The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-09-07

Maj. w. p. Biddle, U. S. NJ. c..
who was in charge of the marine guard
OF Olympia, Dewey's flagship, at the
battle of Manila, and was a member
OF Admiral Dewey's staff, has opened
a recruiting Office for marines in the
Lansing building. This is the first
time a recruiting Office has been open
ed In Wilkesbarre for the marine
corps OF the navy, and will give an
opportunity to young men who have a
desire to see the world and make a
cruise on one of our warships, to en-.
list here, instead of going to Phlla-
delphla.
A Ree0yd reporter had an interest
ing conversation with Maj. Biddle and
learned that while so much is being
written about the volunteer soldiers
and the regular army and their enlist
ments and preparations for service In
the Philippines, many people are un-
aware that the United States Marine
Corps of the navy is also busily engag-
ed In recruiting its corps up to the
strength allowed by the last congress,
VIZ, o,ooo men, and that by the time
the rainy season is over in Manila
there will be one or two regiments of
marines there fully equipped and
ready for any service ashore or afoat.
Everyone knows what sailor is and
what soldier is and does, but al
though the marine corps is the oldest
military branch OF the United States
Service, less is known about it gener-
ally than any other branch of the SER
vice. The prospective recruit, when
he arrives at the recruiting Office and
applies for enlistment, is told that he
must be able to speak English, meas
ure five feet four inches and weigh not
less than 100 pounds. He then sees
the recruiting sergant, who passes him
along to the major, and next to the
surgeon, and If he is accepted he is
then sworn in and sent to barracks,
where he is uniformed and equipped,
and drilled.
The Marine Guard, as it is called,
Of the Olympia consisted of one cap
tain, one first sergeant, two sergeants,
three corporals, two musicians and
thirty-two privates. Post duty is the
same as IN the regular army, one post
on the forecastle, another over the
magazine, while fourth was over the
scuttle butt, with posts at the gang
ways and cabin doors. The guard
drills every day as infantry, in the
company and extended order, move
ments at the guns of main and second
airy batteries, etc.
AT the battle of Manila Bay one
sergeant and four privates manned a
slxpounder gun. Two crews for five
inch (main battery and two crews for
sixpounder guns, in reserve, were on
superstructure deck with their officer,
acting a sharpshoters with rifles. Six
privates were posted along the upper
deck keeping up communication with
gun crews. One private was on for
ward and another after bridge at
speaking tubes. One sergeant and
one private were orderlies to Admiral
Dewey and one to Capt. Gridley.
In every war In which the United
States has been engaged the marine
corps has served with faithfulness and
gallantry. 1t is the boast of the ma
rines that they are the oldest military
body in the regular service of the
United States, for they claim,no with
out some foundation, to antedate both
the army and the navy. This claim is
based upon the act of the Contlne ntal
Congress OF Nov. 9, 1775, which pro-
vided that ''two battalions of marines
be raised, to be enlisted and commits
stoned to serve for and during the
present war between Great Britain and
the colonies, and to be considered as
past of the continental army before
Boston," These battalions were actu-
ally recruited independently of the
army before Boston.
During the revolution the marines
were drilled into highly disciplined
body, actuated by high sense of
duty, and having a matchless esprit de