FOURTEEN UNITED STATES MARINE OFFICERS HAVE PROVED THAT THEY ARE JUST AS FIT, TOUGH AND WELL-TRAINED AS THE MARINE OFFICERS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO.

THEY MARCHED FIFTY MILES IN EIGHTEEN HOURS AND FORTY-FOUR MINUTES AT CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, ON THE AMERICAN WEST COAST.THIS FOLLOWED A DIRECTIVE ISSUED IN 1908 BY PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT, WHO ORDERED THAT HIS MARINE OFFICERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO MARCH FIFTY MILES IN TWENTY HOURS.

THE MARCH BEGAN AT 1 PM ON THURSDAY AND ENDED AT 8 AM FRIDAY.THE MARINES FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIVE TO THE LETTER AND MARCHED DOUBLE-TIME THE LAST MILE AND PRINTED THE LAST 200 YARDS.

AFTER 25 MILES, THE MARCHING MARINES STOPPED FOR ONE HOUR FOR REST AND FOOD.

THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE MARCH, SAID ONE MARINE OFFICER.BUT THE MODERN DAY RECORD FOR THE 50 MILES, AS PERFORMED BY THESE MARINES, WAS 18 HOURS, 44 MINUTES - AND IT ALSO ACCOUNTED FOR 11 FOOT BLISTERS AND ONE PULLED MUSCLE.

NOW THAT THE MARINES HAVE DONE IT, PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAS INSTRUCTED HIS PRESS SECRETARY, PIERRE SALINGER, TO DO THE SAME.MR.SALINGER, A MAN WHO STANDS FIVE FEET, NINE INCHES, AND WEIGHS 185 POUNDS, HAS AGREED, AND HAS INVITED MEMBERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS TO ACCOMPANY HIM.