The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-25
MARINES 1HE REAL STUFF.
Sergeant Norwood Explains This
Branch Of Uncle Sans Fighters

R. R. Norwood. first sergeant of Company
F, Fifteenth Minnesota volunteers, is not a
novice in the service OF Uncle Sam. Sergeant
Norwood served in the marine corps of the
United States for nearly ten years. Speaking
about this branch of the service, Sergeant
Norwood said yesterday that he was some
times surprised at the general lack of knowl-
edge about the marines, which, he said, was
particularly shown in connection with the
newspaper reports of the operations of CO..
Huntington at Guantanamo. Sergeant Nor
wood then went on to tell what they are and
where they come in. Said he:
THE marine corps is designated officially
as detachment of infantry detailed for
armed, equipped and drilled exactly the same
as infantry soldiers. The uniform is the same
with the exception that the marine trimmings
are red and gold instead Of white and the hat
ornament used is globe surmounted by an
eagle instead of the crossed guns.
THE marine corps is the largest established
body of troops in the United States service At
the time of the revolution company of Penn
sylvania infantry were detailed for special
service as guards in the then small, but eff
cient navy. After the war, when all other reg
iments were disbanded, these men were re-
tanned in the service, and became the nu-
cleus from which the present marine corps is
derived. From one small company the corps
has grown until today it consists of a body
of troops equal to two regiments OF one thou
sand men each. Marine guards are stationed
Mt all of the naval stations and navy yards
in the United States, and on all ships of the
navy except the smaller gunboats and torpedo
boats. Their duties in navy yards are to act
as guards to prevent the stealing of govern
ment property, ETC., and board ship they
act, in time OF peace, as police body which
maintains discipline among the sailors In
time of war; they do their share of the fight
ing, and If a landing is made they are the first
to be sent on shore to protect the interests Of
their country.
''At the time Of Col Huntington's landing
the papers spoke of it as though it were the
first time marines had been used fer that
purpose l could tell Of hundreds of landings
by marines on foreign soil for the protection
the forts at Vera Cruz, in the war with Mex
leo, it was marines who were first landed
and paved the way for the Decentralization of
Scott's army of invasion. When Admiral
Schufeldt, with American guns opened the
ports Of Japan to American commerce. it was
American marines who first landed. When, in
"a, it was found necessary to land troops on
the Isthmus of Panama to protect the PAN
anna railroad, belonging to American capital
lists, it was force of marines and sailors who
did the work. and were encamped for over
six weeks in climate comnared with which
Cuba is health resort. When the English
bombarded Alexandria, Egypt American ma
sands Of Christian lives were saved from the
fanatical populace by their presence, and the
English admiral, in dispatches to his own
country, publicly complimented the American
marines for their efficiency. Hundreds Of
times when riots. instructions or troubles
have occurred in foreign ports marines have
DeeH iaHueu at Tie request OF AmerludH COIL
suis to maintain order and see that American
interests were not jeopardized.
papers often speak of the marines a
body of troops not capable of efficient land
service. In this they are mistaken, for wher-
ever marines are stationed millions of dol
lars-worth of government property is continu-
ally under their care, and they have to learn
to be alert and vigilant at all times. A sol
der thinks himself overworked if he is chosen
for guard oftener than once a week; a ma
rine seldom has two days off guard in sue
cesSion. The marine must not only learn the
infantry drill, but also the drill for howitzers
field artillery, machine guns and cutlass. He
is, where thoroughly known, considered one
of the most efficient of Uncle Sans soldiers
cat all parades, reviews or funerals In
which different bodies of troops participate
the marines are given the right of the line
and no body Of troops ever receives a greater
degree of eommendation than the Marines