Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-19
QUE GALLANT MARINES.
How They Fought IN Tho philippine


On October I'd the following was re-
ceived in the official dispatches from !
the Philippines:
"When the marines marched into |
linus the soldiers cheered them and
Gen. Lawton complimented them upon
their work. =
On October sth the following dis
patch was received:
THE marines oo.operated with the
troops. Two battalions of marines
consisting of $50 men, under Col.
Elliott, advanced along the peninsula
from Cayite to Novaleta. The only
way was by a narrow road through
swamps. A mile beyond the marines
outposts the column was suddenly re-
ceiyed with a voley from trenches
across the road. A flank movement
was executed and the insurgents were
driven from the trenches, the marines
wading through rice fields in turning
tho flank of the enemy, who reiterated
to strong sand forts across the creek
dividing the peninsula and destroying
the bridge across the stream. The
marines waded through more rice
fields, forded the river in water to
their shoulders and carried the forts,
| This place was supposed to be i'm
official report of the battle, says the
Spaniards lost a whole regiment of
men in attempting to take it. "
Thus again have the gallant marines
demonstrated their intrepidity, daring,
and superb courage. This little corps
of marines Stems to be used by the
government upon all occasions where
hard fighting is in progress. In every
war in which the United States has
been engaged the Marine Corps, has
served with faithfulness and gallantry
and has well sustained the high repu-
tation handed down to it from the days
OF John Paul Jones. But like their
modern prototypes Of Great Britain,
they have felt tho want of proper
appreciation by the public at large.
Major w. p. Biddle of Philadelphia,
who was fleet marine officer on the
Olympia, Admiral Dewey's flagship at
the battle of Manila, and who was q
member Of Admiral Dewey's staff, Is
in charge of recruiting for tho Marine
Corps for Delaware, and many Will
mingtonians and Delawareans are now
Office is located in the Gibson House,
Fourth street near Market.
"The duties OF the Marine Corps"
said the major, whsn talking about
tho matter, are so little understood
by the public at large that | will make
a few explanations in regard to them
From time immenlorial the corps has
held high position in the estimation
nf the most experienced officers of the
Navy. 1t has been identified with the
Navy in all its achievements ashore
and afloat, and has continued to re-
ceve from its most distinguished COM
manders the expression of their appre-
citation of its effectiveness as a part OF
the navy.
SIN the popular mind marines arc
synonymous with sailors or blue
/ jackets, so called. This is mistake
as the marines are not sailors, hui
, soldiers serving on ships. They are a
, part of the naval force and serving
under the Jurisdiction of the secretary
of the navy; but are, nevertheless, a
, distinct organization from the navy
proper. Their duties are strictly mill
tary, and they are soldiers absolutely
, and ut all times, Tho. enlisted mer
receive the same pay and bounty fol
re-enlisting as those of like grades il
: infantry. Credit is given to both Off
GERS and men for previous service il
, volunteer army or navy and as re-
. enlistment in either the army or marine
! CORPS within three months of honorable
discharge entities to increased pay fo
, continuous service, men are frequently
found in each who have served one o.
more enistments in the other.
"Recruits must be at least five fee
four inches tall. between 81 and 81
years of age, weigh at least liz pounds
, able to read and write, sound as h
, senses and limbs and of good health
: Their duties ashore are exactly tn
, same as infantry in the regular army
: They are sent to barracks when the.
first enlist for instruction and the drill
embraces the school Of the soldier
:, company and battalion, skirmishing
! target practice, thu. bayoner exercise
!. and all military duties and ceremonies
= In fact, they are soldiers absolutel
y and ahoat this continues so far a
!, practicable, and to the drills mentione
q above are added the great gun (nrtil
:. lery and signal drill. The marine
y aboard ship do sentry duty the sam
ii as ashore. The marines are used a
:. orderlies for the captain and admiral
= and as sentries on the poop, forecast
i and gangways, in action they man III
i secondary batteries or smaller calibr
~ guns, and are posted in the tops a
= sharp shooters The pay for recruit
at present is SIS. 60 per month. Cloth
ing. rations, medicines, and medics
}, attendance are furnished free by III
e government"
J. In answer to question as to tn
IS climate of the Philippines the maic
n referred to the last official report G
n Col. p. q. Pope, commanding the bal
" talon of marines now at Cavire arsoua
r which states that the sick lists hay
ID decreased to less than one half of on
per cent or out OF total of 100 marine
a. now in the Philippines only three me
10 were unfit for duty, thus showing til
ip care taken by the Navy Department I
i, the enlisted men under its charge. nh
q. is certainly very favorable shown
for the Philippines and completed
+, answers the wild statements made col
u corning the horrors of campaigning !
u. that country. Major Biddle himse
q did duty in Cavite navy yard and sal
y. that neither he nor the guard suffert
'. from any sickness while located there
70 Quite a number of Wilmingtonial
= and Deawareans generally are now se
I. wing in the marine corps, having Of
40 listed at the recruiting office here I'll
following is u list of the names of son
of the men from this State serving
a. the marine corps: Ernest j. Ian
eff John Francis Barr, Joseph Conle
el Frank Cordrey, Harry III. Butte
MS Frank E. Hodgman, Martin Murph
50 John Henschel, John Devinish, Jam
in Calhoun, George e. Farrell, Thorn
IN M. Cummings, Martin Joyce, Iiarl
G. Mammele, John Leonard, Georl
II Simnson 1.-THE last three enlisted