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Show "HORSE MARINES" ARE A STERN REALITY In spite of the fact that the ordinary old-time application of . term "horse marines" manufactured or repeated to annoy the Marine Corps, who, when aboard ship, of course, are not mounted, mount-ed, "Horse Marines" are now actually actu-ally an integral part of the 'United States Marine Corps, according to Sergeant George C. Geraty, of the local: Marine Corps recruiting station . in the Knight block. The American Marines, however, by no means have the monopoly of this sobriquet. We read of "horse marines," ma-rines," serving with Ahe British fleet in Lord Howe's vlrtory of June 1, 1794, and British "horse marines" did some severe fighting on the West Indian In-dian station in 1795. .v The "horse marine" ma-rine" Joke was anticipated in France as far back as 1659, in spite of the fact that she never had an organized corps of marines on shipboard, . The "horse marines" joke is now a feeble one, inasmuch as the present day U. S. Marine Corps has actual for and employs many horses In Its variod service the world over. When ashore marine field officers are mounted, as in army regiments, and all Marine Corps officers are now required to be proficient in horsemanship. horseman-ship. Mounted patrols of Marines are used in navy yards at home, at naval stations in our foreign possessions, and at American legations abroad. Onljr recently, mounted detachments of Marines proved very useful In ridding rid-ding Haitian jungles of bandits. "Marine "Ma-rine Corps artillery has need for horses to draw their, field pieces, and for fire control and reconnaissance de-toils. de-toils. The need of instruction in horsemanship horse-manship has been felt by Marine Corps officials to such an extent that regular equitation classes for officers and enlisted men are today being conducted con-ducted at Quantlco, Va., training school. It Is a safe bet that if a force of American Marines were left over night In the vicinity of a corral full of horses, by morning they would have a complete cavalry force. - There's the seahorse, and the horse-' fish, that odd. little fish with a head like a horse; Captain Jinks had, his "horse marines" ; and we recall the Vhorse marines,' -or- marine borse, fabulas animals constituting Father Neptune's team; but you can't class them with the real "horse marines" of todaj. . . , , |
