Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-06-25
The U. S. Marines
No Better Fighting Force In All The
World Today.
"SEMPER FlDELIS" ALWAYS FAITHFUL
Idea Of Marines Originated Before
Christian Era-First American Ma
rines Commanded by British Off
cers-Now Numbers About 50.O00


Christian Era-First American Ma
rines Commanded by British Off
cers-Now Numbers About 50.O0'
Men.
Philadelphia Ledger.
The marine as he is today wa;
thought OF centuries before the be'
ployment of infantry as part of th'
regular complement of war vessel:
was common TO the Phoenicians ant
to all the maritime states OF Greco,
a.400 years ago. Prior 10 that timt
the oarsmcn in the crude vessels wer,
also the fighting men of the ships. As
vessels increased In size the pcrsonnr
of ship OF war came To bc divided
into three distinct classcs-thc oars
men. charged with no other duty than
moving the vessel: the scamcn proper
charged with the management OF tho
ship generally. and the fighting men
The marine of today is the spiritual
descendant OF the latter class oi
ancient maritime warrior.
One OF the earliest accounts of the
exploits of these soldiers of the sea
deals with the battle of I.adc. about
497 b. c. The Ionian Greeks, revolt
ing. had their fleet drawn up nj tn,
small island OF I.adc. lying Off Milctus
where II wls discovered by the Per-
slams. In the ensuing battle the Les
han and Samian squadrons deserted
the people of those islands having
been won over To the Persian cause.
Others followed them. The account
of the bnttle written by HcrodotuS
says this: "Of those who remained
and fought none were so rudrly
handled as the Chians. They had
furnished to the common fleet more
than 100 ships. having each OF them
forty armed citizens on board, and
those picked mon. ScorninE Ia follow
the base example Of the traitors. they
fought desperately. till. overcome 10y
numbers. they were Obliged to seek
safety in flight" The same author.
sian naval force which accompanied
the army of NerXcs to Greece. states
that each vessel had on board, besides
native soldiers. thirty fighting men.
either Pcrsians. Mcdcs or Sacans.
The first marines in the United
States were part of the organization
of Great Britain. Three regiments
were raised, but the officers except
captains were all appointed by the
king Of England. while the enlisted
strength was made up of colonists.
When the infant United States went
about raising a marine corps, the
T2ngeSs as, .-1,-t - nd ss loM, VI
law authorizing the raising Of two
battaliOns containing the proviso tha
mo person he enlisted but such n
are good scamcn and so acquainted
with maritime affairs as TO bc able Il
serve with advantage by sea"
Since the Revolution American his
tory abounds with romantic tales o
the deeds of the corps. which ante
dates both the army and navy. Th'
marine corps Of the present day !:
larger than II has ever been before II
history. From Il force of 300 officer:
and about 5000 men. the corp
was authorized to expand to loo Oil
GERS and $4,000 men. In a very few
weeks il was necessary To refus" ap
plications for enlistment. The corp
had been filed.
The first of the corps's exploits rc
corded in authentic history occurrc'
May 1l.1S00. when the American
commodore, Talbot. commanding tn
West Indian squadron off San Do
French "lcttcr Of marquc" was lynn
in Port Platte. n small harbor on tn
Spanish side of the island Of San DO
mingO. determined to try to cut II"
out from other vessels. Commodor
Talbot placed detachment Of scamc
and marines on small America
sloop called the Sally, with Captain
Daniel Ca.mick in command of tn
marines. While Lieutenant Hull q
the navy. in command Of the scamcr
landed on the French vessel. Captai
Carmick landed his force Of marines
took the battery under whose protcc
tion the French ship lay and spike
all Of the guns.
Marines saw strange duty for thcr
| in 1905, during the war against Tri
poll, when. after march OF GO
mics. m, It of ii across desert lands
they participated in the spirited as
sault on the fortress at Derne. sThcr
they helped raise the American fla
over n fortress in the Old World 70
the first time in history.
In the war of 1872. American ma
rines continuously called attention (
themselves through their bravery an
| accomplishments. In November OF tn
| FIRST year of the war seventy marine
nnd sailors Joined $50 soldiers. crosse
into Canada, captured the British for
mt Rcd House. spiked the guns an
burned the quarters there. Marine
| assisted In the capture Of Fort Gcorg
from the British on April II OF tn
following year. Marines were landc
on Craney Island to rcpulsc the land
ing of the British in Chesapeake Ba,
Men of the corps took n brilliant par
in the defense OF Washington on Au
gust 81. 1914. until forced to retir'
They figured largely in the defense G
New Orleans on December .23 Of tn
same year.
Nine years later the versatile me
of the corps figured largely in tn
pursuit of pirates. then marrying tn
trade OF the young republic. Marine
and seamen were landed by the L.
s. Gallinipper near Escondido. on tn
coast OF Cuba, to pursue pirates VIII
had landed by the vessel Pilot. tn
pirates were taken. That occurred
April. Three months later marine
from the U. s. s. Greyhound, whic
was lying off Cape Cruz, Cuba, lande
L - 10 7 fatt