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Long Beach, Calif., May 4, 1935.
MARINE DETACHMENT ISSUE
Number XVII
THE U. S. MARINE CORPS
Great Britain, having the first
modern naval organization, was the
first to form units of marines as they
are known today. They were men accustomed
to the sea and qualified in
other respects to perform the tactical
missions for which marines were
then, and are now destined, i. e., first,
to help fight a ship; second, to capo.
ture and hold land approaches of a
harbor to be used by naval vesii\ els;
and third to furnish a small compact
unit for offensive action, generally
refered to as a landing force.
Among • the first Federal troops
authorized by Continental Congress,
were two battalions of Marines, organized
in November, 1775 and used
to good effect during the Revolutionary
War.
In the Navy of today, the Marines
fullfill the same tactical missions as
did Marines of the past. They man
the secondary batteries, on first and
second class ships.~ ach year since the
War of 1898, they have served in the
protection of American lives and property,
or assisted in naval actions.
The places and 0 c cas ion s are
too numerous to mention more than
sketchily: 1899- Phillippine insurection
and Samoan uprising; 1900Phillippines
and Peking; 1901 and
1902- uprising on the island of Samar
and a landing force at Panama;
1903- Santo Domingo and Korea;
1904- Panama ( the forming or the
Republic); 1906 to 1909- Cuban Army
eoatinued on paKe four
BLAINE WASHINGTON
As Blaine, Washington has been
designated as our 4th of July port,
what' information on hand is published
for information of all hands:
Situated on the Canadian Border.
Population approximately 2500.
It is 1237 miles from San Diego
and 130 miles from Seattle.
We are due to arrive on 3 July and
depart 5 July.
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THE GUNNERY OFFICER SAYS:
" Now that the Gunnery year has
ended with '!- he Houston well up among
the leaders, the ensuing few
months are to be utilized in polishing
up on many of the things that go to
make up a real fighting ship. Toward
that end may be expected Landing
Force Drill and a chance to familiarize
ourselves with the Landing
Guns and the new 37 mm Gun, recently
received on board. Also, with
the construction of our new back
stop, small- bore sharks will have a
chance to tryout their eyes. To those
who are not familiar with Rifle and
Machine guns, due instructions will
be given, as well as an opportunity
to fire through the Small- bore Course.
There is to be no let- down in the
large state of efficiency which constant
drill and hard work has brought
us. Short, snappy drills will be held,
and all hands are expected to keep
on their toes, so that when the new
gunnery year begins, we can hang up •
a score for all others to shoot at."
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SeDd the BLUE BONNET hom..
WANDERING
The rattle of the chains up thru the
hause- pipes of a ship, outward bound,
destination unknown, is a definite
sensation, a pleasant one, for those
who dislike the same streets, the
same haunts for relaxation, liberty
after liberty. The old attraction of
new places is one that seldom grows
old for a man without ties. Going is
often confused with leaving. There is
something final about the first surge
of the screws; all ties are broken irrevocably
for the time at least. Memories,
the only reward of the wanderer
when wandering is done, are better
for a little age and much contrast.
Surely an itinerary with more contrasts
than that of this ship since
commissioning would be hard to
imagine.
Southampton, with it's traditional
rain, lack of restraurants, left- handed
traffic and bar curfews, is followed by
Rotterdam, a port busy with strange
small craft and ocean going vessels,
outlet for the trade of central Europe,
cobble stones and the Skeedam
Skeedyke, toughest street in any land.
Then Le Havre, shipping port for
Paris and for the Houston tourists,
the beginning of a 7 hour trip to
Paris; Paris the home of the " Cocotte"
and the Mona Lisa, the former no
less advertised than the latter, altho
the valuation is very different. Many
will remember the " Palais de Glaces"
with it's feminine decorations surrounded
by mirrors. Then home for
Christmas holidays and the telling of
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