Evening star., 1950-11-09

LeaLnerneckS.
The picture is one Of 102 items
comprising an exhibition marking
the 175th anniversary of the Ma
r1ne Corps. The show, United
States Marines in Review, IT'S
$780," opens at noon tomorrow in
the Truxtun-Decatur Naval Mu-
scum, 1910 H street NV. It VIII
run through February 4. 1851.
The 1871 landing was made
near Inchon on the Han River
and was just as decisive as the
recent ones. A squadron under
Commodore John Rodgers stormed
Fort Ch'ojijin. The commodore
had opened negotiations for a
treaty with the Hermit King
dom." on whose coast several
American ships had been wrecked
and their crews killed. While
the negotiations progressed, the
American ships Monacacy and
Palos were fired on from the
fort and the Marines landed
In retaliation. after their de-
mand for an apology was re-
jected.s Their nissions was sue
cessful and Korea was opened to
the Western World.
The articles were displayed at
a preyiew last night for members
Of the Naval Historical Fpunda :
ton and other special guests. The.
display covers the high spots Of
the history Of, the corps since IT'S
organization, including principal
actions from the first amphibious
operation at New Providence
Island. the Bahamas, in March,
1776, to the latest at Inchon last
September.
Among the articles are Marine
uniforms from the Revolutionary
period to the present, complete
with swords, epaulets and head
gear.
One sword, circa 1905, is a relic
Of one Of the most famous of the
Marines exploits. the incident
which inspired the line 90. From
the Shores of Tripoli" in the
Marines battle hymn.
The description says the sword
was Presented by the State of
Virginia to her Gallant Son,
Presley N. O'Bannon, Lieutenant
U. S. M. c., in recognition of his
Assault and Conquest of the City
of Derne. in Africa. April 27,
1905"
The story is that in 1905, 1t.
OBannon, with seven enlisted
Marines. marched overland from
Egypt for so miles with a
motley and somewhat mutinous
army of allied Arabs, all COM
manded by the American General
Eaton.
O'Bannon aided in the assault
on the fortress of Derne, himself
pulled down the enemy flag and
hoisted that of the United States,
the first time that the American
flag had been raised in victory in
the Old World, for this achieve
ment, he received from Hamet,
then Pasha of Tripoli, the ivory
hilted saber on which the present
sword of the Marine Corps is
modelled.
Documents on Display.
Also displayed are historic docu-
ments, including the first commits
sion granted to naval officer, in
this case Marine; resolution
Of the Continental Congress au-
thorizing two Marine battalions:
Orders Of Capt. John Paul Jones
and Acts of Congress pertaining
to the Marines. aE
One case contains accurate
scale models of landing craft and
amphibious vessels typical of
those used by the Marines in
their operations.
The show will be open Tuesdays
through Fridays, from noon to
$50 pm; Saturdays, 1920 am.
to 4:30 pm, and Sundays from
1:30 pm. to $50 pm. It will be
closed Mondays. It is presented
by the Naval Historical Foun-
dation.
Gates Gets Congratulation.
Meanwhile, Charles C. Rails.
commander in chief of the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars and the
first Marine to hold the veterans
organizations top Office, yester-
day congratulated the Marine
commandant, Gen. Clifton B.
Gates, on the magnificent job
the corps has been doing in the
Korean battle against Commu-
mist aggression"
A major in the Marine reserve,
the VFW leader said his organiza-
'tion will continue to stress the
need of a minimum of four divi-
sions for the peacetime Marine
Corps and urged that each
branch Of the service have It's In
diVidual daY tn celohrata