Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-01-16

than $4,000 Then he can retire with all this
money to his credit and with pension In addtioh
of from s345O to s67.50 month. according to the
rank he held at the time of retirement During
the 2s years more than 500 marines have been
placed the retired list
There is not a single vacancy in the marine
corps Its quota of 10000 men and 334 officers
is kept filled reenlistments or recruits taking up
all the vacancies fast as they occur
In spite of the attractions which are held out
for enlistment in the marine corps. foreign travel
great variety of service, comparatively light work
most of the time and so on it is not mere mat
ter of application followed by perfunctory exam
ination which will land man in this service.
The examination is severe. This applies especi
ally to physical fitness, although mental and moral
qualifications are considered also and rank high
in the mind of the recruiting officers
Applicants at recruiting stations are rejected
for many reasons. Men are not wanted who are
morally unfit any more than are those who can
not meet the desired physical requirements The
marine corps desires to maintain high standard
and will accept men who, in the opinion of the
officers in charge. are likely to prove deserters
towards weaklings in any way or who may have
bad influence on the other men.
Recruiting officers alert in efforts to prevent
the enlistment of any men who try to get into the
service a means of escaping from the results OF
misdoinE. Such men, 1t is always feared, will try
deserving when opportunity offers. When
is recruited his Bertillon record is promptly for
warded TO Washington. where records are seorch
ed to if he has ever before been enlisted in
AS the recruits are not sworn in for four
five days, this gives time to catch them If they
have tried to get in wrongfully. Criminals are
sometimes caught in this way trying to escape the
clutches of the law by enlistng in the government
service. Washington has other Bertillon records
besides those made in the recruiting offices.
Enlistment in the marine corps is for four years
Last year those who had been in the service liked
it SO well that 40 per cent. of those whose terms
expired re-enlisted for another four-year period
The training is systematic and careful. developing
the best that is in man. There are special ex
ercises for strengthening weak parts of the body,
which enable the marines to stand the rgors OF
the hardest campaign with a minimum of physical
fatigue. The pay for the newly enlisted man is SIS
a month and keep. which includes food. allow
ances for clothing and so forth In addition there
is extra pay for men who win workmanship med
ais. who receive good-conduct medals and who are
proficient in various lines of work. 1t has been
shown that a marine. after allowing himself fair
amount each month for extras. retire after 30
years service with more than $4,000 in bank
drawing interest at per cent
Kipling sings of him:
AN after met i'm all the world. a-doin all
kinds OF things
Like landin' fsself with a Gatlin' gun to talk to
them 'eathen kings;
E sleeps in an a'mmck instead of a cot an e
drills with the deck slew;
There isn't a job top of the earth the beggar
don't know to do.
You can leave i'm at night bald mans cad
to paddle lis canoe;
Els sort of a bloomin cosmopolous-soldier and
sailor, too
The American marine, Soldier of the Sea-
known all over the world from Gibraltar to Yoko
hama has been strong factor in helping to main
tain the prestige of the United States, to fight its
battles and stand guard on many foreign shores.
This influence is not likely to be lessened with the
passing years. "The marines have landed and have
the situation well in hand" will continue to be the
report heard from them.
49,. ,.AA ar HII.AI,x...--