The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-08-12
March BY PIatOOns.

With fixed bayonets, pack on back
and helmets. the marines in platoon
formation, left the Peace Monument
at u o'clock. They were preceded by
mounted officers Of the division. It
was no uncommon sight to see four
gold service stripes, here and there,
on that moving mass of olive drab.
AS the "devil dogs" started up the
Avenue, men, women, and children
shouted for joy, waving flags before
the marchers and throwing flowers
in their path.
1t was almost one continuous shout
from the Capitol to the White House
that greeted the marching heroes.
Added enthusiasm was shown when
sixty wounded marines in ambu-
lances and private machines drew up
in the rear. The private machines
were in charge of Mrs. c. ID. Carter,
commanding the District motor corps
of the American Red Cross.
The Marine Band was stationed OPP
posite the White House, while three
bands composed of the devil dogs"
marched along inspiring both specta-
tors and participants.
Fourth Has Proved Record.
The Fourth Brigade. parading here
today, bears one of the .proudest rec
ord OF any unit in the American
army. The Second. division, of which
the Fourth was a part, captured one
fourth of all the prisoners credited
to the American expeditionary forces,
took one-fourth of all the artillery
captured by the American troops, and
sustained one-tenth of the total cas-
ualties. or the total OF T32 officers
and 23,653 men reported among the
casualties of the Second division, the
marines numbered 147 officers and
1886 men killed or wounded severe
BY, without taking into account the
number who were evacuated for
! minor wounds.
During all its fighting in France
only f1fty-seven marines were ever
taken prisoner by the Germans.
The brigade landed with the Sec
ond Division in France in the early
part OF 1877. and went into training
on the Mouse heights above Verdun,
and after its completion took over
! sector OF the line in the Eparges
region.
On Battle Line June, 1918.
On the morning of June 4, 1918,
after being rushed to the front for
| miles in motor trucks, the Second
! Division took over a part of the line
| oppressed French. There were no re-
serves between them and the Marine,
and IL UaFf fgiIed to Withstand the
shock - Gae advancing Germans,
| Paris wNa doomed. On the first day
| after tsktsS over from the French,
| the marines repulsed with heavy
| losses an attack by the Germans. and
| following up their advantage pressed
| the retreating enemy to take refuge
in the thick Bots de Belleau, literally
sewn with machine gun nests. Fight
| ing their way through terrific artil-
| iery fire and machine gun barrages,
| The marines gained a foothold in the
| wood which became historic. Hand
| to-hand lighting began, which lasted
| for nearly two weeks, after which
| the marines remained in possession
of BeIleau wood, and Paris was
saved.
Their next engagement came on
July 1S, when, shoulder-to-s shoulder
with the French Moroccan division,
| the Second attacked the Germans
southwest of scissors. The opera
| lions were under General Mangln, OF
| the French army, and resulted in a
complete victory. The enemy's posi-
lions were overrun to a depth OF ten
and a half kiiometers, siXty-fve Ofrl-
GERS and $500 men were captured.
with the majority OF the Boche ar
| tillery.
In First U. s. Offensive.
The Second Division participated
In the first American offensive
against the Germans when they help
ed to reduce the st. Mihiel salient.
| September II TO &c. They captured
| eighty-two officers and 1924 men,
with 12O pieces of artillery.
! After st. Mihiel the Second went to
the Champagne dIStrict. where they