The Marines Have Landed Page 5

  CHAPTER IV

  SEMPER FIDELIS--ALWAYS FAITHFUL

  The actions of Dick Comstock for the next few days were clothed inmystery so far as his own immediate family was concerned, for he kepthis own counsel as to his movements when away from home. Even his sisterUrsula was not taken into his confidence. In the meantime the day ofGordon Graham's departure for Annapolis arrived, and his friends went tothe station to give him a proper send-off.

  Ursula and Dick were there, also Donald, Robert and Tommy Turner andmany of Gordon's classmates, of whom Dick was the closest friend.

  "I still wish you were going, Dick," said Gordon sadly when the expresspulled in under the train shed. "It will be fearfully strange downthere with none of the old crowd around. Have you made any plans yetregarding what you are going to do?"

  "Not fully," answered Richard. "I expect to be leaving town in a day ortwo, though."

  "Where are you going?" inquired Gordon in surprise. But Ursulaapproached them at that moment, and Dick gave a warning signal forsilence which Gordon saw and understood.

  "Good-bye, Gordon," she said prettily, and Gordon suddenly regrettedthat so many of the boys and girls were there to bid him farewell. Hewould have much preferred to say his adieus to Ursula with no otherspresent. Strange he never before realized what a beautiful girl she hadbecome, with her blue eyes looking straight out at one from under theblack eyebrows and the hair blowing about her delicately tinted cheeks.

  "A-l-l A-b-o-a-r-d!" rang the voice of the conductor, standing watch inhand ready to give the starting signal to the engineer. The porterswere picking up their little steps and getting ready to depart.

  "Good-bye, Ursula," said the lad simply, wringing her hand with aheavier clasp than he knew, and though he nearly crushed the bones, shenever gave the least sign of the pain he was causing her; perhaps shedid not really feel it.

  "Kiss me, Gordon," cried his mother, as she threw her arms around him."Don't forget to write immediately on arriving."

  "Come on, my son, time to jump aboard," cautioned his father in asuspiciously gruff tone, and in a moment more Gordon mounted the stepswhere from the platform of the moving train he stood waving his hat infarewell.

  "Give him the school yell, fellows," shouted Tommy Turner at the top ofhis lungs, and with that rousing cry ringing in his ears Gordon Grahamstarted on life's real journey.

  That same evening while Dick's father was engaged with some businesspapers, the boy came quietly into the room.

  "Father, may I interrupt your work for a little while?" he inquired.

  "Nothing important, Dick, my boy," answered Mr. Comstock, laying asidethe document he was reading; "what can I do for you?"

  "Mother has just told me you are going to New York to-morrow; is thatso?"

  "Yes, I have business there for the firm. Why?"

  "I was hoping I might go along with you," returned the boy.

  Dick's father scrutinized his son's face for a moment, wondering whatwas behind the quiet glance and serious manner of the lad.

  "What is the big idea?" questioned Mr. Comstock. "Want to spend a weekor two with Cousin Ella Harris?"

  "No," replied Dick slowly, "I have something else in mind, but I don'twant to tell you what it is until we get on the train. It's a matter Ihave been thinking over for some time and--well, you will know all aboutit to-morrow, if I may go with you."

  "Very well," replied his father, turning again to his work; "pack up andbe ready to leave in the morning. We'll take the ten o'clock express."

  "Good-night, Dad, and thank you," said Dick simply.

  "Good-night, Dick," answered Mr. Comstock, without looking up,consequently he failed to see the lingering look the boy gave thefamiliar scene before him, as if bidding it a silent last "good-night."For Dick was drinking in each detail of the room as if trying to fix itsevery feature indelibly in his memory.

  At breakfast next morning he was more quiet than his mother had everknown him, and both she and his sister Ursula were surprised to see thetears fill his eyes when he kissed them.

  "I never knew you to be such a big baby, Dick," said Ursula. "If youfeel so bad about leaving us why did you ask Father to take you on for avisit with Cousin Ella?" Although Dick had not said that this was hisobject in going away, it was a natural inference on Ursula's part, andas he vouchsafed no reply to the contrary she consequently watched himdepart with a light heart.

