Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-05-20
MARINES RAISE
61,376 FOR WAR
History Of Corps, Just Issued
Shows That $500 Officers
and Men Were Lost.
1858 DECORATIONS GIVEN
Twelve Thousand Prisoners Were TAX
en- by Marines During War-cred.
tied With Many Important
Ackievements-3ooo 900 Sent
Overseas,

New York,-The United States ma
rine corps was increased from 1925
to 75,101 officers and men, including re-
serves. lost 1920 officers and men, and
cost the government S39,94S,74S in pay
and allowances from April 6, 1917, the
day the United States entered the war,
to November H. 1918, the day hos
tilitics ceased. according to prelim-
mary "!tistory Of the United States
Marine CORPS in the World War;" just
issued. The history Is the work of
Major Edwin n. Mcclellan. officer in
charge Of the historical division Of the
marine corps,
Major Mcclellan indicates the ire
mendOus growth of the corps In the
statement that its approximate
strength at the end of the Civil wal
was only 300. and only 1890 at the
conclusion of the Spanish war. III
emphasizes also the rapidly with
which the marines Were modified fol
active overseas service in para
graph to the effect that, although there
were 1877 officers and 1876 enlisted
men on duty beyond the continental
limits of the United States when this
nation entered the war and 40 officers
and 2.1S7 enlisted men were serving
on board the cruising vessels of the
navy. 1t took only five weeks to organ
lie and make ready for active serv-
ice the Fifth regiment of marines, con.
sisting of 70 officers and $3.50 men,
approximately one-sixth of the strength
of the corps.
Sail for France.
The Fifth regiment sailed for
France on the Henderson, De Kalb and
Hancock on June ID. 1917, forming
one.tifth of the first expedition of
American troops for service in France.
The Fifth was Joined soon afterward
by the sixth regiment and the Sixth
machine gun battalion Of marines, and
the Fourth brigade Of marines was Or
ganized. The Fourth brigade, as one
Of the two infantry brlgades of the
Second division Of regulars engaged
In actual battle, Major Mcclellan says,
in no less than eight distinct opera
tons in France, Of which four were
major operations.
OF the recognition accorded the
achievements of marines, Major Nc
Clcllan says:
"The French army recognized the
splendid work of the Fifth and Sixth
regiments of marines by citing them
L., tyan tn,
ders for achievements in the Chateau
Th!erry sector, Since two French
army citations are sufficient to make
an organization eligible for the award
of the French Fourragere, the high
standard of the marine units is evil
dent, Information was received in
January, 1920. that the war depart
ment had accepted the award of the
French fourragere in the colOrs of the
ribbon Of the Croix de Guerre for sew
eral army organizations and three
units Of the Fourth brigade"
10000 Sent Abroad.
The steady progress of the work of
sending marines abroad is indicated by
Major Mcclellan in the statement that
within year after the outbreak of
the war the marine corps had placed
about as many enlisted men In France
as there were in the marine corps
when the war was declared, During
the period of the war approximately
10000 marines were sent overseas to
join the American expeditionary forces
and 1000 for naval duty ashore.
During the month Of June, 1918, >"
says Major Mcclellan, "when the bat
tle deaths around Hill 142, Bouresches,
Bellcau Wood and Vaux Of Americans
attached to the Second division
amounted to 1871 (of which 1902
were marines) and the non-fatal casu'
alties to 1882 more (of which 1878
were marines), the legislative strength
of the marine corps was but 1.323 of
ficers and 10000 enlisted men; the
actual strength on June 80, 1918, in
Guiding reserves. was 1924 officers
and 57,2a9 enlisted men, and OF this
total about 800 officers and $4,000 en-
listed men were In France. These lat
ter figures include those marines who
suffered casualties in the battles of
June, 1918"
In addition to furnishing new and
increased attachments to guard radio
stations, naval magazines, ammunttfon
depots, warehouses, cable stations, and
for other naval activities, the marine
corps, according to Major Mcclellan,
should be credited with many other
achievements, which he summarizes as
follows;
Seine Achievements.
"Supplied the commanding general
of the Second division, and many OF
| ficers on his staff.
"Furnished considerable number OF
officers to command army units in the
Second and other divisions, and for
staff and detached duty throughout the
American expeditionary forces.
participated IN the naval aviation
activities In France and also in the
Azores,
Maintained two brigades OF pre-
war strength standing by to protect
the Mexican oil fields, and has an ad'