Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-22
THE MARINE.
A Fighting Man Who is "So|-
dier and Sailor. Too"
He is Well Appreciated by All Gov.
ernments.
The Splendid Work Done by Uncle
Sans Marines.

branch of Uncle Sans forces rendered in
China and in the Philippines comes the
news from England that the government
there is taking steps with a view to
large increase both of the Royal Marine
Artillery and of the' Royal Marine Light
Infantry. This display of appreciation of
the value of the ''jollies," taking place as
it does at the same moment on both sides
of the Atlantic, renders timely u few
brief notes concerning these fine troops
who have played so glorious a role in the
military and naval history of their re-
spective countries. These notes are all
the more necessary as good deal of mis-
apprehension prevails concerning the
marines, who, in the words of Rudyard
Kipling, are soldiers and sailors too,
who do duty alike on land and on board
a ship, and who are a species of amphib
ious creatures, subject when on land to
military regulations and when at sea to
those of the navy.
Strictly speaking, there are only two
powers that have marines in the real
sense of the word, namely, the United
States and Great Britain, and curiously
enough they have the same regimental
badge and motto. True, France, Ger
many, Italy and other maritime powers
have so-called marine infantry and ma
rine artillery among their armed
strengtha" But these Continental ma
rines have but little in common with their
American and English comrades of the
same name. They are intended and used
for coast defence, for garrisoning sea-
ports and for hostile and offensive opera
lions in the colonies. But they do not
form a recognized part of the complement
of seagcing ships, as they do in England
and America, and therefore cannot be de-
scribed, strictly speaking. as ''tollies.' In
this country and Great Britain the ma
rines constitute the senior corps of the
armed forces. In England the corps was
first organized in 1864, and was recruited
largely from the London trained bands,
thanks to which it shares with the Gren-
adler Guards, the East Kent Regiment
and the Royal London Militia the other
wise exclusive privilege of marching
through the city of London with colors
flying and bayonets fixed. In the United
States the Marine Corps was first organ
lied in 1775 for the ''publick Defence" and
in both cases the object which the au-
thorities had in view in raising the regi-
ments of marines was TO provide the
ships of the navy with special force
which, while possessing the steadineSs
and the training of picked troops of the
line, should be accustomed to the peculiar
life on board men-of-war and available
not only for duty on board ship but like
wise for use landing force whenever
it became necessary to supplement naval
operations by immediate action on terra
firma.
In England the marines were first
known as the 'AdmirafS Regiment" and
for the last one hundred years or more,
the crown has been in the habit of vest
ing the chief command in that particular
member of the reigning family who had
adopted the sea as profession. The
present general of marines is admiral,
the Prince of Wales, while his predeces-
sor at the head of the corps was King
Edwards sailor brother the late Duke of
Edinburgh and of Coburg. At one mo-
ment the English marines constituted q
force of no less than 10000 men, and this
strength was maintained throughout the
American War of independence, in which
they played a prominent part, and also
subsequently in the Napoleonic wars. But
at the present moment they number
about 12,00O men, 5000 of which are light
infantry and the remainder artillery The
latter wear blue uniform with scarlet
facingS, while the infantry have a scarlet
uniform with blue facngs, and the motto
of both is the same as that of the United
States marine corps, namely, Per Mare,
per Terrain the badge being likewise
identical, in the shape of a glove. They
are commanded by three generals in adj
Gition to the Prince of Wales, three lieu
tenant generals and seven major generals.
In the United States the marines number
5000 men, and at present they have but
one general; namely a brigadier in thu
now before Congress has for its object
to promote him to the rank of major gen.
eral, and to make the marines a major
generals command, not only on account
of its numerical size, but likewise be-
cause it is as in England, picked force
in every sense of the word
The standard, physical and moral, of
those who enlist in the marines is con-
siderably superior to that of the line, or
of the seamen. This is partly due to the
fact that the service is more popular,
which enables the recruiting officers to
effect more careful choice in selecting
their men. They receive better pay, and
in England. at any rate, a better pension
than soldiers of the army, and whereas in
Great Britain the short-service term has
been adopted for the army, the long-ser-
vice tenn has been retained in the case
of the marine corps, which enlsts men
for term of twelve years, with special
inducements in the way of increased pay
and pensions when they reengage for nine
years more. This explains why the ma
rines in England are always looked upon
as such seasoned troops, and why they
are so UNNECESSARILY superior in military
training, and in all soldier-like qualities
to the ordinary regiments of the line.
Here i'll the United States the enlistment
is for five years, and so popular is the
corps that large proportion of the men
reengage on the conclusion of their term
The United States marines, by the by
are able to boast of being the first armed
force of this country to plant its flag upon
a fortress in the Old World. and it is in
recognition of the capture of the strong
hold OF Derce in Tripoli by the marines,
that their colors to this day bear the
name of Tripoli inscribed thereon. The
American .jollies'' may be said to have
done their share of fighting both on land
ana at sea IN all the hostile operations In
which the United States has been en-
gagged since the proclamation of its in
dependence. They displayed magnificent
gallantry in the historic enga cement be-
tween the Chesapeake and the Shannon,
figured in the Mexican war, as well as in
all the important coast and sea fights of
the Civil War. served in Cuba in the war
of 1898, took part in the battle of Manila.
as well as in all the subsequent opera
tons in the Philippines. and led the
march for the relief of Pekin in 1890. 1t
Is splendid record and has won for
them on no less than two dozen occasions
the thanks of Congress.
The annals of the English Marine Corps
are equally glorious. The word "Gibral-
tar" which figures among its devices.
commentaries the part which the ma
rines took in the defence of that strong
hold under Sir George Elliott, and they
have not only had large share in every
one of the great naval victories of Eng
land during the past three centuries, but
have likewise played an important role in
many military operations on land, repeat
eddy earning the thanks of Parliament.
While the commanding officers on board
ship appreciate the marines at their full
worth, Admiral Farragut expressing the
opinion that the marine guard is one of
the great essentials of a man-of-war,' it
may be questioned whether they are as