Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-11-14
MARINE CORPS 1879
YEARS OLD TODAY
Segan Its Glorious Record in the
War of the Revolu-
ton.


. st: ties celebrates its birth today, ii
being on November 10, 1875, that the
| fi-5' foIce Of marines was provided for
b. congress. On that day the con-
tinenta! congress authorized the rails
ing OF two battalions Of marines.
These men fought with distinguished
gallantry by the side of the Americaa
sailors throughout the revolutionary
War, and it was doubtless due to thei"
efficiency that the Fifth congress
passed an act establishing and organ,
lzing marine corps, the number u
privates being limited at 100. The
closing section Of that act, givir 2
tn President absolute authority with
regard to the nature of the duties OF
the marine corps, is preserved intact
IN the present federal statutes as
above quoted, although the original
act has been revised in MANY other
particulars.
Marines an ANCIENT institution.
The sea sOldiery is au ancient in
stitution. Among the Greeks these
marine warriors were known as eel
batae, described by historians as fich.-
ing men who served exclusively on
ships Of war. In the ancient Roman
navy they were styled "classiarii mil
ties, the Scandinavians called them
'baat-karlar," and the Spanish fight.
ing ships carried compliments of ma
rines.
| In 1853 the British Admiral Blake
embarked foot soldiers upon his sh:ps
to act as small arms men in the Sc
| fights against the Dutch. In 1854 reg
! ulars were detailed from the line f0r
| service afioat, and became known a.
| marine soldiers" and afterward ma
| ines" a name that has stuck to this
| lass of service ever since. At frs
| he marines were regarded with con
! empt by the sailors, and were oh
| ects Of der.sion, as shown by The
| ypression, tell it to the Marines.
| IN implication that the latter wert
| credulous.
| But the American marine has cary
| I'd out a glorious name for himself
| though few in number the United
! states marines have taken part il
Ieyery great achievement Of American
| rms. They were with John P4ul
jnHes on the Bon Homme Richard
! hen he fought the Scraps, and OFT
If 1877 of their number IT the Amer
an ship in that 1iso+ 20 were kill. !
Or wounded In 1880 in the hard
fought battle between the Constitu.
ton and the French ship La Ven.
geance, the American marines lost
One4fourth Of their number. After
| the revolution the marines fought
pirates and played an important part
III the war against Tripoli.
| In the war Of 1872 the marines
| again distinguished themselves and
were conspicuous in the battles on
the great lakes.
Fought in China and Mexico.
| During the war with Mexico tho
marines did effective work in cooper.
ating with Gen. SCOTS forces In
| the civil war they fought in nearlJ
avery battle on the water and on the
coasts, receiving repeated commenda.
| tons from the army leaders.
| During the Boxer uprising in China
they bore the brunt Of protecting the
legations. When the battleship
| Maine blew up in Havana harbor, it
was Marine Bill Anthony who went
| to Capt. Sigsbees cabin and without
tremor in his voice announced: Il
aave to report THAT the ship has been
blown up and is sinking"
| In the Spanish American war the
marines were first to set foot. on
| Cuban soil, and at guantanamo they
Geld the beach against a heavy fire
from a larger force Of the enemy. And
only in the recent fighting around
Vera Cruz, the marines again dem
onstrated their bravery.
! Illustr atinp tho short { 18Th tedTeSe Of