Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-09

Adding a second chapter to Gen.
Pershfngs story of the exploits OF tho
American expeditionary force In
France, Secretary Of the Navy Dam
iels, in his annual report, gives for
the first time an account Of the bril-
liant achievements of the United
States marines.
He gives the marines credit TOT
stopping the drive upon Paris, tells OF
their bravery at Be1leau wood and OF
their participation in the battle TOT
the ST. Mihiel salient.
This efficient fighting, building
and landing force to the Navy has
won imperishable glory in the fulfill
ment of it's latest duties upon the bat
tleflelds of France. where the Marines
fighting for the time under Gen. Per-
shing as part of the victorious
American Army, have written q story
of yalor and sacrifice that will live IN
the brightest annals of the war, the
Secretary began.
Fitting Companion Piece.
A fitting companion piece to the
story of Gen. Persning concerning the
American Army. Secretary Daniels
report of the marines operations fol-
lows:
with heroism nothing could daunt,
the Marine Corps played vital role
in stemming the German rush on
Paris, and in later days aided IN the
beginning of the great offensive. the
freeing of Rheims, and participated
in the hard fighting in Champagne,
which had as it's object the throwing
clx of he prnSSjAn armies in the
vicinity of Cambria and st. quentin.
with only 5000 men engaged In
the fiercest battles, the Marine corps
casualties numbered SO officers ana
1851 enlisted men dead and rs ofii-
GERS and 2,435 enlisted men wounded
seriously enough to be officially re-
ported by cablegram, to which num-
Der should be added not few whose
wounds did not incapacitate them
for further fighting. However, with
a casualty Its that numbers nearly
half the original 5000 men who en-
tered battle. the official reports ac-
count for only 81 United States ma
rines who have been captured by the
enemy. This includes those who were
wounded far in advance of their lines
and who fell into the hands Of Ger
mans while unable to resist.
Stopped Drive on Paris.
Memorial day shall henceforth have
greater. deeper Significance for
America for it was on that day, May
20. 1918. that our country really re-
ceived its first call to battle-the
battle in which American troops had
the honor OF stopping the German
drive on Paris, throwing back the
Prussian hordes in attack after at
tack, and beginning the retreat which
lasted until imperial Germany was
beaten to its knees and it's emissaries
appealing for an armistice under the
flag of truce. And to the United
states marines. fighting side by side
with equally brave and equally cour-
ageous men in the American Army
TO that faithful sea and land force of
the Uavy-fell the honor of taking
over the lines where the blow of the
Prussian would strike the hardest
the line that was nearest Paris and
would be lost. The world knows to-
day that the United States marines
held that line: that they blocked the
advance that was rolling on toward
Paris at a rate of six or seven miles
day; that they met the attack in
American fashion and with American
heroism; that marines and soldiers of
the American Army threw back the
crack guard divisions of Germany,
broke their advance, and then. at
lacking, drove them back in the be-
ginning of a retreat that was not to
sounded for the end of the worlds
greatest war. In this connection Mel
Vile Stone. general manager of the
Associated Press. said. following an
exhaustive trip of investiga ton in
Europe:
They Che Marines) had before
them the best Prussian Guards and
shock troops-the Germans were per-
fectly sure they could drive the
amateurs" back.
1T was a dramatic situation, for
success meant that the Germans could