Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-01-20


guard the American consulate at Valparaiso, Chile
it is the American marine the first aid of
the country's armed service who PUSHES to the
front.
And PUSHES is the word. For speed is the ele-
ment which above all others is drilled, hammered
and pounded night and day into the constitution
of the marine On the principle that fire caught
in it's early stages will be readily extinguished
the United States marine corps is organized TO
respond to any call at moments notice and
smother the incipient blaze In fact their buried
appearance the scene has often prevented the
outbreak of threatened confagraton.
From the halls of Montezuma to the shores OF
Tripoli" 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. 1t back in the
days of 1S47 when they were present at the storm
ing OF Chaputepec. the strong castle on the fort-
fed hill Mexico City, where the ancient Aztec
rulers held sway.
TO the shores Of Tripoh?" Yes. it 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 for the first time in the history of
tho country on a fortress Of the Old World.
China Japan, Corea, Egypt, Algiers, TripoH
Chile, Mexico, Cuba, Sun1atra, Formosa. HAWAII
Santo Domingo Porto Rico Nicaragua-no this
is more than mere geographical list OF countries
it is roster of some of the countries in which
service. And they sing:
"Fromsthe Hell Hole of Cavite ,
To the Ditch at Panama, ~
You will find them very needy
OF Ma.ines-thats what we are:
We're the watch dog of pile Of coal.
Or We dig a magazine,
Though our job-lots they manifold,
Who would not be a Marine?"
Ubiquitous they are in field of action. Manifold
are their duties. Amphibous creatures also they
are fighting by land sea They are called
SOLDIERS of the sea" Ready for fun frolic,
they serve on war vessels and land both in times
of peace and war.
When fighting the battleships or cruisers to
which they are assigned they man the siX-inch,
Ave-,nch and three-inch guns and the siXpounders
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 if needed ship guns of three, hve ana
six.inch caiber 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
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. if such should be neces-
sarv They are the forerunners of both the army
and navy They are the hurry up, clean EN- lip
QUICK and eat 'em alive boys. Except IN case OF
hig and important lighting, the marines usually
finish the lob alone As the marine corps all told
comprises only leea9 men and 354 officers IL could
not fight war but for the dozens OF smaller calls
for military aid il is all sufficient II either the
army or navy or both are to into action
later on it is usually the marines who have taken
the first step against the enemy.