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The United States Marine Corps
by
in the
World WarMajor Edwin N. McClellan, USMC
Major, U.S. Marines
Officer in Charge Historical Division
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This brief history has been prepared for the purpose of acquainting both the personnel of the service and the public with the general facts concerning the United States Marine Corps in the World War. Explanatory Note
It is a partial compliance with the instructions contained in Marine Corpos Orders No. 53 (Series 1919), directing that a history of the United States Marine Corps for the period of the World War be prepared, and is preliminary to the final and detailed history of the United States Marine Corops during the World War, which is in course of preparation.
The statistics and other information contained herein are as accurate as it is possible to obtain at the present date. Every effort has been made to avoid expressions of opinions and criticisms, or the drawing of conclusions of an important nature.
Letter of Transmission
November 26, 1919.
From: Officer in Charge Historical Division, Adjutant and Inspector's Department, United States Marine Corps. To: The Major General Commandant. Via: Officer in Charge, Adjutant and Inspector's Department. Subject: The United States Marine Corps in the World War. 1. There is transmitted herewith for your formal approval a concise history of the United States Marine Corps in the World War, including certain statistics, with the recommendatoin that it be published to the naval service.
EDWINN. MCCLELLAN.
[First endorsement.] ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR'S DEPARTMENT,
HEADQUARTERSUNITEDSTATES MARINECORPS,
Washington, D.C., November 26, 1919.
From: The Acting Adjutant and Inspector. To: The Major General Commandant. 1. Forwarded, approved.
H.C. HAINES.
Approved:
GEORGEBARNETT,
Major General Commandant,
United States Marine Corps.Approved:
JOSEPHUSDANIELS,
Secretary of the Navy.
Table of Contents
Page CHAPTER I. In general 9 II. Statutory and actual strength of the Marine Corps on various dates 11 III. Recruiting--Applicants, rejection, enlistments-- Enlistments by States 14 IV. Geographical location and disposition of Marines during the war 17 V. How officers were obtained and trained 21 VI. Training of enlisted men in the United States and Europe 25 VII. Organizations and replacements sent to Europe--Organization of the Fourth and Fifth Brigades 29 VIII. Operations in general 36 IX. Units composing the Second Division-Commanding generals of the Second Division-Verdun operations 38 X. Aisne Defensive-Hill 142--Bouresches--Bois de la Brigade de Marine 40 XI. Aisne-Marne Offensive (Soissons) 45 XII. Marbachesector, near Pont-a-Mousson on the Moselle River--St. Mihiel Offensive 48 XIII. The Champagne-Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge--Capture of St. Etienne-March to Leffincourt 49 XIV. Meuse-Argonne Offensive-Crossing the Meuse River 53 XV. March to the Rhine--Army of Occupation--Summary of operations of the Fourth Brigade 56 XVI. With the Navy on board the battleships and cruisers 59 XVII. The activities of the Fifth Brigade 62 XVIII. Statistics concerning casualties 65 XIX. Citations of Marine units by French-Days in France-- Artillery captured--Prisoners captured--Kilometers advanced against the enemy--Decorations awarded Marines 67 XX. Rifle practice-Rifle and pistol competitions participated in by Marines during the war 69 XXI. Aviation statistics 71 XXII. Marine Corps Reserve 76 XXIII. Return of Marines from Europe Parades in the United States 78 XXIV. Demobilization 80 XXV. The Office of the Major General Commandant--The Adjutant and Inspector's Department 83 XXVI. The Paymaster's Department 84 XXVII. The Quartermaster's Department 89 Index 98
When a state of war was declared to exist on April 6, 1917, the United States Marine Corps was composed of 462 commissioned officers, 49 warrant officers, and 13,214 enlisted men on active duty, a total of 13,725 and, while the corps was expanded to an actual strength, including reserves, of 75,101 officers and enlisted men, its high standard was never lowered. When these figures are compared with the approximate strength of 3,100 at the end of the Civil War, and of 4,800 at the end of the Spanish War, the growth of the Marine Corps is illustrated. Chapter I.
In GeneralDespite the fact that on the outbreak of war, 187 officers and 4,546 enlisted men were on duty beyond the continental limits of the United States, and 49 officers, and 2,187 enlisted men were serving on board the cruising vessels of the Navy, only five weeks later, on June 14,1917, the Fifth Regiment of Marines, consisting of 70 officers and 2,689 enlisted men, approximately one-sixth of the enlisted strength of the Marine Corps, competently organized and ready for active service, sailed on the Henderson, De Kalb, and Hancock from the United States, forming one-fifth of the first expedition of American troops for service in France.
This regiment was soon joined by the Sixth Regiment and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines, and the Fourth Brigade of Marines was organized, and as one of the two Infantry brigades of the Second Division of Regulars engaged in actual battle in no less than eight distinct operations in France, of which four were major operations.
