The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-04-27

since tnc OeElhHlhb Va thS p'N"N"'
international crisis. as to the prepar-
edness or unprepardness of the army
and navy of the United States. The
army and navy have been thoroughly
studied in recent months. and the
responsible authorities are still wrest-
ling with their problems night and
day: but what about the United States
Marine Corps. the oldest anc one OF
the most important branches Of the
military establishment?
Beyond taking steps to increase
the force. Washington has bothered
It's head very little about the Marine
CORPS. The reason is simple. There
has never been any question as to
the preparedness and efficiency of
this branch of the service. The
marines are always ready for what
ever duty they may be called upon to
3 form. They are usually the first
10 answer the call of war.
"Semper Fidelis."
That motto translated into Eng
fish means ever faithful. II is the
lotto of the United States Marine
rorps. and no body OF men ever lived
up TO traditions handed down for
years with greater fidelity than the
officers and men comprising this force
Much Like the Army,
The Marine Corps is organized.
clothed and equipped very much the
same as soldiers of the land forces,
and the preliminary instruction of
the marine Is similar to that of the
soldier. For these reasons they are
qualified for duty with either the
army or the navy. Their headquar-
tiers, barracks and depots are on
shore. Details from the barracks are
made up for duty on board ship when
required. Marine detachments. &c
cording to the size of the ship, vary
in strength from n dozen men under
a Sergeant To sixty or more men I'M
der one or two commissioned officers.
On shipboard the marines have a
great many duties to perform. They
form part of the regular crew in
handling the guns. manning the sec
ondary batteries mostly. They learn
n multiplicity of things that would
be advantageous afoat and ashore.
They can plant mines, as well as
build bridges. and for quick landing
and operations ashore they have no
superiors.
On November 10. 1775. before a
single vessel Of the navy was sent to
sea, the Marine Corps was organized
by resolution of the Continental Con-
gress. On December 13,l776, Cong
ress directed that thirteen ships OF
wer be built On the ed day of the
same month Congress passed a re-
solution declaring Esek Hopkins
Communicated and appointed
officers for all the vessels then in
service. This was the first step taken
coward the creation of the naval es-
rablishment which has won imperish-
upon which is based the claim of the
Marine Corps to be "the Oldest in
the service"
- Captured British Forts.
In the early part of 1877 battal-
ion of 500 marines and landsmen.
under the command OF Mai. Samuel
Nichols, landed from the fleet under
command of Commodore Hopkins at
the island of New Providence, in the
Bahamas, assaulted and captured the
English forts protecting the island,
taking large quantity of cannon and
military stores. This, the first battle
of the American navy, was fought
and won by the marines.
Throughout the Revolution the
marines were at work proving their
patroitism and devotion to the cause.
In the troubles with Tripoli they
played a conspicuous part. Again In
the War of 1919 the marines dis
tinguished themselves by the gallant
ny of their conduct and their work In
battle. In the years that followed
they saw active service in the Florida
War, in Sumatra and In the West
Indies. From 1876 to ls4s the corps
was engaged In the war with Mexico,
where II figured in every quarter and
made most excellent record.
First Victim of Spanish War.
Throughout the Civil War the Ma
zine Corps added many achievements
10 It's splendid record afloat and
ashore. The FIRST man killed IN the
war with Spain was member o. the
corps. When the Boxer troubles be-
~ in China, marines were sent I'M
redintely 10 the legations at Pek'n.
And gtnl fresh in the public memory