The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-14
twenty-five Leathernecks
Now Patrol Washing
toms Postal Stations.
MUST GUARD BAGS
WITH THEIR LIVES
DENLY Orders Men to Die
At Posts If Need
Be.

orders to shoot to kill" are pa
trolling Washington Union Station
and guarding local mali delivery
trucks and local postoffice stations
as part of the Marine offensive
launched yesterday by Secretary OF
the Navy DENLY and Postmaster
General Hays
Mai Gen. John A. Lejeune, COM
mandant OF the Marine Corps. late
saturday dispatched an army OF
1000 fighting "Devid Dogs" from
Quantico to al sections Of the ma
tion to guard the mails
The -pail must be delivered. OF
there must be q Marine dead at the
post Of duty" were /retary Dem
by's orders. given /ough Gen. Le-
jeune Saturday n/fIt as the forces
entrained.
Both Must shoot.
IF two Marines guarding q mai
car are suddenly covered by a rob-
Der, neither must hold up his hands
but both must begin shooting at
once. One may be KILLED. but the
other viii get the robber and save
the mail, read the message OF Sec
retary DENLY. who was a member
OF the Marine Corps during the war.
The Marine detail in charge of
the mails in this city is under the
command of Capt Jacob Lienhard.
according to Marine authorities at
ouantico. For the present the mail
guards will be quartered at the
Washington Navy Yard. but may
later be housed at points nearer
their posts. IL IL becomes necessary.
The lighting forces are today en-
route TO assignments in every Sec
ton OF the country. and within the
next twenty-four hours all United
Ststes mail trains will be under
guard by the Marines. completely
armed Detachments left here
throughout the day yesterday for
the locations assigned
Although the call to duty lacked
somewhat the thrill of war service.
the husky Devil Dogs" appeared
eager for the chance of action. and
the change from the tiring routine
of camp life, as they boarded trains
in the Union Station.
Nor did the forest-green-clad
veterans take their new assignment
lightly. IL was anticipation of ac-
tion, not of relief from monotony
of camp service. which shone in the
eyes of the armed squads as thew
a waited their trains.
Text of Denby's Order.
The order Of Secretary DENLY to
his men reads:
Men of the Mail Guard:
Il am proud that my old corps has
been chosen for a duty so honorable
and SO hard as that of protecting
the United States mail I am very
anxious that you shall successfully
accomplish your mission. 1t Is not
going TO be easy woris. 1t will al
ways be dangerous and generally
'iresome- You know how to do II.
Re sure you do II we'll I know Won
will neither fear nor shirk any
duty. however hazardous or ex-
acting.
This particular work will lack
the excitement and glamor OF war
duty, but IL will be no less impor-
tant. II has the same element Of
service to the country
shoot to XIII. Is Order.
I look with proud confidence to
YOU TO show now the qualities that
have made the corps SO welI-be-
loved by our citizens
You must be brave. as -ou al
ways are. You must be constantly
alert. You must when on guard
duty. keep your weapons in hand
and. II attacked shoot and shoot to
kill There Is no compromise in this
battle with bandits.
"If two Marines. guarding a mail
car. for example. are suddenly COW
cred by a robber. neither must
hold up his hands. but both must
begin shooting at once. One may
be killed. but the other will get the
robber and save the mail. That is
the spirit of the corps. When our
men go in as guards over mail.
that mall must be delivered or
there must be a Marine dead at the
post OF duty.
Must Look Out for Tricks.
TO be sure of success. every
Marine on this duty must be as
watchful as a cat. hour after hour,
night after night. week after week.
No Marine must drink a drop of in
toxicating liquor. Every Marine
must be most careful with whom
he associates and what his occu-
pations are OF duty. There may be
many tricks trid to get you and
YOU must not be tricked. Look
out for women. Never discuss the
of your duty with out
siders Never give up to another
the trust you are charged with
Never forget that the honor of
the corps Is in your keeping. You
have been given a great trust I
am confident you will prove that
IL has not been misplaced
II am. proud of you and I be-
Iieve in you with all my heart"