Evening star., 1939-11-05
Day of Commemoration This Week Has
Background of Deeds to Be Honored
Effective Branch of Military Forces Is
Linked With Story of Achievements
"In Every Cline and Place"
Rv FrnnkH Renffro

The United States Marines & Co.,
time -honored merchants of situa-
tions we'll in hand and kindred mar
tial commodities, this month are cele-
brating the 164th anniversary of
its birth. November 10 is set
aside each year as day of COM
memoration. At every far-flung out
post, at all barracks and aboard ship,
Marines stand in rigid formation
while an officer reads to them the
proclamation that brought them into
existence:
"Resolved, that two battalions
of Marines be raised, consisting of
one colonel, two lieutenant colo
nels, two majors, and other Off
GERS, as usual in other regiments;
that they consist of an equal
number of privates with other
battalions to serve for and
during our present war with
Great Britain that they be
distinguished by the names of
the First and Second Battahons
Of American Marines"
The Marine Corps was born No
vember 10, ITS, in Tun Tavern,
Philadelphia, hostelry where pa
triots gathered in dignified discus
sion and the local Masonic lodge held
its meetings. Recruiting was re-
tarded, for the Marines sought the
same type of man, determined and
unafraid, as was accepting service
with privateers. There was wealth
to be had in privateering; wealth in
q quantity that vastly overbalanced
the few shillings offered by the re-
cruiters of Tun Tavern.
But complex as was the beginning
. Marines were ready for action in a
comparatively short time. March 3,
1776, found 270 of them warping
their way in two sloops toward the
shores of New Providence. in the
Bahama Islands. The British had
quantities of powder stored in an
ancient fort there, and the Colonies
needed such supplies desperately. So
the Marines landed on the beach,
skirted the blue water, and cap
tured the fort with its precious
powder.
This was the first land encounter.
The following month, Marines par
ticipated in the first sea engagement
of the new Nation. They were in
the crews Of the Alfred and the
Cabot when these ships fell in with
H. M. S. Glasgow 1t. J. H. Wilson
of the Marines was killed early, in the
f1ght-the corps first casualty.
Land and Sea Service.
These incidents founded a long
career of glorious service on land
and sea. Since then, Marines have
been active in our every war, SUBJ
dued several instructions, and when
there was nothing else to do, took
part in 180 landing parties between
the years 1900 and 1884; which aver.
ages a little better than one each
year.
In 1893, the famous Marine Banc
was created. And the year following
Sergt. John Meredith marched g
squad of Marines into Washington, 6
sprawling, mud-soaked village thai
was later to be our Nations Capital
After suitable governmental delay
construction of the Marine Barrack,
on it's present site at Eighth and
streets Sc. was begun. There wa!
also built the commandments quar-.
ters at the north end of the garrison
This building still houses the Ma
rine Corps commandant, and stand!
as the oldest official building II
Washington.
Contemporary with these activi
ties, Marines at sea were encounter
ing hostility from their erstwhil'
ally. the French. Several sea battle
were fought, and the Marines &C
quilted themselves creditaby.
The first five years of the nev
century were fraught with disor
ders. The most Objectionable wa
an enterprising little nation on tn
north coast of Africa. It wa
called TripoN and it's chief revenu
was tribute extracted from Westerl
powers for the privilege of un
molested commerce. America, still
suffering economic distress, pai'
like the other countries, for tn
sum was less than would be the cos
of suppressing the practice by fore
of arms.
Caught Popular Fancy.
Then Chales Pinckney thundere,
out: millions for defense, but no
/ cent for tribute" The ringing
stalwart phrase caught the fancy o
the people and presently American
warships were cannonading tn
fortifications in Tripoli Harbor.
1t. O'Bannon and seven Marines
with a column Of friendly Arabs
marched some 600 miles across tn
marched desert and assaulted Qern