Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-04-08
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-3oooo 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 500, 94S.7 IN pay
and allowances from April 6. 1917, the
day the United States entered the war,
to November IL, 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 ire
mendous growth of the corps in the
statement that its approximate
strength at the end of the Civil war
was only 3,100, and only 1880 at the
conclusion of the Spanish war. He
emphasizes also the rapidly with
which the marines were modified for
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 10 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-fifth 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 brigades 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
Clellan says:
"The French army recognized the
splendid work of the Fifth and Sixth
regiments of marines by citing them
no less than three times in army or
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 evi.
| 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 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 tC
join the American expeditionary forces
and LOCO for naval duty ashore.
| During the month of June. 1915
says Major Mcclellan, "when the bat
tie deaths around Hill 142, Bouresches
Belleau Wood and Vaux of Americans
attached to the Second division