The times., 1898-08-12
GLORY OF THE MARINES
The Centennial Of the Famous
Fighting Org nization.
ITS HISTORY AND DEEDS
Those who Have Been Borne Upon
the Rolls Have Added Luster to
the Fnme OF American Soldiers
and Seamen-Has Never FaItered
in Its Duty.

The United States marine corps is cell
ebrating the centennial of the formal or
ganization of that body, the act "for es-
tablishing and organizing a marine
corps having been approved by Con-
gress on August II, 1888.
The first authentic record of marines
in America, however, bears the date of
1775. Early in that year the corps was
organized by a resolution passed by the
Continental Congress before a single yes
sci of the navy was sent to sea. This
resolution created two battalions of ma
rines known as the First and Second
Battalions of American Marines and no
man was enlisted unless he had "ac-
quaintance with maritime AFFAIRS
This was l2S years ago, and since the
date of Organization the Yankee marine
has attained wonderful record of SER
vices and achievements.
Strangely enough the marine has ever
lacked the appreciation of not only his
fellow warriors, but of his country.
lie Made Naval History.
Since the days of Themistocles the ma
rine has made naval history. yet the sea-
man, or sailor proper, has ever obtained
the credit and the glory. The royal ma
rine of the British navy has been an OBJ
ject of contempt and has been despised
by the other branches of the army and
navy
Jimmy Legs as the marine is called
by the Jack tars, is creature of envi-
ronment. He is neither soldier nor sail
or, yet he is both. On land he is as well
disciplined a soldier as any in the ranks.
AT sea he can walk a deck in a hurri-
cane or climb mast with any sailor.
His lot is an unpleasant one, yet he never
shirks his duty.
The American people. It would seem,
had never learned to value the marine
until war was declared against Spain and
the daily accounts of battles and engage
ments showed that the marine was al
ways there, always the first to land, and
among the first to fall beneath the fire of
the enemy.
Magnificent Organization
The United States marine corps today
is magnificent organization. One hum
dred years ago it consisted of a hand
ful of eager boatmen or wharf workers,
clothed in a uniform of "camlet coats,
brown linen waistcoats, and canvas
trousers"
Today the corps numbers over 1850 well
trained men, finely armed and uniformed
and distinguished from other branches of
the service by the insignia of an explod-
ing bomb.
The duties of the marine are so varied
as to defy cataloguing. He is supposed
TO do anything and everything on land or
at sea The employment of infantry as
a part of the regular complement of yes
sels of war was common five centuries
before the Christian era, and the United
States marine is the result of centuries
Of thought and experience as 10 the use
of fighting men on board fighting YES
sells.
The First Record
The first record of the services of the
marines is dated 1776 In that year
squadron under Commodore Hopkins.
manned by the marines, proceeded
against the British naval force under
Lord Dunmore and achieved such a VIC
tory that the American navy became a
power from that hour on. 1t is related
that the marines under Capt. Nichols.
behaved with great spirit and steadi-
ness" Eleven of the corps were killed
during the action.
On June rs. 1776, the value of the corps
having become so apparent the organiza-
ton was perfected and the following Off
GERS appointed: Major Samuel Nichols
Captains, Andrew Porter. Joseph Hardy.
Samuel Shaw, Benjamin Dean. Robert
Mulln and John Stuart; first lieutenants
Daniel Henderson, David Lowe Franklin
Read Peregrine Brown and Thomas Pow
nal.
The Assailing Force
All through the war of independence the
marines were the assailing force in each
landing and capture. The naval history
of this war is filled with gallant deeds
performed by the corps. and the marines
were feared by the enemy as the, latter
dreaded the Rattlesnake flag under which
the former fought.
On September s, 1776, the Marine Com
mittee" at Philadelphia ordered that the
following be the uniform for the officers
of the corps: "A green coat faced with
white, round cuff, slashed sleeves and
pockets, with buttons round the cuff,
silver epaulette on right shoulder, skirts