Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-01

pended in baskets waiting to be
dropped on their heads were tons
of rocks. The marines climbed like
mountain goats and surprised the
garrison.
Destroyed Enemy Position.
The men in this march overcame
incredible difficulties and dangers"
Maj. Waller said. THE positions
they destroyed must have taken sew
eral years to prepare. No
white troops had ever penetrated
to these positions. 80 The cliffs
were of soft stone Of volcanic origin,
in the nature Of pumice. It cut
the mems shoes to pieces. Many
Of them were barefooted. - ="
Then came the terrible trek across
the island to establish trail along
which to run telegraph wires to
connect the two coasts. The ex-
petitions started in boats, but swirl
ing rapids at Lagitao forced aban-
donment. For two days they stunD
bled through rain-soaked wilds. Ra-
tons began running low. Over
mountains and almost impossible
jungles they cut their way. Finally
they stumbled on a native clearing
and subsequently were rescued.
A relief column, which had set
out to find them, however, now was
lost. 1t is known as the "lost bat
talon Of Samar." After an almost
incredible march. men became "ema-
ciated skeletons" Feet were torn,
many dropped out and died along
the trail. {.
Still another relief column found
the men. At the prospect of res
cue, some went stark mad, others
broke down and wept Historically.
They were given a mission, they
completed 1t and to those Marines
that was all that mattered.
Story Of Wake Island.
The story of Col. Devereux, then a
major. is the story of Wake Island.
1t concerns a gallant little band Of
378 Marines who held out for Is
days against overwhelming odds
and before succumbing had sunk q
light cruiser. three destroyers. q
gunboat, a submarine and six air
planes. Their last message was:
Send us more Japs."
Death and honor came to Capt.
Fleming and Maj Henderson at
Midway. When Maj. Henderson last
was seen he was diving his bomber
at Japanese carrier. A corporal
along in another plane said he dived
straight down the stack.
Capt. Fleming, like Maj Hender-
son, flew out to intercept the Jap
anese fleet. He spotted a carrier
through break in the clouds and
went down to 300 feet. He released
his bombs, hung around long enough
to see them land squarely on the
fight deck. then scooted for home
with Zeros buzzing on his tail.
Sank Jap Carrier.
A few hours later, although suf-
fering an arm wound, the captain
left on his last fight. He scored
near miss on Jap battleship. In
this attack his plane was fired by
anti-aircraft fire, but despite the
flames he led his squadron in still
another attack on a carrier. He
dived almost to the decks before
releasing his deadly cargo. The
carrier sank. Capt. Fleming is
believed to have been wounded again
in this attack and last was seen
crashing into the sea.
The exploits Of this war, however,
do not overshadow the heroism of
Marines In the World War or any
other action for that matter.
There is the story, now legend,
Of Capt. Lloyd w. Williams. The
French we're retreating June 3. 1918,
and as they inflltrated through the
lines of the Americans a French
major of chasseurs, whose own
forces had been badly cut up. hastily
scrubbed a note and handed it to