Shanghai, Nov. 10. hundred and sixty-four years ago, on November 10, 1775, the United States Marine Corps sprang to life in the old Tun Tavern, a prominent hostelry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvani the first recruiting station for the two battalions of Marines ordered by the Continental Congress.
Thus the oldest branch of the United States services had its birth, nine months prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and in the 164 years of its existence the United States: Marine Corps has fought all over the world, its personnel never failing to acquit themselves honourably on the field of battle.
Unfortunately, historians. in_ those aaays were not as meticulous and at~ festive to detail er they might have tien and as a result only a fraymen-{ary account of the birth. ofthe Marine Corps tas been handed. down through the" years: Although few Authentic facts have been preserved itis definitely known that' the. fest {wo officers Yo be commissioned. the Marines were Captain Samuel Nichols and. Lieutenant Isaac' Craly. Captain Nichols commission, signed John Hancock, fs the oldest federal naval commission in existence today.
"Thirlysive years before the formation of the tio battalions of marines bythe Continental. Congress there Hina been formed the New York State Marines' andi later, in May, 173, eight Gonnecticut. marines, "ave. spirited find caulpped," were part of a relnforeing expedition which, went to the of hard-pressed Fort Tleonderoga. Mere old-timers are" frequently re-ferret to as "the original ight
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.