Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-01-16

NN%N part of the world summons to turn
SMSS@B out for almost any kind of military
hXNSJM duty.
NYVcHk Whether 1t be to take part in
ANISTS Boxer uprising in China in Mica
SA W raguan revolution, to guard the polls
during election in Panama or to
guard the American consulate at Valparaiso Chile.
1t is the American marine the first aid" man of
the countrys armed service. who rushes to the
front
And "rushes" 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 its early stages will be readily extinguished,
the United States marine corps is organized to
respond to any call at moments notice and
smother the ncipient blaze. In fact, their hurried
appearance the scene has often prevented the
outbreak of threatened confiagration
From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of
Tripol' 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 service in Mexico 1t was back in the
days of 1S47 when they present at the storm
ing of Chapultepec. the strong castle the forti
fled hill near Mexico City. where the ancient Aztec
rulers held sway.
ITO the shores of Tripoli?" 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 hoisted that of the
United States for the first time in the history OF
the country fortress of the Old World
China, Japan. Corea. Egypt. Algiers. Tripoli.
Chile, Mexico. Cuba. Sumatra. Formosa Hawaii
Santo Domingo. Porto Rico, Nicaragua-no. this
is more than mere geographical list of countries
it is a roster of some of the countries in which
the American marines have been called on for
service. And they sing:
From the Hell Hole of Cavite
To the Ditch Panama.
You will find them very needy
OF Marines-thats what
We're the watch dog of pile of coal.
or dig magazine,
Though joblots they manifold,
Who would not be a Mariner"
Ubiquitous they are in field of action. Manifold
are their duties. Amphibous creatures also they
are fighting by land They are called
'soldiars of the sea-" Ready for FUN frolc,'
they serve war vessels and land. both in times
of peace and
When fighting on the battleships cruisers to
which they are assigned they the six-nch,
fvench 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 IL needed ship guns of three, five and
sixnch 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 If such should be neces-
sary They the forerunners of both the army
and navy. They are the hurry up, clean EN- up
quick and eat EN- alive" boys. Except in case OF
big and important hghting the marines usually
finish the Job alone. AS the marine corps all told
comprises only 600 men and 334 officers, II could
not fight war but for the dozens of smaller calls
for military aid It is all sufficient If either the
army or navy or both are to into action
later on. It is usually the marines who have taken
the irst step against the enemy.