The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-17
MARINES ALWAYS READY
Oldest Force Used Both on Land and
at Sea--Trained Like Soldiers.


Much has been said and written,
since the beginning of the present in
ternational crisis, as to the prepared
ness or unpreparedness OF the army
and navy OF the United States. The
army and navy have been thoroughly
studied in recent months and the re-
spCnsible authorities are still wrestl-
ing with their problems night aud
day; but what about the United States
marine corps, the oldest and one OF
the most important branches of the
military establishments
2 Beyond taking steps TO increase the
force, Washington has bothered its
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 whatever duty
they may be called upon to perform.
They are usually the first sent to an
swer the call of war
"Semper Fidelis.
That motto translated into English
of the United States marine corps, and
no body Of men ever lived up to ira
ditions handed down for years with
greater fidelity than the officers and
men comprising this force.
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 SOL
der For these reasons they are qual
ified for duty with either the army or
the navy. Their headquarters, bar
racks and depots are on shore. De
tails from the barracks are made up
for duty on board ship when required.
Marine detachments, according to the
size of the ship, vary in strength
from a dozen men under sergeant to
60 or more. men under one or two com
missioned 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
multiplicity Of things that would be
advantageous afoat and ashore. They
can plant mines, as well as build
bridges. and for quick landing and op.
erations ashore they have no super
iors..
November 10. 1775. before a single
vessel of the navy was sent TO sea, the
marine corps was organized by resolu-
. thA oil
cember 19, 1776, congress directed that
1S ships of war be built. The twenty
second day OF the same month con-
gress passed a resolution declaring
Esek Hopkins commander-in-chief
and appointed officers for all the yes
sells then in service This was the
first step taken toward the creation
of the naval establishment which has
won imperishable fame for the United
States, and upon which is based the
claim of the marine corps to be the
oldest in the service"
In the early part of 1777 battalion
of 300 marines and landsmen, under
the command of Maj. Samuel Nichols,
landed from the feet under command
of Commodore Hopkins, at the island
of New Providence, in the Bahamas,
assaulted and captured the English
forts protecting the island, taking a
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 ma
rines were at work proving their pa
triotism and devotion to the cause. In
the troubles with Tripoli they played
a conspicuous part. Again in the War
of 1872 the marines distinguished