The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean., 1920-04-21
MARINES RAISE
61,376 FOR war
History Of Corps, Just Issued
Shows That $500 Officers
and Men Were Lost.
1858 DECORATIONS GWEN
Twelve Thousand Prisoners Were TAX.
en- by Marines During War-cred-
tied With Many Important
Achfevements-30,000 Sent
Overseas,

New York.-The United States ma
rlne corps was increased from 1925
to Is, 1O1 officers and men, including re-
serves, lost 1920 officers and men, and
cost the government $50, ,74S in pay
and allowances from April 6, 1917, the
day the United States entered the war,
to November II, 1918, the day hos
tilities ceased, according to a prelim-
mary "History 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 tre-
mendous growth of the corps in the
statement that it's approximate
strength Mt the end of the Civil war
was only 3,1OO, and only 4,8OO at the
conclusion of the Spanish war. He
emphasizes also the rapidity with
which the marines were mobilized for
active overseas service in q para
graph to the effect that, although there
we're 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 2.187 enlisted men were serving
On board the cruising vessels of the
navy, it took only five weeks to organ
lze and make ready for active serv-
ice the Fifth regiment of marines, con-
sisting of 70 officers and 1859 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 IA, 1917, forming
one-f1fth of the first expedition of
American troops for service in France.
The Fifth was Joined soon afterward
oy the sixth regiment and the Sixth
machine gun battalion of marines, and
he Fourth brigade of marines was or
yanized. The Fourth brigade, as one
If the two infantry brigades of the
Second division Of regulars, engaged
n actual battle. Major Mcclellan says,
IN no less than eight distinct opera
lions in France, Of which four were
major operations.
OF the recognition accorded the
achievements of marines, Major Nc
Clellan says:
"The French army recognized the
| splendid work of the Fifth and Sixth
regiments of marines by citing them
10 less than three times in army Or
1ers for achievements in the Chateau
Fh:erry sector. Since two French
army citations are sufficient to make
IN organization eligible for the award
If the French Fourragere, the high
standard Of the marine units is evi-
lent. Information was received in
January, 1920, that the war depart
nent 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
1nits 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 a 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
i and 1900 for naval duty ashore.
During the month of June. 1918,"
says Major Mcclellan, when the bat
lie deaths around Hill 142, Bouresches,
Belleau Wood and Vaux of Americans
| attached to the Second division
amounted to 1871 (Of which 1862
| we're marines) and the non-fatal casu.
alties to 1852 more (of which 3,6l5
we're marines), the legislative strength
of the marine corps was but 1923 Of
| 6cers and 10000 enlisted men; the
actual strength on June 80, 1918, in
cluding reserves, was 1,424 officers
and 57,298 enlisted men, and of this
total about 300 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. 1913"
In addition to furnishing new and
increased detachments to guard radio
stations, naval magazines, ammunition
lepots. 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:
Some Achievements. 4
Supplied the commanding general
IF the Second division, and many Of
dcers ON his stan.
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.
i Participated IN the naval aviation
activities In France and also In the
Azores. I ls5.. n 4;
aAaAR n 40 ~ a. - -