  In the crowded train Mr. Comstock and Richard succeeded finally ingetting a seat to themselves, and while his father finished reading themorning paper, Dick spent his time in looking out the car window at thefamiliar sights along the road. But before long he was talkingearnestly.

  "Dad, I've decided what I want to do," he began, "but I can't do itunless I get your consent."

  "What's on your mind, son?" said Mr. Comstock, folding his paper andsmiling at the boy beside him. "Go ahead and I will pay closeattention."

  "If I went to Annapolis," Dick observed, "I'd finish my course there atthe age of twenty-one, shouldn't I?"

  "Yes, the course is four years at the Naval Academy."

  "It would be the same if I went to West Point. In other words, by thetime I was twenty-one years old I would, if successful at eitherinstitution, be either an ensign or a second lieutenant, as the casemight be!"

  "Quite true," remarked Mr. Comstock, still unable to comprehend wherethis preliminary fencing was leading.

  "Have you ever heard of the United States Marine Corps?" asked Dickafter the silence of a second or two.

  "Most certainly I have," was the reply. "The marines figure in nearlyevery move our country makes in one way or another. They are alwaysbusy somewhere, though they get but little credit from the generalpublic for their excellent work. I am not as familiar with theirhistory as I should be--as every good American who has his country'swelfare at heart should be, I might add, though perhaps I know a littlemore about them than a vast majority. Were it not for the marines ourfirm would have lost thousands of dollars some years ago when therevolutionists started burning up the sugar mills and the cane fields inCuba. Our government sent a few hundred marines down there in a rushand they put a stop to all the depredations in a most efficient manner.The presence on the premises saved our mill beyond a doubt. But, how dothe marines figure in this discussion? You don't mean----"

  "Well, you see, it's this way," said the boy, and now his words nolonger came slowly and haltingly, "I've made up my mind to become aMarine Officer, and if I can't do it by the time I'm twenty-one, then myname isn't Richard Comstock."

  "Bless me! How do you propose going about it, Dick? As I have toldyou, there is no chance of going to the Naval Academy this year, and Iunderstand that all marine officers are appointed to the Corps fromamong Annapolis graduates. For that reason I do not believe youhave----"

  "Excuse me, Dad, but that's just where you are mistaken. All the marineofficers don't go through the Naval Academy. Some of them enlist and goup from the ranks. They win their shoulder straps on their own merit.That's what I expect to do if you will only give me the chance. And youwill, won't you, Dad?" Dick's voice trembled with eagerness as he putthe momentous question.

  A few moments elapsed before his father answered and when he beganspeaking he reached out and gently placed his hand over that of his son.

  "Evidently you have been looking into this matter thoroughly. I knownow what has been keeping you so silent these last few days. Isuspected you were grieving over your disappointment at my inability tosend you to the Naval School or possibly over the departure of yourchum, Graham, but I might have known my boy was using his time to betteradvantage than 'crying over spilled milk.'"

  Mr. Comstock paused a moment and then continued:

  "I know how your mind is wrapped up in a military career, Dick. Eversince you were a little shaver you have played at military and navalmimic warfare. You love it, and I believe you would become a goodofficer so
me day with proper training. Anything I may honorably do forthe attainment of your desires and your advancement I am but too willingto undertake. But, my boy, I am not sure of the advisability ofpermitting you to become an ordinary enlisted man with that uncertaintyof ever gaining your point--I imagine it is a more or less uncertainproposition. Besides, Dick, you are pretty young to be allowed to startout on such a hard life. The career of an enlisted man is not a bed ofroses--full of trials and temptations of all kinds. At West Point orAnnapolis you will be given kind treatment and be under carefulsurveillance for four years and not subjected to the roughness anduncouthness which must attend a start in the ranks. In another yearthere may be an opening for you at either place. However, I will notdeny your request until I have looked further into the case. I amafraid your mother would never hear of such a thing for her only boy.Why not wait and consult her regarding it?"

