Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-04-07
MARINE CORPS
ALWAYS READY
THIS FIGHTING ARM OF UNITED
STATES IS MAINTAINED IN A
STATE OF PREPAREDNESS.
Especial to The ucrald.)

'Specidl 10 Tue AAcThiu.t
WASHINGTON, ID. C., April 6.-Much
las been said and written, since the begin
ling of the present international crisis, "a
% the preparedness or unpreparedness of
he army and navy of the United States.
The army and navy have been thoroughly
studied in recent months, and the respon-
;ible authorities are still wrestling with
her problems night and day; but what
ibout the United States Marine corps, the
Oldest and one of the most important
branches of the military establishment.
Beyond taking steps to increase the
orce, Washington has bothered its head
Iery little about the Marine corps. The
eason j. simple. There has hever been
my question as to the preparedness and
Efficiency of this branch Of the service.
The Marines are always ready for whatever
luty they may he called upon to perform.
hey are usually the first sent To answer
he call of war.
"Semper Fidelis."
That motto translated into English means
yer faithful. Ii is the motto of the United
itates Marine corps, and no body of men
yer lived up To traditions handed down
or years with greater fidelity than the
officers and men comprising this force.
The Marine corps j. organized. clothed
nd equipped very much the same a. sol
Tiers of the land forces, and the preiImi-
nary instruction of the marine Is similar To
hat of the soldier. For these reasons they
ire qualified for duty with either the army
IT the navy. Their headquarters, barracks
md depots are on shore. Details from the
barracks are made up for duty on board
hip when required. Marine detachments
according to the size of the shin. vary in
strength from a dozen men under a SER
geant to sixty or more men under one or
'wo. commissioned officers.
On shipboeard the Marines have a great
many duties to perform. They form a part
# the regular crew in handling the guns.
manning the secondary batteries mostly.
They learn a multiplicity of things that
would be advantageous afloat and ashore.
They can plant mines. aS well as build
ridges. and for quick landing and opera
ions ashore they have no supcriors.
On Nov. 10. 1115, before a single ves-
sci of the navy was sent to sea, the Ma
me corps was organized bv resolution Of
the Continental congress-. On Dec. 10.
t176 congress directed that thirteen ships
IF war be built. On the 22nd day of the
'ame month congress passed a resolution
declaring Esek Hopkins commandment in
chief. and appointed Officers for all vessels
hen in service. This wa the first step
taken toward the creation Of the naval e.
adjustment which has won imperishablc
RON the fleet under command of Commo-
which il based the claim of the Marine
corps to be .'the oldest in the service"
la the early part of 1777 a battalion of
300 marines and landsmcn. under the com-
mand of Major Samuel Nichols, landed
from the fleet under comman dof Commo-
dore Hopkins. at the island of New Provi-
dence, in the Bahamas, assaulted and cap
tured the English forts protecting the
island, taking a large quantity of cannon
md military stores. Thi, the first battle
If the American navy was fought and won
by the Marines.
Throughout the civil war the Marine
were at work proving their patriotism and
devotion to the cause. In the troubles with
Tripoli they played a conspicuous part.