Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-20
FEATS OF FIGHTING TWELFTH
UNIT OF ARTILLERY AT FRONT
Command Which Won Fame in France Has
Many Washington Boys on Rolls, In
Guiding Capt. Raymond G. Clark.

In orders these battle veterans are
described as the 18th Field Artillery.
U. S. A, A. E. F. The men call it the
Fighting Twelfth. The Marines in
sist it is the Marine artillery"
1t is irrational now that the spirit
de corps of the Marines has won
favorable comment in fighting in
France. The sea fighters of the United
States Navy never have allowed that
they we're kin to the Army.
Nevertheless. since the 18th Field
Artillery. which contains a large num-
Der of Washington boys and received
its home training at st. Asaph's field
under Col. McCluskey. now briga-
der general, laid down the barrage
for the devil dogs" at Chateau Their
ry and started the greatest and most
successful offensive in the history of
the world, the marines have taken the
men of the 18th Field Artillery to
their hearts.
When this artillery unit passes the
marines lover there" and the latter
inquire what unit they are, the artil-
lerymen shout out, The Fighting
Twelfth"
81 guess not" is the reply Of the
marine; you are the marine artil-
lery!'"
Part of Inside History.
To date the part played by the 18th
Field Artillery has not been known in
time ago that young man of twenty
two years, who left here a second
lieutenant and returned a captain.
told a few facts about the marine
artillery" with which he is con-
nected.
This young man came quietly into
Washington. after four months of
continuous service at the front. and
remained here couple of weeks be-
fore going to Camp Meade and then
ing of a battery of the 10Th Field Ar
tillery prior to returning to France.
He left here as quietly as he came.
The young man in question is Capt.
Raymond G. Clark. son of William. D..
Clark, president of the Plate Printers
Union, and Mrs. Clark, who live at 220
9Th street southeast.
Capt. Clark frowned on publicity.
though his unit had served in all sec
tors in the west front on which Amer
leans had fought. except the Flanders
sector.
The 18th Field Artillery has been
cited On six different occasions.
Whatever facts were obtained about
Capt. Clark and the marine artillery"
were learned through his father, the
son telling him only of the hard fight
his unit engaged in.
Units First Battle.
The first battle in which the 18th
Field Artillery engaged was at the
heights of the Meuse. March rs.
At Chateau Thierry the 18th Field
Artillery formed the barrage for the
regiment of marines who were shock
was .gassed and a number of officers
were killed.
1t was learned that the day after
Capt. Clark was detached from his
outfit Battery B of the 18th Field Ar
tillery, which had withdrawn from the
active fighting to rest. was suddenly
recalled to the battle line and it met
with heavy casualties.
Capt. Clark was a captain more than
two months before he was aware of it.
The 18th Field Artillery left an At
lantic port for overseas in January.
and month later Second Lieut.. Clark
was promoted to first lieutenant. July
he was again promoted and made a
captain. but it was not until about
September that he learned of this.
Headed School Foot Ball Team.
Capt Clark was well known as an
athlete in Washington. He was captain
of the Eastern High School foot ball
team in 1915. and also captain of the
school track team in 1914 and 1915.
In 1915 he waS stroke or the Potomac
Boat Club eight that defea ted the crack
Vesper Club crew at Philadelphia. 1t