Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-15
rnr MAMIE CORPS.
Some Interesting Facts Told by Sergeant
John A. Logan.

John A. Logan.
Sergeant John A. Logan. U. s. N,
who is in the city making arrange
| ments to open a recruiting Office in the
interests Of the Marine Corps, gave
some interesting fscts when seen by a
reporter of Every Evening concerning
the branch Of the service with which
he is connected.
| Although the Marine Corps is the
Oldest military organization in the SER
vice of the United States" he said,
'less is probably known about it gen.
orally than any other branch. Most
people think of it in connection with
the navy proper. This is a mistake.
The Marine CORPS is distinct organi-
cation, having its own officers, and
whose head under the direction Of the
Secretary OF the Navy is Brigadier-
General Charles Haywood, stationed at
head quarters at Washington.
1.-THE marine is not sailor. He is
q soldier, absolutely and at all times.
His duties are strictly military, afoat
or ashore. Afloat he is detailed as or
derby for the captain or admiral of the
ship or does sentry duty in various
parts of the vessel. In battle he mans
the secondary batteries or smaller
cdipro gum W uech, anu d iorCe VI
marines is stationed In the fighting tops
ling, &c. The work of the mariner
proves how effective they are in hand
ling the guns. They are stationed
when ashore in our navy yards, located
in Boston, New York. Philadelphia,
Norfolk, San Francisco and other
places, and it is while in the navy
yards the marines bave the constant
practice that makes them the peer Of
any body Of men in the service as
sharpshooters with the Lee rifle
aThe record of the Marine Corps
since its inception is one to be proud of.
Nearly century ago Lieut.. O'Bannon,
| while serving with Decatur in Africa,
led detachment OF marines through
the sandy desert of Sahara and planted
the first American flag ever raised on
| foreign soil This record has been
maintained with 'unfailine regularity,
| from Tripoli to Montezuma, from
Montezuma to Guantanomo, and Cavite.
| The marines we're at the guns ON tho
| i'll fatod Cumberland whom she was
| destroyed, and when she sank the ma
| jority of them went with her, still at
their guns. The present brigadier-
/ general, Charles Haywood, was marine
officer of the guard on that occasion,
but fortunately escaped to become, as he
is at present, he head of the organiza
| tion.
Everyone will remember how at the
breaking out OF hostilities last spring
a little band OF 600 marines was sent
aboard the Panther at New York; how
they were taken down to Key West
again on the Panther, and from Key
West TO Guantanamo, in Cuba. These
500 men, it should be remembered. were
the first regular troops to be landed in
Cuba. The army was mobilizing, getting
ready, &C.. but the marines, we'll
oflicered. well drilled, we'll equipped
with everything necessary for a sue.
cessful campaign, were sent out TO open
up the way for what was to follow, and
right nobly did they perform their
mission. Landing in country entirely
unknown, without guides, opposed by
hidden and treacherous foe, five times
their size, everyone will remember the
four days and nights of desperate fight
ing in the trenches, and in the open, of
the march over Cusco Hill, where in
the fight there the marines. outnum-
bered five to one. stuck everiastingly at
|
age worthy OF emulation, until they
tured, and added to their already
glorious record the proud distinction OF
being the first troops in Cuba,o having
shed the first blood of the war, and OF
having fought successfully the first land
battle and hoisted the first Old Glory, >
thus duplicating the achievements OF
Lieut.. O'Bannon and his men nearly a
century ago.
''Tennyson in his Charge of the
Light Brigade made famous the
noble 600. Well there was this differ
ence between Tennyson's 600 and the
600 marines: At Blaklava somebody
Numbered, and very few of the noble
600 came back .out OF the jaws OF
death, out of the gates of hell;' at
Guantanamo nobody blundered, and
although the marines were there 1C
weeks, and with the exception of those
killed they all said here to the muster
role at home
''This affair at Guantanamo is men.
toned because it is better remem-
bered, perhaps, occurring as it did
near home and being the first battle OF
the war. But there are hundreds Of
other incidents where the marines as a
body and individuals displayed thor
intrepidity and superb training. Nc
Neil, who cleared the iammed gun on
the Brooklyn is corporal of marines.
and then who has ever told of the deeds
of the marines of the Olympia, Balti
more, Raleigh, &c. !; how the marines
of the Olympia protected the 'gunners
gang while the guns we're being blown
up at Langley Point, and how the
marines of the fleet held the arsenal
during May and June, awaiting the
arrival of the army. OF course there
is glory enough to Ego round, but il
seems rather unfortunate that the
Marine Corps, being comparatively a
small body and being divided up on SC
many ships, and stationed in SO many
different parts of the world, that the
deeds of these brave fellows should be
allowed TO drop into oblivion after the
hostilities that brought them into
prominence have expired, and ii will
require another war to bring them
again into public notice"
Sergeant Logan SAYS it is amusing
when he is in uniform in the street, tc
be taken either,for q visiting fireman
or member Of the Salvation Army.
MANI PILLAGEs DESTROTED.
I