The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-04-09
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
Achievements-30,0 900 Sent
Overseas

New York.-The United States ma
rne corps was increased from 1878
to 5,101 officers and men, including re-
serves, lost 1920 officers and men, and
cost the government S39,94S74S 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 prelim-
mary History of the United States
Marine Corps IL 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 war
was only 3,1OO, and only 1880 at the
conclusion of the Spanish war. He
emphasizes also the rapidity with
which the marines were mObilized for
active overseas service in a para
graph to the effect that, although there
were 1877 officers and 4,546 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 We're serving
on board the cruising vessels Of the
navy, 1t took only five weeks to organ
ize and make ready for active serv.
ice the Fifth regiment of marines. con,
sisting of 20 officers and 2,6S9 men
approximately one-sixth of the strength
of the corps.
Sail for France.
The Fifth regiment sailed fol
| France on the Henderson. De Kalb ant
| Hancock on June IA. 1917. formin.
one-fifth of the first expedition OF
! American troops for service in France
The Fifth was joined soon afterwar'
by the sixth regiment and the Sixt
machine gun battalion of marines, an
the Fourth brigade Of marines was OF
ganized. The Fourth brigade, as on
OF the two infantry brigades OF tn
Second division of regulars, engage
In actual battle, Major Mcclellan say
In no less than eight distinct oper'
tons in France, of which -four WEI
major operations.
OF the recognition accorded Il
achievements Of marines, Major NJ
Clellan says:
III "The French army recognized Il
splendid work of the Fifth and Six
| regiments of marines by citing the
l no less than three times in army
ders for achievements in the Chatea
Th,erry sector. Since two Fren
army citations are sufficient to ma
an organization eligible for the ava
OF the French Fourragere, the hi
standard of the marine units is e
dent. Information was received
II January. 1920, that the war depa
III ment had accepted the award Of
French fourragere in the colors Of
ribbon Of the Croix de Guerre for 8
II eral army organizations and thu
units of the Fourth brigade"
iii $4,000 Sent Abroad.
Hi The steady progress Of the work
4 sending marines abroad is Indicated
Major Mcclellan in the statement Z
rn- within year after the outbreak
the the war the marine corps had pla
as- about as many enlisted men In Fra
ant as there were in the marine co
ced when the war was declared. Dur
the the period Of the war approxima1
vas 10000 marines were sent overseas
and 1oin the American expeditionary fol
Red and 1000 for naval duty ashore.
uex During the month Of June. ID
ned says Major Mcclellan. "when the
tied tie deaths around Hill 142, Bouresc
bill Belleau Wood and vaux Of Amerit
God attached u the Second d!vi