  "I'll tell you why, Dad," began Dick, launching again into his subjectat once so as to press home the slight advantage he believed he hadgained, "on the Fourth of July I'll be seventeen years of age. Motherdidn't happen to think of that, or she would have made me wait a fewdays before going to Cousin Ella's, where she believes I have gone. Youknow, Dad, that for years I've been able to blow a bugle and handle thedrumsticks better than any other boy in town. Well, last week, when wewere on board the _Nantucket_, I saw some young boys belonging to theMarine guard of the ship, and I found out all about them. Why, theywere smaller than Tommy Turner!

  "It appears that there is a school for musics[#] at the Marine Barracksin Washington, D.C., where boys between the ages of fifteen andseventeen are given training. They enlist to serve until majority, butoften after they have served a short time as drummer or trumpeter theyget permission to change their rank and become privates. This puts themin line for promotion to the rank of corporal and sergeant. I've beentalking with Tommy's uncle, and he was kind enough to have me meet anofficer of Marines stationed at the Navy Yard back home, who recentlycame from recruiting duty. That officer, Lieutenant Stanton is his name,told me that the Corps is filled up just now, and all enlisting stopped,so that my only chance to get in right away would be in this school formusics. In two days more I'll be too old to get in. I knew if Iproposed the subject at home, Mother would offer such objections that Ijust couldn't refuse to do as she wished. Therefore I've packed up andleft home for good. Dad, you--you won't stop me, will you? You'll giveme this chance? I've set my heart on it so much!"

  [#] In the Army and Marine Corps drummers and trumpeters are generallycalled "musics." On board ship the sailor man who blows the trumpet iscalled a "bugler." The school for Marine Corps musics is now located atParis Island, S.C. (1919)

  Dick stopped talking. It was the longest extemporaneous speech he everhad made in his life, and as he watched his father's face, he wonderedif he had said too much or not enough!

  Once again a long silence ensued, while Mr. Comstock reviewed all theboy had said. What should he do? To deny Dick's request might be thevery worst step he possibly could take, for he knew the process ofreasoning by which this purposeful, upright son of his arrived at hisconclusions. He believed thoroughly in his son, and wanted to make nomistake in his decision.

  "Let us go in to luncheon, Dick, and give me a little time to think thisover. It is a little sudden, you know, and should not be gone intounwisely."

  During the meal John Comstock questioned Dick closely regarding thissubject uppermost in the minds of both. He saw that the lad was bentupon carrying out his project; that the boy had given it carefulthought; that he had weighed its advantages and disadvantages with moreacumen than most boys of his age.

  Richard was a good student, and not for a moment did the father doubtthat his son if given the opportunity would win his commission.

  "Was it your idea to go to the New York recruiting station to-day on ourarrival?" asked Mr. Comstock, when they resumed their seat in the daycoach.

  "Yes, Dad, for if I enlist in New York the government sends me toWashington and pays my way there."

  "I have a better plan than that," said his father. "I will let mybusiness in New York wait on my return, and we will both go toWashington this afternoon, and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.To-morrow I will go to the Commandant of the Marine Corps with you,armed with a letter of introduction, and we will talk it over with him.In this way I shall have a much clearer and more authoritative view ofyour prospects. Then if you get by the physical examination and areaccepted I shall be able to see for myself how and where you will befixed."

  "Then I may go? You will allow me?" cried Richard, almost jumping outof his seat in his enthusiasm. "You are just the finest Dad in theworld! And what is best of all about your plan is that Mother will beless worried if you are able to tell her everything as you see it."

  "That is one of my chief reasons for going about it in this way,"quietly remarked his father. "I know she will be heart-broken at first,and probably will accuse me of being an unworthy parent; so, my boy, itis a case of how you manage your future, which must prove to her that weboth acted for your best interests."

  "I'll work hard; I don't need to tell you that, Father," Dick replied.

  On arriving in New York they hastened across the city, luckily makinggood connections for Washington, and the following morning the scheduleas planned was begun.

  It was Richard's first visit to the capital, and consequently everythinghe saw interested him. The wonderful dome of the Capitol building; thetall white shaft of Washington Monument, the imposing architecture ofthe State, War and Navy Departments, the broad streets, the beautifulparks and circles with their many statues, all claimed his attention.

