The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-26
SOLDIERS OF THE SEA
ARE OUR HANDIEST
Marine COrps's GlOrics Sung
by It's COmman-
der.
OLDEST FIGHTING FORCE
Care in Selection and Drilling
Of Men for This
Service.


Uncle Sans soldier sailors. otherwise
the United states Marine Corps. appear
In text and picture in Soldiers of the
Sea- which is the title OF the latest
official story Of the Governments fight
Ing men
Life in the army and navy has been
described until everybody is supposed to
know the details of the work and play
OF doughboys. cavalry and bluejackets
but MaJor-Gcn. Biddlc. commanding the
Marine Corps. thinks that the public
knows little Of the life OF the marine.
Hence the pamphlet which begins by
singing tho glory of Uncle Sans sol
diers and sailors too:
Our flags unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun:
We have fought In every chine and place
Who're We Cogld take u gun;
In the SHOWS of far of northern lands
And in sunny tropir scenes
You will find US always on the Job
Tho United States Marines.
After recalling that tho employment
OF infantry as part of the force on board
ships of war was common to the PhG-
nicians centuries before the Christian era
and that the marines were specially men
toned by the Persian reporters who COW
cred the battle of Lade. the Marine Corps
chronicler gets down to the early history
OF the United states Marines. He says:
Dates From Revolution Days.
The Corps OF Marines Of Great
Britain was originally Instituted in 1861.
The English marines have on many occa-
sions acquitted themselves with great
credit and reflected honor upon their
corps. As mark OF appreciation OF
their valuable services an order was is
sued by the King on April 81, 1902, Off
cially changing the title OF the corps to
Royal Marines. which title they stll
hold. At the time Of the separation OF
the thirteen colonies from Great Britain
the American Marine Corps was formed,
inheriting the British marine organza-
ton. and was conducted along similar
lines"
All this to let you know that when
you see the smar. looking young chap
with the anchor and globe on his cap and
the "Semper Fidels' motto YOU are look
ing upon a member OF the oldest OF our
lighting organizations.
II was not until 1875, however. that
the present organization. builded upon
that which had been disbanded at the
close of the revolutionary war. was per
manently established. Uncle Sans press
what the corps has done since then con.
Guiding with:
ut is the gallant little corps that has
so ably assisted in lighting America
battles in every corner Of the globe for
more than century its members are the
first men on the ground in case OF trouble
with foreign Power and the first men
into battle in case OF hostilities"
The marine has to know many things
In the preliminary instructions which
members Of the corps get on shore be-
fore being turned over for duty" they
Are drilled in the duties Of infantry
soldiers, field artill.rymen and as ma
chine gun companies. Then in prepara-
ton for their duties as landing parties
from ships. eNpeditionary duty and de-
tenders Of naval advance bases they are
taught to use portable searchl!ghts, wire
less telegraph, the heliograph and other
methods of signalling. They also pick NJ,
fine points Of range finding. placing land
and submarine telegraph lines. handling
torpedoes, bridge building-and destruction.
knotting and splicing. mounting ships
guns and the like. When lie has served
his four wears enlistment YOUR marine
is the handiest of Uncle Sans fighters.
The Seeing the World Side.
soldiers of the Sea" has much TO say
Of the seeing the world side Of ma
fines life but it has this word of warning
10 those who might think L. :. NJ, &.
meant all play and no work:
Men should not enlist with the ex-
pectation Of finding 1t n life of perpetual
ease and comfort. On the contrary they
should enter with the intention of doing
their share of frequent guard duty, reRu-
lar police duty about barracks or ship
and attend the daily drills and inspec-
tons, ana whenever necessary help in tho
loading OF stores. coallng ship and any
at l,rv ed IN h,. n inn ,f
war hardshps are many: forced marches
exposure to all kinds of weather. uncom-
Portable sleeping accommodations loss of
sleep and insufficient food and water. Bu
the hardships Of war are unavoidable and
must be expected"
AT present the authorized strength OF
the Marine Corps is approximately $40
officers and 10000 men, The service IL
popular and vacancies are as a rule filled
rs rapidly as they occur. During the
past year more than one-thrd Of the men
whose enlistments expired reenlsted
within three months.
The pay Of a marine runs from SIS to
$65 a month according to rank and length
OF service, The marine starts AZ a private
at SO. is raised to SIS At the end of four
years and to s2l at the end Of eight years.
He gets a good conduct medal for each
enlistment we'll served and each medal
means SO cents a month additional pay.
If he qualities as "marksman with the
service rifle" his pay ~ increased 81
month. if as q ''sharpshooter" So and the
expert riheman'' finds an extra So In his
pay check each month. Then If he should
qualify with the great guns aboard ship
his pay may be increased from 81 to $40
month.
Pay Not So had. COnstdering.
The marine gets everything in the way
OF living expenses except laundry, soap,
tobacco "SOltiprS