Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-01-09
Ey iosociassa i7rcsl.

ments OF til A:scrican navy IN the
war. Sccrctal Dsairls couples, in his
annual report. T. pg7ent recommends
t.oo ieg cunt ,A.e1 naval expansion to
NEE; t.s d~ott3nts Of peace Tor nat.oaai
and ,ntarn- ..1nQl work on the sea.
Tiroaas nsafly al ct ia printed
pages ne So relasv tells in brief
ptras-; ci ti.e navy's puUt m the wa.
oc III ,ioiug e. tAe sreialaa,y impcs-
siblc through teamwork. He speaks
OF tine m!gste acoompliahment OF
transporting a,Go0,g00 men TO France
without the loss Of an castscuna troop
snip through cnofnF action. and he de-
votes IA graphic chaptef to the marine
brigade which, as ali tne world knows,
blocked the last pruasian advance on
Paris. and started the German retreat
thut ended ihc wai,
Taking up his story Of the navy rhe
secretary declares the service was
"ready from stem 20 stern when the
United states onseaed the conflict.
Prom the day when the clrst three
year program was adopted in 1916, he
adds. "Congrc;s has given everything
that could be desired to insure the eff
iec.iveness OF tic naval arm
Service Consolidated.
IT. outstanding accomplishment OF
tie Navy abroad in this war, outside
OF rigorous and vaiorcus service in the
danger zone has been the character and
degree of cooperation and practical
consolidation for the time being of u
services with those services with which
we have been associated. The Navy,
le.innirg with the arrival OF the first
1T: .t.-.1 49,. co.. ..nt tN,. ~, u
OF command, ever though this in some
instances involved sacrificing Tempo
rariiy something OF ouv identity as an
Independent service. This has not
been an easy task. L is believed to be
II safe statement that the degree OF
accomplishment OF our service in this
respect is without precedent in allied
warfare"
as concrete evidence of what was
accomplished, the report shows that
on October / there were 33S United
States naval ships abroad with 5000
officers and 10000 enlisted men. or a
greater force than the total strength
of the navy when war was declared.
while the American fighting craft has
steamed III average OF G2G.O0o miles
per month in the war zone. THIS did
no include the cruisers and battleships
on escort duty. OF the first destroyers
to. go over, the Porter leaned 64,s13
miles. the Connyngham $685. miles.
and. the Davis 63,O15.
The Transport Record.
Tue major naval operation of the wal
80 far as,the United States Is concerned
Is given IS the conveying of more than
=. OOO. 900 troops to Europe without the
ioys ny enemy action OF a single east
bound transport. This accomplishment.
the report says, will stand as a monu-
anent to both the army n h navy as
the greatest and most difficult troop
transporting effort which has ever been
conducted across seas. UP to Novem-
her 4. 1t is shown. S24,57S troops had
been carried to France in American
transports under American convoy with
no losses outward bound and only three
vessels SUM on the road home. From
November I to the date Of the report.
there had been 2S9 additional sailings
IT American troop I'M supply ships.
the average being one ship every Ave
hours.
Writing with pride of the record Of
the marine brigade in France. the Sec
Rotary shows that with only 5000 OF
tho corps engaged. the casualties num-,
bersd 50 officers and 1851 men dead,
q officers and 2.4S5 seriously wounded.
white but So marines are reported OFF,
cially as captured by the enemy illus
trating the desperate character of the
Aghting in which the brigade particle
pated and the fact thai 1t was always
advancing.
Mariner Blocked Way.
ITO the United States marines" Mr..
Daniels says, lighting side by side with
equally brave and equally courageous
men In tho American army. to that
faithful sea and land force OF the navy.
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 where. should q
breach occur. all would be lost
'srhe world knows today that the
United states marines held that line;
that they blocked the advance that was
on toward Paris at a. rate Of
nix or seven miles 4 day: that they met
the nttack In American fashion and
With American heroism: that marines
and soldiers Of the American army
threw hack the crack guard divisions
n Germany. broke their advance. and
then, attaching. drove them back in the
Of a retreat that was not to
the cease firing signal
sounded for the end Of the worlds
greatest war"
AZ eslieau Wood.
"a skrikina picture q the lighting at
i3slIeau wood. now renamed in honor OF
~ marine brigade. 10 given. The place
ids1gle Nlled with machine gun
s,eata the ixcretary says. impossible to
reach w1thyartiIlery or grenades.