  After securing the letter of introduction, Mr. Comstock first tookRichard to the Navy Department where, on inquiry, they found that MarineCorps Headquarters was in a near-by office building. The originalstructure built for the Navy was even then getting too small for thebusiness of its many bureaus. The building they sought was but a fewsteps away, and their route led them directly past the White House, theofficial residence of the President of the United States.

  While on their journey they saw but few persons in uniform. Even in theNavy Building there was a decided absence of officers or men in thedress of their calling. This seemed very odd to the boy, as he alwayspictured in his imagination the "seat of the nation" was gay withuniformed officials of his own and other countries.

  "Why is it, Father, you see so few uniforms in the capital?" heinquired.

  "I am not positive I am right," replied Mr. Comstock, "but the Americanofficers, soldiers and sailors object to wearing their military clothesexcept when they are actually required to do so.[#] Our nation is sodemocratic that they believe it makes them appear conspicuous.Furthermore, in uniform they are often discriminated against,particularly in the case of enlisted men. This is one of the reasonswhy a better class of men do not go into the service--they consider thewearing of a uniform belittles them in the eyes of the public."

  [#] Previous to the war with Germany officers of the United Statesservices were not required to wear uniforms when off duty and outsidetheir ship or station. Enlisted men were also permitted to wear civilianclothing while on liberty, under certain restrictions. Civilianclothing was generally called "cits" by those in service.

  "I think a uniform is the best kind of clothing a fellow can wear. I'llbe mighty proud of mine, and never will be ashamed of it."

  "In Europe," continued Dick's father, "a soldier is looked upon in adifferent light, depending to a great extent in what country he serves.They are honored and usually given every consideration, or at least theofficers are, and particularly in Germany, where militarism is the firstword in culture. The United States, on the other hand, maintains such asmall and inadequate army and navy that our men in uniform are reallymore like curiosities to the people than anything else."

  "But there are a lot of men in uniform back home," Dick remarked.

  "Yes, enlisted m
en, seldom officers. The reason is, the proximity ofseveral army forts, a navy yard and the frequent visits of themen-of-war in our harbor. So we at home are familiar with the differentbranches of the service; but it is far from being the case in mostcities of our republic," answered Mr. Comstock.

  They were now approaching the building wherein the headquarters of theMarine Corps were located, when Dick exclaimed:

  "Look, Father! There are some marines now; aren't they simply great?"

  Two stalwart men in uniform were crossing the street just ahead of thespeaker. In their dark blue coats piped in red, with the five shinybrass buttons down the front and yellow and red chevrons on the arms,trousers adorned with bright red stripes and blue caps surmounted by theCorps insignia over the black enameled vizors, they were indeed a mostattractive sample of the Marine Corps non-commissioned officer at hisbest.

  "It's their regular dress uniform," Dick announced, "and I think it'sthe best looking outfit I have ever seen, but, Dad, you should see theofficers when they get into their full dress!"

  "Where did you pick up all your knowledge of their uniforms, Dick?"asked his father curiously.

  "Oh, Tommy Turner made his uncle show them all to us. You see, hestayed in the Corps for some years after the Spanish War, and he hasalways kept his uniforms. He believes that some day he may need themagain if ever the United States gets into a big fight, and if that timecomes he is going back into the marines."

  Following the two non-commissioned officers into a tall structure, Mr.Comstock and Richard were whisked up several stories in an elevator andfound themselves before an opened door upon which were the words, "Aideto the Commandant."

  A young man in civilian dress rose as they entered and inquired theirbusiness, which Mr. Comstock quickly explained.

  "Sit down, sir, if you please, and I will see if the General can talkwith you," he said.

  They did as directed, while the young man disappeared into an adjoiningroom. A few moments later he returned and motioned for them to followhim.

  "What may I do for you, Mr. Comstock?" inquired a large, handsome,gray-haired gentleman standing behind the desk when they entered. Hetoo was in civilian clothes, but despite the fact, looked every inch thesoldier he was known to be.

  Mr. Comstock introduced Richard to the General and then told him thereason of his visit.

  "My boy is anxious to become a marine, and I have promised to look intothe necessary preliminary steps. I understand that you are notrecruiting just at present, but we were told that possibly my son wouldbe taken into the Corps as a bugler or drummer."

