The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-05-03
SOLDIERS OF SEA
ALWAYS READY
Uncle Sam Has Not Bothered His
Head About Preparedness
ofMarine Corps.
OLDEST BRANCH OF SERVICE
Has the Distinction Of Having Won
the First Battle Ever Fought by
U. s. Navy in Revolutionary
Days.

Much has been said and written
since the beginning Of the interna-
tional crisis as to the preparedness or
unpreparedneSs of the army and navy
of the United States but what about
the United States marine corps, the
oldest and one of the most important
branches of Uncle Sans military es-
tablishment?
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
means ever faithful. 1t Is the motto
of the United States marine corps, and
no body of men ever lived up to tradl-
tiOns handed down for years with
greater fidelity than the officers and
men comprising this force.
Perform Many Duties.
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 aflOat and ashore. They
can plant mines, as we'll as build
bridges, and for quick landing and
operations ashore they have no SUI
periOrs.
On November 10, 1915, before sin
gle vessel of the navy was sent to sea,
the marine corps was organized by.
resolution of the Continental congress.
On December 13, 1776, congress d.
rected that 13 ships of war be built.
On the 22d day of the same month
congress passed resolution declar-
ing 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"
Win First Battle for Navy.
In the early part of 1777 a battalion
of 300 marines and landsmen, under
the command of Maj. 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 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 1912 the marines distinguished
themselves by the gallantry of their
conduct and their work in battle. In
the years that followed they saw ac-
tive service in the Florida war, in
Sumatra and in the West Indies.
From 1916 to 1S49 the corps was en-
gagged in the war with Mexico, where
1t figured in every quarter, and made
a most excellent record.