Evening star., 1921-12-04

of mounted marines and Royal Welch
Fusileers; detachment of horse
marines was hastily organized n
Peking, China. in February. lslz;
among the Chinese soldiery, and is
in existence today; horse marines IN
large numbers are operating In Santo
Domingo, Haiti, and Cuba; ana What
might be called mule marines RODE
mules in machine gun battalions DUR
ing the world war.
In 1916, when the virgin lsianos
were taken over. a battalion OF ma
rines was sent there as garrison
and have assisted greatly In the I'M
provement of the sanitary. educa-
tional and other civic matters. in ad-
dition to their military duties. A
marine officer, acting as aide to the
governor and legal adviser. has been
instrumental in improving civil con-
ditions in many ways.
While there have been few fso-
lated instances. as Is to be expected.
of failure by individuals to properly
perform duties in the large force OF
marines who have occupied Haiti and
Santo Domingo, the record Of the
marines in those two countries for
constructive work, sanitation, educa-
ton and moral uplift has been truly
remarkable, according to testimony
before a Senate investigating COM
mission of the marine there is merely
to preserve order and peace, the tre-
mendous amount of assistance they
have rendered to the Haitian people
over and above this military mis-
sion has never received proper rec
ognition.
In the performance of their military
mission they have cleared both OF
these countries of vicious bandits,
who, from time immemorial, have
preyed upon the people and domi-
mated political affairs. These coun-
tries are now as safe to travel in by
the natives as America is for Ameri-
cans. In this respect it should be
noted that while foreign lives have
always been safe in both of these
countries, it has always been unsafe
for the native population. The work
of the marines has thus been in the
interests of the. native population in
this regard.
A gendarmerie has been organized
in Haiti and a constabulary in Santo
Domingo. so that the natives can
thus assist in maintaining public or
der themselves. These native mill
tary organizations have been or
as the Philippine constabulary and
Pennsylvania constabulary. In both
countries they have conferred i'm
mense benefits upon the population
by their voluntary efforts to Improve
sanitation, agriculture, education, the
judiciary and in the building of roads.
These improvements have all been
accomplished by voluntary work and
persuasive efforts, since under the
law they are not authorized to make
decisions concerning them or to en-
force any desirable action.
Preserving order in times OF nre,
earthquake, riot and in the suppress
sion Of slave trade, piracy and SIM
liar outlawry in peace times, has
Marine Corps service to suffering
humanity.
The mutiny in the Massachusetts,
state prison. away back in 1894. when
the convicts broke loose. afforded
the Marine Corps an opportunity to
show its mettle. Maj. r. D. VAIN
wright, commanding ofacer of the
marines at the navy yard, was called
thirty marines, he gave the convicts
three minutes to surrender or be
shot. Despite the fact that the con-
victs were so numerous that they
could have overwhelmed the small
body of marines, the steady frmness
OF the latter's- course, and the strong
effect of deliberate determination
represented by the little band OF well
perate convicts.
THE great fire Of 1888 in New York
city again found the marines
under First Lieut.. John J. ReynoidA
cooperating with the city authors
ties. The gratitude OF the city was
ror.a0uanflv AxDnnanod In q yotA -oS