Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-04-05

AASAuS aEuin5t thC ~ CottNAN ~ ~'@~-~@~~
should endanger the lives Of Ameri-
cans, accentuates the fact that the ma
rines OF the United States service al
most always have been the first of
the American armed forces TO be call
ed on for service in case that this
country is threatened with trouble
abroad.
Tell it to the Marines" is an old
saying and the implication in II Ia
that the marines will believe anything
and there is also something of sheer
In the saying. This remark OF re-
proach" is not nearly one. for the sail
ors who originated 1t only meant to
intimate that the marines did not
know anything about sailing ship.
No sailor has ever contended that the
marine is not good fighter and AL
for the colors.'
The American marines had the first
fight with the Span.ards in Cuba
They were sent into China at the time
that the embassies were beleaguered
in 1900 and at the Battle of Tientsin
the marines lost heavily. They have
been landed In Mexico before this and
In several Of the South American
countries and always have they done
good service. Years ago over in
Korea the marines OF this government
fought and fought we'll. The record
of the marines Ii long one and an
honorable one.
General George F. Elliott Of the ma
rine corps years ago with 81 marines
and 20 sailors made hurry-up march
from Chemulpo to Seoul In Korea in
order to protect the American consul
late and the missionaries at that place
during the war between China and Ja-
pan. At that time Elliott was lieu
tenant attached to the u. s. s. Baltt
more. News came to the ship that
the Koreans were raising the cry
Korea for the Koreans and were
about to massacre all the foreigners
at the Korean capital. Admiral Nc
Nair ordered Elliott and his little com.
mand to take up double TIME"
across country to save the mission.
aries,
A Hazardous Trip.
1t is probable that few military bod
les we're ever asked to engage in such
trip as that turned out to be. It was
SO hot that the marines turned the
tables aud told the sailors that their
belt buckles melted in the sun. Near
ly the yLole line OF the march was
through submerged rice fields, the
men being up to their knees l. water
half the time, with their footsteps
ciogged by the plant roots and stems.
Under these conditions they made
pace at the rate OF five miles an hour.
and they reached their destination In
time to perform the service for which
the call for the march had been lie.
sued.
General Elliott has seen service In
all sorts OF climatic conditions. He
was assigned to the Alliance for her
cruise to the Arctic years ago. and on
the voyage the ships crew reached q
northern point of so degrees and 10
minutes, the record up to that time
1t was Immediately upon his return
from the Arctic that Elliott was order.
9, to the tropics, and he saw fighting
In Panama, which was then In the
hands of the revolutionary forces.
During this Panama service the rev
olutionists made an attempt to blow
Elliott and his command off the face
of the isthmus with dynamite. Elliott
and a private OF marines caught the
man hired to explode the stuff just as
he was about to light the fuse It was
thnN
which the general ever had. and his
narrow escapes besprinkle plentifulis
his record.
Many Claims In Congress.
Readers of Mark Twain will
remember his story of the great
beef claim and the course OF the
proceedings before the lawmakers
In Washington. When man does dig
cling after truth In the records of con
gress be can find some things which
are stranger than the romances OF the
fiction writer's There are claims to
day before either congress or the court
OF claims which have their origin back
in the Revolutionary days. The trac
/ ing OF the right to recolApense from
the government LOT SacElIceS nHue Dy
ancestors of present day people Is
one of the hardest tasks known to law.
yers. The trail gets confused after
time. and so II Is that some people who
may have legitimate claims against
Uncle Sam are unable to collect them.
Only the other day an adverse re.
port on a Revolutionary claim was
made by Senator Townsend of the sen.
late committee which has charge oil
such matters. The claim was for the
payment of 80 loan certificates alleged
to have been issued by Richard Ralph
Randall, May Is. 1779. which certin.
Gates were for $500. continental
money, specie value. SAITH. Congress
was asked that these certificates
should be paid with interest to very
remote descendant of Randall, who
va in 1890 He left son. William
who, when he was an old man. adver
tised for the lost certificates and me
morialized congress for their payment
The lawmakers refused to pay any at
tention to the matter Others have
presented the claim but without suc.
cess,