The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-11-06
MARINE cofps, History.

been based to great extent 'pon the
needs of the state department. 1t has
been increased from time to tins as
the result Of the intimate com ,aon
between the nations foreign policy In
certain particular and the necessary
work connected Herewith.
The Marine corps Is the only branch
Of our military service whose strength
In times of peace has been based
on specific state policy. There
has scarcely been a year since the
war Of 'SS that a large expeditionary
force Of marines has not been sent to
some revolutionary-ridden country to
the south Of us.
Its mission, in short, Is to quell such
instructions, bring about the reign of
law, order and good government there
by denying to any foreign, power the
least possible excuse to violate the
Monroe doctrine, as would surely have
been the case In a number Of instances
had we allowed foreign interests to
suffer during such Instructions.
This expeditionary work has been
and is the primary work of the Ma
rine corps. The results in Panama,
Nicaragua, Cuba, Hayti and San Do.
mingo speak of the manner In which
this work was performed.
Second in the matter of Importance
Of work performed is that required of
the advanced base force. This force
Is attached to the feet, and when op-
Grating with It Is embarked on spe,
cially constructed transports. II is
essentially war unit its organization
is complete in big howitzer and field
artillery batteries, machine gun, mine,
engineer and signal units, together
with airplnne service and infantry sup
ports.
Forces Special Functions.
The special function of this force In
time of war and in conjunction with
the fleet is to seize the harbor, fortify
the positions, mine the sea approaches
and defend it as base from which
the fleet can iOperate-in just such
manner as occurred at the commence
ment Of the war of '0S, when the ma
rines landed ut Guantanamo bay,
Cuba, and held 1t against the superior
forces for II base from which the fleet
operated against the enemy in Santi-
ago bay.
The last mentioned Of the three
classes of work performed-that of the
detachment on board every battleship
In the fleetis most important. These
fleet marines form n separate division
on board for drill ana battle stations
they man the torpedo defense battery
perform the guard duty and form the
advance landing force.
They receive, by reason of this duty
the necessary sea training to enable
them to live in n restricted space (a
most necessary military requirement.,
to handle boats and to serve naval
ordnance ashore when necessary. 1t
is the result of this nautical training
that distinguishes the marine from the
soldier Of the army.
The foregoing is an outline of tho
general duties Of the marines-that in
times of peace they represent the
in helping to maintain recognized gov
ernments, where insurrectonury at
tempts ut their overthrow are the gen
eral rule that in time of war the corps
has It's specific work in connection with
maritime and overseas operations, and
in this instance we have available by
reason OF their training force of vet
eran soldiers Of the navy for II van
guard to our overseas army that Is
now in the making.
The puy of marines is good, and the
privileges are attractive. Full infor-
nation as to the nearest place one may
enlist will he sent upon application to
the United States marine corps ut
Washington, ID. c. Recruiting stations
are maintained in all of the principal
cities, their locations being easily
found by consulting the telephone di-
rectories. Men over five feet five
inches and between nineteen and thir-
ty-tive are acceptable.