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 orders for achievements in the Chateau-Thierry sector, in the Aisne-Marne (Soissons) offensive, and in the Meuse-Argonne (Champagne). The Sixth Machine Gun Battalion was similarly cited for its work in the Chateau-Thierry sector and Aisne-Marne (Soissons) offensive. The Fourth Brigade received a similar citation for its work in the Chateau-Thierry sector. Since two French Army citations are sufficient to make an organization eligible for the award of the French fourragére, the high standard of the Marine units is evident. Information was received in January, 1920, that the War Department had accepted the award of the French fourragére in the colors of the ribbon of the Croix de Guerre for several Army organizations and the three units of the Fourth Brigade.
Within one year after the outbreak of war the Marine Corps placed about as many enlisted men in France as there were in the Marine Corps when war was declared.During the month of June, 1918, when the battle deaths around Hill 142, Bouresches, Belleau Wood, and Vaux, of Americans attached to the Second Division amounted to 1,811 (of which at least 1,062 were Marines) and the nonfatal casualties to 7,252 more (of which 3,615 were Marines), the legislative strength of the Marine Corps was but 1,323 officers and 30,000 enlisted men; the actual strength on June 30, 1918, including reserves, was 1,424 officers and 57,298 enlisted men, and of this total about 300 officers and 14,000 enlisted men were in France. These latter figures include those Marines who suffered casualties in the battles of June, 1918.
Approximately 30,000 Marines were sent overseas to join the American Expeditionary Forces, and 1,600 for naval duty ashore.
During the war a great many additional Marine detachments were detailed to guard the radio stations, naval magazines, ammunition depots, warehouses, cable stations and for other naval activities, and the detachments already established were largely augmented. No call was made for additional Marines for naval purposes that was not fully met, and this is of especial interest as the Marine Corps is essentially a part of the Naval Establishment, and its first duty is to fill all naval needs and requirements. It was believed to be essential that the Marine Corps should do its full part in this war, and for that reason it was absolutely necessary that the Marines should join the Army on the western front, taking care, however, that this should not at any time interfere in the slightest degree with the filling of all naval requirements.
The Marine Corps, while maintaining the Fourth Brigade of Marines, a total of 258 officers and 8,211 enlisted men, that fought in eight battle operations suffering approximately 12,000 casualties, placed and maintained the Fifth Brigade of Marines of the same strength in France; supplied the commanding general of the Second Division, and many officers on his staff; furnished a considerable number of officers to command Army units of the Second and other divisions, and for staff and detached duty throughout the American Expeditionary Forces; participated in the naval aviation activities in France and in the Azores; and during the period of the war succeeded in performing in a highly satisfactory manner the naval duties required of it, including the maintenance of two brigades of prewar strength standing by to protect the Mexican oil fields, and as an advanced base force in Philadelphia; one in Cuba; one in Santo Domingo, and one in Haiti; administered and officered the Haitian Gendarmerie and Guardia Nacional Dominicana; as well as providing efficient Marine detachments for numerous naval vessels, and maintaining garrisons at the numerous navy yards and naval stations in the United States; and in the Virgin Islands; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands; Guam; Cavito and Olongapo, P.I.; Managua, Nicaragua; Peking, China; San Juan, P. R.; London, England; Cardiff, Wales; Paris, France; and the Azores; and supplied many officers and enlisted men for special and detached duty at home and abroad.
Chapter II
Statutory and Actual Strength of the Marine Corps
on Various DatesStatuutory Strength
The act of Congress of August 29, 1916, increased the authorized strength of the Marine Corps from 344 officers and 9,921 enlisted men to 597 officers and 14,981 enlisted men, and the President was authorized in an emergency to further increase the corps to 693 officers and 17,400 enlisted men, which he did by Executive order on March 26, 1917.
On April 6, 1917, Congress declared "that a state of war exists between the United States and the Imperial German Government" and one and one-half months later, on May 22, 1917, temporarily increased the authorized strength to 1,197 commissioned officers, 126 warrant officers, and 30,000 enlisted men. Finally, the act of July 1, 1918, temporarily increased the Marine Corps to 3,017 commissioned officers, 324 warrant officers, and 75,500 enlisted men, which is the maximum strength ever authorized for the Marine Corps. Of this number 17,400 were permanent and 57,650 temporary. In addition to the above, the act of August 29, 1916, which established the Marine Corps Reserve, permits the enrollment of reserves without limit as to number, and on April 6, 1917, there were enrolled, subject to call to active duty, three Reserve commissioned officers, 24 National Naval Volunteer officers, 36 Reserve enlisted men, and 928 enlisted National Naval Volunteers. There were also available for recall to active duty 65 regular retired commissioned officers, one regular retired warrant officer, and 210 regular retired enlisted men.
