The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-05-01
History of Corps, lust Issued
Shows That $500 Officers
and Men Were Lost.
1858 DECORATIONS GIVEN
Twelve Thousand Prisoners Were TAX
On by Marines During War-cred-
tied With Many important
Achievements-30,0 600 Sent
Overseas.

New York.-The United States ma
rine corps was increased from 1925
to rs, 101 officers and men, including re-
serves, lost 1920 officers and men, and
cost the government $39, ,748 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 300, 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 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 were serving
on board the cruising vessels OF the
navy. it 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 Tor
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, ana
the Fourth brigade Of marines was or
panized. The Fourth brigade, as one
OF the two infantry brigades OF the
Second division of regulars, engaged
In actual battle, Major Mcclellan says.
N 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
snlendid work Of the Fifth and Sixtn
regiments OF marines by citing them
no less than three times In army or
Iars for achievements in the Chateau
Th.erry sector. Since two french
army citations are sufficient to make
an organization eligible for the award
Il the French Fourragere, the hign
standard Of tile marine units IS EVIL
dent. Information was received ~
iIaruorv. 1920, that the war depart
ment had accepted the award OF the
French fourragere in the colors OF the
-,hhon Of the Croix de Guerre for sew
eral army organizations and three
nnits Of the Fourth brigade.
$4,000 Sent Abroad.
The steady progress Of the work OF
send.ng marines abroad is Indicated oy
Major Mcclellan In the statement tnas
within a year after the outDreak ..
.ha war the marine corps had placed
.hout as many enlisted men In France
:. tbera were In the marine corps
r,hor fae war was declared. Turing
the period Of the war approximately
m foD marines were sent overseas 70
ain the American expeditionary forces
md / 600 for naval duty ashore.
aDurfng the month Of June, 1915.
-.vr Major Mcclellan. "when the bat
he deaths around Hlli IL bourescnes'
Relleau Wood and Vaux Of Americans
-s4.rhed TO the Second division