The Washington herald., 1917-04-08
Army and Navy New,

The United States marines. for whom
1000 recruits are now needed, are
proud of the definition of themselves
in the dictionary: Soldiers Of the
Sea" They enter the service with the
promise that they will get action II
there is action for United States forces
In any part Of the world. and that they
with get into that action as soon as
any other branch of the armed forces
Of the United States or ahead of it
The requirements of a marine are;
He must be an American citizen be-
tween is and 35 years of age; he must
read. write, and understand the Eng
lish language; he must be OF good
character. sound OF limb, in excellent
health. have good eyesight and hear
ing. have twenty sound teeth. and must
be between 5 feet 4 inches and feet l
inch in height, and weigh not less than
1928 pounds or more than 233 pounds
The Marine Corps was founded be-
fore the army and navy by an act of
the Continental Congress in 1875, and
has all sorts Of traditions which make
its men look with tolerant superiority
on the younger branches. compare
lively smaller body. it's men know each
other more Intimately and find good
team work made easy for them.
Gets $I5 Month.
A marine, on enlistment in time OF
peace gets s15 a month. He is sup
piled with all his food and clothing
medical attention and quarters: he has
to pay for his laundry. soaps. towels
shoe-polish and tobacco. The minute he
goes on sea duty or on foreign service
Except in Porto Rico or Hawaii his pay
is increased So a month. In time of war
there is another increase of s. a month.
Ja erof in to I'D
tional by qualifying as a marksman
sharpshooter or expert rifeman he
will have an opportunity to do three
months after he is enlisted. He can save
money out of his clothing allowance. If
he qualities as a gun pointer aboard ship
he may get from s. to s. a month more
and If he knows a trade including gar
dening and is detailed to do work in
that trade or is used as a clerk he gets
from thirty-five to fifty cents day extra.
If he attends to his duties smartly
there are promotions ahead, which may
increase his pay to as much as S6S a
month and an opportunity to become Il
warrant officer (who is paid from Sl.l25
to 81 500 a year,. Or if he is of exceptional
ability he may be appointed a commits
stoned officer. Ten per cent of the Off
GERS of the marines are appointed from
the ranks.
Duties of Marine.
The duties of the marine on board
ship include the manning of the 5-inch
guns, the defense against torpedo attack.
and also the sky guns" There isn't
much of anything in the way Of excite
ment or variety that a marine misses
ashore. The marines have 3-inch field
artillery pieces. field wireless outfits,
mining companies. signal companies and
advanced base" companies. which go
ashore seize and fortify a base for the
feet, mounting in 1t guns up to inches
caliber. There are also motorcycle scout
and motor truck detachments.
Sixty per cent of a marines time is
spent ashore or on foreign service al
increased pay. He sees life on land and
sea both. There are now about 5000
marines sitting on the lid in Hayti and
Santo Domingo. The marines led the
way at Vera Cruz. in Nicaragua and in
the Boxer rebellion.
Fifty per cent Of the marines re-enlist
and get a substantial increase of month
ly pay for so doing. Many men honorably
discharged from the army and navy elect
to re-enlist in the marines because of the
constant changes from sea to land and
land to sea and from one strange country
to another robs the service OF all mo-
notony.