The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-10-01
They Go Everywhere by Land or
Sea in Defense of the
American Flag.
MOTTO: ALWAYS FAITHFUL"
The Recruit Entering Service Today 10
Paid $50 Month and the opportu.
mites for Advancement Are
Numerous.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

ny EOWAHO 3. CIAHNs
Washington.-"First in the Fight" Is
the wartime slogan of the United
States marines, while "Semper FL
delis," "Always Faithful" is their
motto in peace and war.
So it would seem that If good works,
coupled with faith, secure mans sal
walton, there must be some reason as
well as rhyme in the last four lines Of
the Marine corps hymn:
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heavens scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded by
The United States Marines.
Recently Uncle Sam has ordered an
increase in the number Of his marines
to war strength Of 10000 men,
which numerically means 1000 more
men than there are in a division Of
troops Of the United States army.
There is room in the marines, there
fore, for any stalwart young Ameri-
can between the ages Of eighteen and
thirty-five who wishes to be soldier
and a sailor in one, to be first in the
fight, and to be able to prove that he
is always faithful to the ideals Of hui
mainly and the ideals of his country.
In the present war the American be-
lief is that the two are one.
When congress recently increased
the pay of the army it also increased
the pay of the navy and Of the Ma
rine corps. The recruit today who en-
tiers the Marine corps will receive $50
a month pay, an increase of $15 over
the pay in the more or less piping
times of peace. More than this, If he
goes to sea, which unquestionably will
be his lot, he will receive 20 per cent
additional, and it is generally account
ed that in this war time the 20 per
cent increase will be continued while
the marine is on land in foreign
country holding up his end for the
United States.
What is the marine? This Is one Of
the questions in little catechism is
sued by the officials Of the corps. The
answer is that the marine Is soldier
Of the sea.
A Two-Fsted Fighter.
The marine is soldier and a sailor,
and yet he is neither. He Is sort of
a two-fsted fighting rover. He goes
everywhere by land or by sea to the
last outpost of civilization and beyond
If it is necessary for the service Of
protection Of the American flag and Of
the unfolding of the rights Of American
people.
The Marine corps Is curious in way
in it's formation. 1t has more men in
it's ranks than an army division, and
yet in a way its organization is that
: Of regiment, although it has ma
jor general commandant and several
brigadier generals. Then, like the
army, it has it's colonies, it's lieutenant
colonies, It's majors, and its captains.
The Marine corps, big as it Is, with
it's 10000 men in war time, keeps Pc
culiar organization, because its fight
ers necessarily are divided into COM
paratively small detachments.
Under the command Of Colonel Doy-
en- of the Marine corps 1000 soldiers
of the sea soon will be in the trenches
in France. These men, 1t has been
announced, were added to the prelim-
inary force which it is intended to
send into France because the govern
ment recognized the right Of marines
to live up to the meaning Of their war
time slogan, 'First in the Fight"
Men Needed for Marines.
The United States government wants
men for it's Marine corps. It hopes that
it will not be necessary to draw from
the ranks Of the selective service
army the men needed to complete the
complement Of the soldier-sailor organ
ization. It wants volunteers. The at
fractions of service in the marines are
many. There are chances, and good
ones, for the enlisted men to be rec
commended for a student course at An
napolis, there to be educated and
trained and upon graduation to re-
ceive a commission either in the Ma
rine corps or in the navy. The law
also provides for the promotion of
noncommissioned officers to warrant
rank in the grades Of marine gunners
and quartermaster's clerk. Such Off
GERS receive from SLIPS to $4,000
year, and are entitled to the same
privileges of retirement. as warrant
officers in the navy.
There is a chance for marines to
make money in addition to their pay.
Mess stewards, mess sergeants, mess
men, clerks, and men assigned to avia-
ton duty receive amounts varying
from $3.50 to SIS per month in addi-
ton to their base pay. There are pro-
visions for increased pay for men who
qualify as expert riflemen, as marks
men and as sharpshooters.
The Marine corps is the oldest army
service Of the United States, having
been organized before the army and
the navy. Every man who enters 1t is
given his food, his clothing his lodg-
ing, and his medical attendance.
The country needs volunteer ma
irines for a service that is First at
the Front and Always Faithful.