Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-29
DELAWARE PART 4
IN THE WORLD WAR
About 10000 Men From This
State Wore Actually in the
Service.

juno 3, 1917 ..................2 .22;322
August ~, WIS ............... s,sal
September II 1918 ,.,..,... .3o,7l4
Total registration 55,277
Of the total number of rcgis,rants.
Sa.217, s.l15, or lt19 per cent were |
aliens or enemy aliens.
Tho following quotation from the |
SECOND report of the Provost Marshal |
General "a the Secretary Of War will
show the tremendous scope of the sclec-
tive service system:
How great part American sclective |
service played IN the drama of the world
war, history alone can tell. That new
and un,r,cd scheme of selection could
succeed NJ al WAS 10 many doubtful
that II should attain results beyond
the fondert dreams Of its most ardent
supporters was unbelievable. To enroll
Cor service over 2s.oOo,000 men: to
mohoilye selected army Of more than
$500. 600, million Of them within the
space of 10 DAYS, 10 have presently avail
able for military duty 2,00O,ooO addi-
tional fighting men; to classify tins vast
group of man-power in the order of its
military and industrial Importance, SO
a. 20 preserve the domestic and indus
,r,al lie of the Nation, TO speed UP war
,ims activities, 20 maintain them IN a
status ~ MAXIMUM efficient production,
and to have the way 10 speedy return
to normal pcacctimc pursuits while re-
cruitng the full fighting strength OF the
Nation these are results which would
hc instantly rejected ss impossible did
no, the actual facts stand as irrefutable
testimonials of their accomplishment.
rifty-Ninth Pioneers.
Tho two hattahons " the Delaware
National Guard, which had served on
the Mexican Border from July 81 1916 TO
February 2, 1917, were mustered out OF
the service on February Is, 1917. The
First battalion, First Delaware Infantry,
was recalled 90 the service on March 20,
1917, and ordered TO cover points sus-
ccptihle of attack Ivy German sym
pa,hisers in the State of Delaware. The
declaration ~ war upon Germany fol-
lowed shortly after the calling out OF
the Delaware troops and the authori-
tics made plans Immediately 20 enlarge
the force 90 the sire Of regiment. The
response ~ the young men of Delaware
was gratifying and on July -, 1917, the
regiment WAS formed. They assembled
for the first timc as = regiment on
September IL, 1917, and moved 20 the
state Rifle Range near New Castle,
where !, remained until entranment for
CsmpO Mcclellan, October 4, 1917,
Special Orders No. I, Headquarters,
Goth DIVISION, followed the informal
announcement and ordered the re-
assembling Of the various units into a
regiment Of infantry, Delaware National
Guard. 90 form pioneer regiment OF
infantry. which moved from Camp
Mcclellan, Alabama, on the 18th and
l3th of January, lqls, arriving At Camp
Dix, New Jcrrey, on the 10Th and 18th
oi January, 1918.
No information had been given rcgArd-
ing the duties Of pioneer infantry and the
regiment, after its arrival at Camp DIX,
was trained as an infantry regiment,
but II was learned that the duties Of tins
branch oi tho service were similar "a
those Of the pioneer infantry of The
British army, via, engineer duty with
eombstant service when required.
On February q, 1918, the forms
designation 'SetM Pioneer Infantry
~as conferred upon the command, tn.
strength Of the regiment being 5.
officers and ,e6S enlisted men.
ON March l6, 1918, troops from Com
~
= unit Of the 18th Division, comprising
men from Delaware, were transferred
b. the regiment, and on April !, follow.
Ing, two hundred ninety-three recruit
from Delaware arrived at Camp Dr.
and were assigned TO the regiment, th
Idea apparently being 20 constitute tn
regiment as far n possible, Delswar
init.
4. -. go,,.a ko,.o,.r .ta, roc-,,,.
from Delaware were not coming IN a
rapidly a. Was necessary and a numbe
Of recruits from other States, principall
from New York and New Jersey, wer
supplied 20 bring the regiment up TO wa
strength Six hundred and nine recruit
were received April %, 1918, and o
July "a, 1918, orders were received {
fll the regimen, 20 war strength fror
the july draft Pursuant 10 this, o
August 6, 1915, 1900 recruits wer
received from the 1880 Depot Brigade
and on the 9th Of Angus, orders wer
received 90 complete full strength q
The earliest possible date
During the stay of the regiment O
Camp Dix, Major General Hugh j
Scott was m command of the Sat
DIVISION and afterwards became cam
commander at Camp Dix
The rcgimental training proceede
along the lines Of infantry training 6
established for the 18th Division an
other units stationed ut that time q
Camp Dix.
Various incidents characterized III
stay ui the regiment NJ this station, on
on April %, 1918, the regiment parade
IN Philadelphia, with other troops,
the demonstration for the Third Libert
Loan. The regiment was never pa
of the 18th Division, but remained ,
Camp Dix as an independent uni
designated for use as Army troops aft,
th. formation OF field armies
Col. j. Warner Reed.
Tho commanding officer, Col
Warner Reed, was notified on May
1918, that the regiment would proce,
overseas, the notice being preliminar
~ immediate movement was not O
drrrd During all this time II was nece
tary 10 observe great secrecy regardir
movement of troops and regardir
certain items Of training, owing 20 Il
tystcm of espionage which the encn
was known 10 have IN al parts Of Il
United states
After the 18th Division moved ou,
Camp DIX IN May, for overseas servi'
better opportunity was offered for ri
pfeciice and for other training, whl'
hnd been subordinaiod 20 the necessi'
ui giving troops scheduled for early owe
NsHs movement oil possible facilities 4
training, and three weeks of training
target practice and field firing was XIV,
IN Nla> and june. On the 2lst Of Angus