MARINES OF CHINA

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1936, Page 10

MARINES OF CHINA

WORK OF THE CORPS. Leading a life of extraordinary ad- ' venture and continuous combat, a picturesque little army has been campaigning in China for a decade and still remains almost unknown, writes A. J. Billingham in the “New York ’rimes.” This organisation, the Chinese Marine Corps, is so small, and the manner in which it has accomplished its difficult tasks has been so quietly efficient, that only recently has it been attracting attention. Neglected by a heedless nation, these Chinese “leathernecks” have been steadily amassing traditions and a reputation for valorous achievements. China, with its far-flung borders, many divisions of languages and customs, numerous military organisations, and the continual movements of more than two and a-half million men under arms, is undoubtedly the only country in the world where such a colourful little force could be so ignored.

The Chinese Marine Corps was organised about ten years ago for the purpose of combating the organised bands of pirates along the China coast, which were proving to be a tremendous handicap to shipping in China waters. At that time pirates’ methods were very different from those customarily employed now, and the suppression of the sea-robbers was presenting a knotty problem. The pirates had their strongholds in places along the coast and upon the adjoining islands, which were inaccessible from the sea by vessels of more than the lightest draught. Their acts of piracy were performed upon the China Sea, usually by pursuing, boarding, and capturing their prizes in hand-to-hand combat.

T'he marines, organised in two brigades, proved effective against them. One brigade was divided into detachments and stationed aboard small hut fast pirate-suppression vessels, and the other was divided and posted at intervals along the coast. Both groups were constantly on the look-out for pirates, and by co-oper-ating they usually succeeded in capturing the marauders “red-handed” upon the open sea. If tfie detachment afloat failed in its mission, the “leathernecks” joined forces and raided the lairs upon land, recovering loot and liberating captives held for ransom.

This procedure is still carried out, but with only about half the former number of marines. Old-fashioned piracy has practically disappeared from Eastern waters, but marines along the coast give valuable assistance to small towns and fishing villages.

FIGHT WITH COMMUNISTS It was while the marines were engaged in sea-policing that their latent abilities were recognised.. Since their organisation they have never been inactive. What probably was their most difficult and important assignment was given to them during the anti-Com-' munist campaign in the province of Kiangsi. Chiang Kai-shek, who was directing the hostilities, chose the marines above all the armies in China for the highly dangerous and important task of guarding the railroad which extends from the city of Kuikiang on the Yangtze to Nanchang, the Kiangsi, capital. This line was the route for Government supplies into the province. The marines were surrounded by Reds many times their own number, but they never wavered. For nearly four years they fought the determined Communists almost continuously. The latter made repeated attacks, attempting to-capture the railroad and “bot- 1 tie” Chiang’s armies in Kiangsi. But

the marines kept the railroad clear for the Nanking Government. Since that time one brigade of the marines has remained in the field against Communists. It is now fighting beside the regular anti-Commun-ist troops, which are slowly driving the Reds out of the Szechuan Mountains.

The Chinese Marine Corps numbers only a. little more than 6000 men. All of the men are trained in the Naval 'Training Station at Mamoi, in Fukien Province, where they undergo a course in seamanship as well as in land service. Chinese marines enlist for no definite period; they usually stay until discharged because of old age or physical disability. Casualties are replaced from a reserve battalion always in training at Mamoi. The corps, even though small, is a complete little army in itself. Each brigade has its own artillery, its machine-gun companies, its cavalry unit, and a special service detachment. This last includes all manner of specialists, from blacksmith and clerks to radio experts and civil engineers. The corps has its own medical department, which includes not only doctors and hospital corpsmen but nurses. Chinese marines receive very little pay, the monthly salary of a private being £2 in Chinese money, or about 12/- English, a sum hardly sufficient to keep an American marine in cigarettes. Captains receive £l6 in Chinese money, and lieutenants £8 10/-. Nurses are placed in two categories, apprentice and trained.