Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-14
Twenty-Five Heavily Arm
ed Sea Soldiers Now Pa
trolling Union Station
WILL SHOOT TO KILL
Secretary DENLY Issues Orders to
Men to Kill Robbers or Die at Their
Posts.

Twenty-Five armed Marines, with
orders to "shoot to kill" are patrol.
ling Washington Union Station anc
guarding local mail delivery trucks
and local postoffice stations, as part
of the Marine offensive launched yes
terday by Secretary of the Navy
Denby and Postmaster General Hays
Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeunc, com
mandant Of the Marine Corps, late
Saturday dispatched an army OF l.
600 figh Ng Devil Dogs" from
Quantico to NJ sections of the nation
10 guard the i,>pils.
"The mail mu,E be delivered, OF
there must be Marine dead 1t the
post Of duty" were Secretary DENLY $
orders, given through General Le-
icuae Saturday night rs the forces
cntr@ med.
IF two Marines guarding mail
car are suddenly covered by 4 rob
Der, neither must hold up his hands,
but both m2st begin shooting at once
One may be KILLED but the other will
get the robber. and save the mail,
read the MESA &c Of Secretary Den
BY, who was mtmber OF the Marine
Corps during the war.
The Marine detail in charge of the
mails in this city is under the COM
mand Of Capt. jacob Lienhard, &c,
cording to Marine authorities at
Quantico. For the present the mail
guards will be quartered at the
Washington Navy Yard, but may lat
er be housed at points nearer then
posts, if it becomes necessary.
The fighting forces are today eF
route to assignments in every section
Of the country, and within the next
- hours all United States 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 dusky Devil Dogs" appeared
eager for the chance OF action, and
the change from the firing routine
of camp life, as they boarded trains
in the Union Station.
Nor did the fores1-green-clad vet
Grams take their new assignment
lightly. 1t was anticipation Of action
not Of relief from monotony Of camp
service, which shone in the eyes OF
the armed squads as they awaited
their trains.
The order Of Secretary Denby tc
his men reads:
Men of the Mail Guard:
Il am proud that ms old corps has
been chosen for duty as honorable
and so hard as that of protecting
the United States mail. am very
anxious that you shall successful!
accomplish your mission. 1t is not
going to be easy WORK. 1t will al
ways be dangerous and generally
tiresome You know how to do it
Be sure you do it we'll. know you
will neither fear nor shirk any duty
however, hazardous or exacting.
This particular work will lacl
the excitement and glamor of wal
duty, but it will be no less impor
tant. 1t has the same element Of
service to the country.
~ look with proud confidence tc
you to show now the qualities that
have made the corps SO well-belovet
by our citizens.
"You must be brave, as you al
ways are. You must be constantly
alert. You must when on guart
duty, keep your weapons III hanc
and, if attacked, shoot and shoot tt
kill. There is no compromise in thi:
battle with bandits.
"If two Marines, guarding mai
car, for example, are suddenly COY
cred by a robber, neither must holc
up his hands, but both must begll
shooting at once. One may be kill
e,.. but the other will get the robbe1
ard save the mail That is the splrl
Of the corps. When our men go Il
as guards over mail, tnat mail mus
he delivered or there must be Ma
rjne dead at the post Of duty.
ITO be sure of success, every Ma
rine on this duty must be as watchfu
as cat, hour after hour, night afte
night, week after week. No Marin
must drink drop of Intoxicating Ii
quor. Every Marine must be mos
careful with whom he associates ant
what his occupations are off duty
There may be many tricks tried t
get you and you must not be tricked
Look out for women. Never discus
the details Of Your duty with outsid
ers. Never give up to another tn
trust you are charged with.
Never forget that the honor Q
the corps is in your keeping. Io
have been given great trust. | al
confident you will prove shat il ha
not been misplaced.
q am proud OF YOU and ! belieT
in you with all my heart.