Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 06.djvu/154

This page needs to be proofread.
LEFT
124
RIGHT

MARINE INSURANCE 124 KARINETTE ning in the 13th century, it was practiced in a similar manner by Portuguese and Flemish shipowners and merchants. England, which now leads all other coun- tries in this form of enterprise, began the practice of insurance against the loss of shipping in the 16th century. Notable in the history of marine insurance was the formation of Lloyd's Association, in London (ab. 1688) , incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1871, an insurance under- writers' exchange, which has become especially famous on account of its ex- tensive and accurate system of reporting sels long overdue, when underwriters are sometimes willing to chance the possibil- ity that it has simply been delayed by adverse winds. MARINES, troops enlisted for service either on board ship or on shore. They are drilled, disciplined, clothed, equipped, and paid similarly to the land forces. Their duties are to maintain the neces- sary guards, man some of the guns, form part of the armed crews of the various boats when called away for service, and form a permanent force for landing with 1. Major-General Commandant 2. Brigadier-General 3. Colonel 4. Lieut. -Colonel (Silver Leaf) Major (Gold Leaf) (!) ® MARINE CORPS INSIGNIA 5. Captain 6. 1st Lieutenant (Silver Bar) Lieutenant ((3old Bar) 7. Corps Insignia 8. Drum Major 9. First Sergeant 2d 10. Gunnery Sergeant 11. Sergeant 12. Corporal the movement of world shipping. In the United States the first corporation to take up marine insurance was the Insur- ance Company of North America, estab- lished in 1825. A new development in marine insurance was the action of the United States Government when it, after the outbreak of the World War, in 1914, undertook to assume such risks as were refused by the private underwriters, through an Act of Congress, signed on Aug. 19, 1914. This War Risk Bureau, under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department, granted policies to Ameri- can vessels entering within the war zone. Congress granted it an appropria- tion of $5,000,000 with which to begin its operation. Policies on shipping are usu- ally for voyages, though in some cases time policies are also granted. Often additional insurance may be taken out on ships already lost, as in the case of ves- the seamen if necessary. In all these matters they are commanded by their own officers. The marines of the Euro- pean continental nations are not designee for service permanently on board ship; the American navy is the only one be- sides that of England in which the ma- rine forms a necessary and definite frac- tion of ship's company. United States marines distinguished themselves in the World War. First on June 6, 1918, when they helped the French check the German advance near Chateau-Thierry and advancing 2 miles on a 3-mile front, captured and held Torcy and Bouresches against strong counter-attacks. In the Battle of the Oise, June 10-11, they captured a German strong point, Belleau Wood. MARINETTE, a city and county-saat of Marinette co.. Wis.; on Green Bay, at