  "Yes, we do take boys in for training as field musics," said theGeneral, glancing at Dick for a moment, "but your son, I fear, is tooold; the ages for this class of enlistment are from fifteen to seventeenyears, and judging by the lad's size he already passed the age limit."

  "He is very nearly, but has yet a few hours of grace," replied Mr.Comstock. "He will be seventeen to-morrow, and I was hoping that youmight enlist him to-day. My son's object in going into the Corps is towork for a commission. That is one of the inducements which I understandthe Corps offers its enlisted personnel, is it not?"

  "You are right, Mr. Comstock; at the present time our officers are takenfrom graduates of the Naval Academy or from the ranks. There have beentimes when civilian appointments were allowed, but the law has now beenchanged."

  "In that case then, could you take my boy into your organization? Heunderstands that his advancement depends entirely on his own merit, andhe has taken a decided stand as to what he intends to do and has my fullconsent to try it."

  "Does he also understand that the number of officers appointed from theranks are few, and picked for their exceptionally good records andability, and that he serves an apprenticeship until he is twenty-oneyears of age?" inquired the Commandant.

  "Yes, sir," answered Richard, speaking for the first time.

  "Why do you not enter the Naval Academy, young man, and after graduationcome into the Corps?" asked the General, looking at Dick with his sterneyes.

  "Well, sir, I failed to get the appointment at the last minute."

  "Do you also realize there are many unpleasant things connected with thelife of an enlisted man, and are you prepared to meet them?"

  "Yes, sir, and I believe I can make good."

  "I like your spirit, young man," said the General approvingly; "themotto of the Marine Corps is '_Semper Fidelis_--Always Faithful,' and tobe a true marine you must bear that motto in mind at all times and underall conditions, if it is your hope to succeed in the service."

  He now turned to Dick's father:

  "Ordinarily, Mr. Comstock, our young men are held at the school for afew days before we complete their enlistment in order that they may getan idea of the life and duties to which they are about to bindthemselves when taking the oath of allegiance. In your son's case, Ibelieve he knows what he wants, and he is the kind of young man we wishto get. Were he compelled to wait according to our usual custom hewould be past the age limit, consequently I will further your desiresand arrange to have him sworn into service immediately, providing hepasses the surgeon's examination. I will give you an order to theCommanding Officer of the Marine Barracks which will answer yourpurpose."

  Saying this he gave the necessary directions to the aide, who hadremained standing near by, and a little later Dick and his father wereon a street car bound for the barracks, where the School for Musics waslocated. Arriving there they soon found themselves in the presence ofthe colonel commanding the post, who, on reading the instructions of theCommandant, looked the boy over with an approving eye.

  "I reckon you will be about the tallest apprentice we have here," hesaid, and calling an orderly directed him to escort Dick to theexamining surgeon, and invited Mr. Comstock to sit and await the result.

  The Marine Corps is primarily organized for service with the Navy,though this has by no means been its only function in the past, norlikely to be in the future. On many occasions the Corps has actedindependently and also with the Army, which is provided for in thestatutes. Being attached to the Navy and operating with it at NavyYards, Naval Stations and on board ship its medical officers aresupplied by the Navy, for the Corps maintains no sanitary service of itsown.

  The Navy surgeon gave the lad a very thorough examination, one even morethorough than usual, and after Dick had been passed and departed heremarked to his assistant:

  "That boy is one of the finest specimens of the American youth I haveever examined. He is so clean limbed and perfectly muscled that it wasa joy to look at him."

  After this visit, Dick, with the attendant orderly, returned to theoffice of the Commanding Officer.

  "Well, the surgeon states you are all right," said Colonel Waverly,having glanced at the slip of paper the orderly handed him; "you arequite positive that you wish to undertake the obligation, young man?"

  "Quite, sir," was Dick's laconic response.

  "Very well," and the Colonel then called loudly for the Sergeant Major."Sergeant Major, this young man is to be enlisted as an apprentice atonce. Make out the necessary papers."

  Fifteen minutes later, with his right hand held high, his head proudlyerect, Richard Comstock took the solemn oath of allegiance to hiscountry, which so few young men seriously consider as they repeat itsimpressive vows, and with the final words he graduated to man's estate.