The Raymer enterprise., 1914-01-15

during an election In Panama 10
guard the American consulate at Valparaiso Chile.
IL is tha American marine the first aid" man OF
the country's armed service. who rushes 10 the
front
And "rushes' is the word, For speed is the ele-
ment which above all others is drilled hammered
and pounded nigh, and day into the constitution
of the marine. On the principle that fire caught
in Its early stages will be readily extingushed,
the United States marine corps Is organized to
respond to any call at moments notice and
smother the inclpient blaze In fact their hurried
appearance on the scene has often prevented the
outbreak OF threatened confagraton.
From the halls OF Montezuma TO the shores OF
Tripolif is the way the song starts which they
have made known In every part of the world
"The halls Of Montezuma?" Yes the marines
have seen service In Mexico. II was back in the
days of lS47 when they were present at the storm.
ing OF chapultepec the strong castle on the forti-
fled hill near Mexico City, where the ancient Aztec
rulers held sway.
TO the shores OF Trpoli?" Yes. IL was back In
1903 that American marines marched across the
desert OF northern Africa for 600 miles and after
capturing the Tripolitan flag hosted that Of the
United States fer the first time in the history of
the country on a fortress of the Old World.
China. Japan. Corea, Egypt Algiers, Trpoli,
Chile. Mexico. Cuba Sumatra. Formosa Hawaii,
santo Domingo Porto Rico Nicaragua-no, this
Is more than mere geographical list OF countries,
1t Is roster Of some of the countries in which
the American marines have been called for
service. And they sing;
From the He'll Hole of Cavite
To the Ditch at Panama,
You will find them very needy
OF Marines-that's what we are:
We're the watch dog OF pile of coal.
Or we dig magazine
Though our job-lots they are manifold.
Who would not be Marine?'
Ubiquitous they are in field of action. Manifold
are their duties. Amphibious creatures also they
are, fighting by land or They are called
soldiers OF the sea" Ready for fun or frolic.'
they serve on war vessels and land both in times
OF peace and war.
When fighting on the battleships cruisers to
which they are assigned they man the six-inch.
fve-inch and three-inch guns, and the siypounders
OF the intermediate and secondary batteries. They
are trained and fully equipped for instant service
as landing parties. When they land they take
with them II needed ship guns Of three, five and
six-inch caliber Part OF their training Is to mount
these pieces in suitable shore positions. They are
taught the various methods OF singing and trans
porting ordnance.
Ashore In foreign countries they fight or per-
form peaceful duties, according to need, And
when there is any fighting to be done they are
generally the men who start it. They open the
way for bigger fighting. II such should be neces-
sary They are the forerunners of both the army
and navy. They are the hurry up, clean 'em up
quick and eat em alive boys Except in case Of
big and important fighting. the marines usually
finish the job alone. As the marine corps all told
comprises only 10000 men and 33i officers, 1t could
NOT fight war but for the dozens Of smaller calls
for military aid. 1t is all sufficient. II either the
army or navy or both are to come into action
later on 1t IL usually the marines who have taken
the nrst step against the enemy.