrst made possible the
establishment of a base for operations by
the army against Santiago. For over 100
hours they were constantly engaged with
an immensely greater force of SpanardS,
but held their own and gave the Spaniards
the first vivid impression of the wonderful
fighting qualities of Americans.
There were 653 men in Camp McCalla at
Guantanamo, and although they We're the
first American soldiers to land on Cuban
SOIL and about the last to leave, only per
cent OF the men were sick while there.
lhey were removed from Guantanamo to
camp Haywood at Portsmouth, n. H.,
where the percentage of sickness dropped
to mne-tenths OF l per cent. Not a man
was lost from disease.
4 Warm Welcome Assured
The homecoming of the marinrs will
of " ashingtonians, for the community
heart has very w..rm spot in it for them
The train will reacn the PENNSYLVANIA de-
pot at 1:I2 rm. tomorrow ;,rld 1.e march
to the barracks Will be by way OF Penn
SyiNanla avenue. N.--en the marine, re-
turned from the NcA.ce.n Mar Nas.,.nrton
gave them a royaI reception the iaules OF
the city presentILS item Will Il nag. whose
tattered remains are now -Ies-IseL III a
grass frame at the BARRACKS. The corps
was for many years the sole military guard
OF the national capital, and in the Plug
Ugly riots just before the war they did
Vallant service in restoring order and pre-
serving property.
Proof Against All Aspersions.
The recent glorious record made bv the
marines in Cuba is only another of the
achievements which has made it famous
Inc corps has suffered contumely from
both soldiers and sailors; it has been de-
IlslVely called sea police; it has been ma
hgned BY military politicians but it has
always been registered by its deeds as ever
faithful, and from the fight of the Shan
non and the Chesapeake to Guantanamo
its men have never shrunk from obevine
orders that meant death. The isolation of
the corps has developed within it an esprit
de colps that is regarded unequaled in
the military forces of the world
Inc United States Marine Corps ranks
service, being formed in 117J for pub
hex defense" Its powers were first
shown in the sea fights between. the Bon
hGmme Rlchard and the Serapis and the
chesapeake and the Shannon. AT Derne
Tripoli, in 1893, United States marines first
planted the American flag on an old world
fortress. For this deed ''Tripoli" was
inscribed on their colors. The history of
the corps contains countless instances of
personal bravery and coolness displayed
by the men in the ranks. 1t was a United
States marine who, after the terrible ex-
plosion that wrecked the Maine, rushed to
captain s1gsbee and said as he drew up
to attention: The ship has been blown
up, sir, and is sinking" 1t was a British
marine who calmly saluted as he told Ad-
miral kemDenfeidt that the Royal George
was sinking. THE ship is turning over
Sir, and will go down."
Work in the Late War.
Very little has been said or written con-
cerning the work of the marines during the
last war. 1t must not be forgotten that
through the many articles on the destruc-
ton Of Cervera's feet and the various
bombardments, the accurate firing has been
spoken of. In this the marines play a
large part, for they handle all the small
guns, and although they do not fire the
giant 13-inch guns. those they do manage are
handled as only marines can handle them.
When war was declared all recruiting Of
fees We're at once opened and the number
OF applicants was so great that the officers
were often kept in their offices until mid
night working out the papers, and many
fine, muscular men entered into the corps
to go to the war, which they did soon after
The marines were the first to leave for
Key West. the first to leave Key West for
Cuba, the first to land in Cuba and the first
to fight and defeat the Spaniards.
On the morning of the 10Th of April word
came from Col HeywOod that a battalion
would be formed to start at once for the
W. g as,,i., e,
battalion. Lieut.. Col. Huntington COM
manded. Capts. kelton, Elliott, Russell
Spicer, White and Harrington were in
charge of the companies. Capt. Harrington
lad the artillery battalion, and. with
Lieuts. Long and Mckelvey, very effective
ly kept off the Spaniards.
The marines left New York on the Pam
ther for Key West, where they remained
for some time, but on the morning of June
10. under the convoy of the Montgomery,
they landed at Guantanamo, thus being the
hrst to land making the stars and stripes
wave for the first time in Cuba and form
ing coaling basis for the navy.
Thrilling Experience
Hardly had they gotten settled before an
attack came, and for the next three days
and nights they were unable to even sit
down to &. meal. but lived on hardtack and
coffee. The favorite time for the Spanish
to attack was at breakfast. After watch
ing all night the poor men, weary and
worn out. would try to eat something and
WHEN half through would have to stop
and fight for their lives. So close indeed
did the enemy come that the officers had to
use their swords in hand-to-hand fights
Day after day passed. and the same ques-
tion was asked: When is relief coming?'
The department was anxious for the brave
little detachment of marines, and surprised
and proud at its fighting and pluck At
last help came in the form of Cubans, who
were very useful as scouts and eaters, but
nothing of fighters. After the ships ar
rived there was no more fighting But this
state of peace was not to last long. They
received orders to proceed to the Isle of
Pines, on the south coast of Cuba, and take
1t Once more our little band boarded the
Resolute and started for the Isle of Pines,
hardly knowing what to expect but as
their orders read to take the Isle of
Pines that, and nothing less, did they in
tend dong, cost what it may. After a few
days trip they landed and took it. Scarcely
had they reached this place when orders
for home came. They went back to Guam
tenamo to coal. and then started for home
They went to Portsmouth, n. H; landed
on Seavey Island, and camped there for a
rest.
The marines who left Portsmouth to-
day and reach here tomorrow are under
command of Capt. F. II. Harrington. Fifty