The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-09
MARINES WON
HIGH PLACE IN
GLORY OF WAR
I. S. Sea Soldiers Played
First Part in Hating
Rush on Paris.
HELD THE VITAL LINE
Struck Fear in Hearts Of
Crack German Troops,
Says Sec'y Daniels.
FOUGHT YANKEE STYLE
Charged Machine Gun Nests
and Cleared Them in Hand
to Hand Struggles.
FOUGHT YANKEE STYLE
Special Despatch to THE srS.


WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-"There was
only one way to wipe out these nests
by the bayonet. And by this method
we're they wiped out. For the United
States Marines, bare chested, shout
ing their battle cry of 'E-e-e-e-e
y.a-a.h-h-h yip,' charged straight into
the murderous fire of these nests and
won.' =
The language Is from a tribute by
Secretary Daniels of the Navy to the
soldiers of the land and sea for their
brilliant exploits on the soil of
France, especially at Belleau Wood,
in the st. Mlhiel salient, and Mt Mont
Blanc ridge, a pivotal position twen-
ty miles east Of Rheims.
In his annual report, made public
here to-day, dealing with men Of the
Marine Corps on the fighting line,
Secretary Daniels insists that Mar
shal Foch never showed his talents
as a strateglst to better purpose than
when he decoyed the German shock
troops toward Paris by throwing
American troops into the line to
meet them, and In selecting the
Americans most certain not only to
stand against the Germans but also to
overcome them, rested his choice on
the Marines.
Met the Crucial Test.
The world knows to-day" declares
Mr.. Daniels. that the United States
Marines held that line; that they
blocked the advance which was rolling
toward Paris at a rate Of six or seven
miles a day; that they met the attack
IN American fashion and with Ameri-
can heroism; marines and soldiers OF
the American Army threw back the
crack guard divisions Of Germany,
broke their advance and then attack
Ing, drove them back in the beginning
ol retreat that was not to end until
the cease firing signal sounded for
the end OF the worlds greatest war"
He goes into the whole tale of the
Marines during the war. telling how
with only 5000 of them engaged in It's
hercest battles their casualties num-
bered SO officers and 1881 men dead
and rs officers and 2.345 men wounded
severely.
He relates how In Belleau Wood. at
'he battle OF Chateau Thierry, cCm-
panies that had entered the fighting
2j0 strong dwindled to fifty: how the
Marines, every one of them a marks
man, and with their comrades falling
about them like flies" loaded and
fired their pieces with all that deliber-
alton and accuracy traditional with
them on the target range. and how in
many instances, out Of a number
charging against some particular ma
chine gun nest. only one man would
arrive finally at the gun.
And there, with his bayonet as his
only weapon, he would either kill or
capture the defenders of the nest, and
then swinging the gun upon its posi-
ton, turn II against the remaining
German positions in the forest"
Taught Germans TO Fear Them.
He tells how they were mentioned
Tor their valor in order after order
now the Germans came to fear them
as cour!ers of certain death. and how
Belledu Wood was named for them by
order OF Gen. Degoutte. commanding
the Sixth French Army. He quotes
from the order transmitted to the Sec
ond Division 10y Major-Gen. LeJeune
commanding the corps, where he tells
The officers and men: ITO be able tC
say when this war Is over. I belonged
10 the Second Division-I fought with
II NJ the battle Of Blanc Mont Ridge.
VIII b" the highest honor that can come
to any man."
The Marines took their places on the
actual firing line on June 2. but had
received their oruers three days pre-.
N"Isly on Memorial Day. May 80.
Their exploits are described in the
setrctary's report as follows:
This efficient fighting, building and
landing force Of the navy has won i'm
p"rShahle glory in the fulfilment of Its
"test duties upon the battle fields OF
france, where the Marines. fighting foI
N" time under Gen. PershinG as a part
o' tho victorious American Army, have
written story Of valor and sacrifice
mat will live in the brightest annals
" the war. With heroism that moth
'hG could daunt, the Marine Corps
p'ayed n vital role in stemming the
Ierman rush on Paris. and in latoI
days aided in the beginning OF ths
great offensive. the freeing of Rheims
end Participated in the hard fighting il
'hampagne, which had as its Object
me throwing back of the Prussiar
srmies in the vicinity Of Cambria ant
81 Quentin.
With only 5000 men engaged In tn,
Nercest battles, the Marine Corps cas-.
ual'l"s numbered Go officers and 1851
enlisted men dead and IS officers ant