Yesterday I wrote about a peace keeping effort that included the Marines, one that took place 25 years ago. Today I am going to write about a peace keeping effort that took place in 1899.
During that year, a rebellion errupted on the Island of Samoa. The Marines suppressed that rebellion. Having completed that task, a group of Marines planned to furnish the garrison for the naval station at Cavite, near Manila.
As the Marines discussed their plans, a group of Filipinos spurred creation of an insurrection. The Marines on the Phillipines got orders to help others as the Phillipine leaders sought to restore order.
The mission of those Marines led to use of the term “bloody Samar.” An entire column of Marines was lost during a single month of fighting. The few Marines who survived were found and rescued had only tatters for clothing.
Tomorrow I will write about a country that might yet see a second force of Marines land there on a peace keeping mission. Tomorrowy I am going to write about a past peace keeping mission in China.
