The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-04-02
MARINES EVER FIRST
When Trouble Threatens Abroad
They Got the Call.
RECORD IS a PROUD ONE.
First to Fight spanlards In Cuba, Took
Prominent Part In Relieving EN-
hassies In Pekln-esrvics In
Mexico.
By GEORGE CIINToN.

~SOsSo 50 Os>'s-s-SOs WV
Mexloo.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-The reported reques.
from the American minister at the
City of Mexico for marines to guard
the legation there in case that the up
rising against the president Of Mexico
should endanger the lives of Ameri.
cans, accentuates the fact that the ma.
rines of tho 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 1t Is
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 it only meant to
intimate that the marines did not
know anything about sailing a ship.
No sailor has ever contended that the
marine is not good fighter and all
for the colors." ~. III ..as
The American marines had the first
fight with the Spapiards 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 is a long one and an
honorable one l.
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 ia
pan. At that time Elliott was a lieu
tenant attached to the u S. S. Balti,
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 a double time"
across country to save the mission
aries r..
A Hazardous Trip.
1t is probable that few military bod
les were ever asked to engage in such
trip as that turned out to be. It was
so hot that the marines turned the
tables and told the sailors that their
belt buckles melted in the sun. Near.
ly the whole line of the march was
through submerged rice fields, tho
men being up to their knees in water
half the time, with their footsteps
clogged 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 is-
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 80 degrees and 10
minutes, the record up to that time.
1t was Immediately upon his return
from the Arctic that Elliott was ORDER
ed 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 private Of marines caught the
man hired to explode the STUFF Just as
he was about to light the fuse. It was
perhaps narrower escape than any
which tho general ever had, and his
narrow escapes besprinkle plentifully
his record. 49,, III: IT, ....+-
National Press Club.
The National Press Club of Wash.
inugton wants the newspaper men Of
the country to understand that the
club is' just what its name suggests,
national in It's scope. It Is true that
active membership is confined to
working newspaper men in tho capt.
tai city, correspondents and members
Of the stats Of the local papers, but
nonresident membership Is open to
every legitimate newspaper man IN
the United States who properly can be
vouched for and whose newspaper
standing can undergo the test of the
board Of governors. Any newspaper
man in the United States who would
like to become nonresident mem
Der of the National Press club can get
such information as he needs by ad.
dressing the secretary Of the club.
The National Press club today Is en-
tirely out of debt. It had bond burn
ing entertainment recently and the
flames of the fire in the big open fire.
place in the main gathering room lick.
ed up the last evidences of the clubs
Indebtedness. Ladies' day will soon
be recognized by the membership.
Last year Madame Sara Bernhard
was the chief visiting guest of the day.
The French ambassador and nearly all
the members Of the French embassy
were present at the entertainment
which was a great success. This year
several If the hest known women ri
the country will be the guests Of hon.
Or.