Actual Strength of the Marine Corps at the Beginning and End of the War
On April 6, 1917, the strength of the Marine Corps on active duty was as follows:
Regular commissioned officers: Major General Commandant 1 Brigadier Generals 7 Colonels 13 Lieutenant colonels 27 Majors 59 Captains 119 First lieutenants 87 Second lieutenants 106 Total regular officers 419
Regular commissioned retired officers: On active duty 43
Regular warrant officers: Marine gunners 20 Quartermaster clerks 20 Pay clerks 9 Total warrant officers 49 Total regular officers 511 Total regular enlisted men 13,214 Total strength on active duty 13,725 On November 11, 1918, the strength of the Marine Corps on active duty was as follows:
Regular commissioned officers: Major General Commandant 1 Major generals 2 Brigadier generals 13 Colonels 43 Lieutenant-colonels 52 Majors 199 Captains 522 First lieutenants 436 Second lieutenants 413 Total Regular officers 1,681 Commissioned retired officers: On active duty 43 Reserve officers on active duty: Majors 7 Captains 33 First lieutenants 63 Second lieutenants 360 Total Reserve officers 463 Total commissioned officers an active duty 2,187 Regular warrant officers: Marine gunners 109 Quartermaster clerks 89 Pay clerks 56 Total 254 Reserve warrant officers: Marine gunners 27 Quartermaster clerks 2 Pay clerks 4 Total 33 Total warrant officers on active duty 287 Total officers on active duty 2,474 Enlisted personnel: Regular 63,714 Retired enlisted men on active duty 15 Reserves, on active duty 6,483 Female reservists, on active duty 277 Total 70,459 Total strength on active duty 72,963
On December 11, 1918, the Marine Corps attained its maximum strength on active duty, which was distributed as follows:
Regular commissioned officers 1,678 Retired officers on active duty 44 Reserve commissioned officers 452 Regular warrant officers 257 Reserve warrant officers 31 Regular enlisted men 65,666 Reserve enlisted men 6,704 Female reservists 269 Total 75,101 The maximum enlisted strength of the regular Marine Corps, not including reserves, during the period between the outbreak of war and the date the armistice became operative was 63,714 on November 9, 1918.
Chapter III
Recruiting--Applicants, Rejections, Enlistments
Enlistments by StateThe recruiting service of the corps was enlarged greatly during the war and it was so well organized and its method of procedure was so efficient that it was able to stand the enormous increase of the corps. The real test of any organization comes when a very great increase is suddenly made and the recruiting service of the Marine Corps passed that test in a commendable manner.
On August 8, 1918, by Executive order, volunteer enlistments in the Marine Corps and enrollments in the reserve were stopped, and from that time until October 1, 1918, no men were enlisted in the corps with the exception of those whose cases were pending when the Executive order above mentioned was issued and some whose enlistments expired and were reenlisted. On September 16, 1918, the Secretary of War approved the terms of a tentative plan proposed in an informal conference by representatives of the Navy Department, the Marine Corps, the General Staff, and the Provost Marshal General's Office.
This plan in part provided that the Marine Corps was accorded the privilege of individual inductions to the amount of 5,000 men, for the months of October, November, and December, 1918, and January, 1919, and 1,500 thereafter.
As the plan above mentioned operated the men were supplied from the selective draft, but the choice was given the Marine Corps of accepting or rejecting men according to the way they measured up to the Marine Corps standards. The inductees also had a choice in the matter, so they were really "voluntary inductees." This plan was very favorable and permitted the Marine Corps to maintain its high standard of enlisted personnel.
Owing to the cessation of hostilities there were but few inductions and none of the inductees ever reached France prior to the armistice becoming effective. Regular voluntary inductions into the Marine Corps (through Provost Marshal General) commenced October 1, 1918, and the last man was voluntarily inducted on December 13, 1918. Inductions occurred as follows:
October, 1918 2,787 November, 1918 3, 880 December, 1918 421 Total 7,088 Owing to the signing of the armistice, no more requests were made to the Provost Marshal General for the induction of men after November 18, 1918.
On December 2, 1918, the President, by proclamation, directed that voluntary enlistments of registrants into the Navy and Marine
Corps would be permitted without notice to local boards, and the provisions of the selective service law became inoperative so far as the Marine Corps was concerned.On December 4, 1918, recruiting on a very limited scale was resumed by order of the Secretary of the Navy. On that date also, enrollments in the Marine Corps Reserve were stopped.
Applicants, rejections, enlistments, etc., regular Marine Corps,
not including reserves but including inductees, April, 1917, to November, 1918.
Date. Appli-
cants.Rejected
by com-
manding
officer.1Rejected
by medical
officer.2Eloped. Declined
oath.Enlist-
ments.Strength
Marine
Corps.Apr. 1 13,214 Apr. 30 14,607 41 11,673 10 19 2,864 15,813 May 31 15,498 74 10,039 40 50 5,295 20,932 June 30 15,905 47 11,735 16 34 4,073 24,772 July 31 11,778 21 8,183 22 44 3,508 27,045 Aug. 31 6,275 37 4,006 7 4 2,221 29,861 Sept.30 4,846 29 3,996 5 5 811 30,322 Oct. 31 4,335 33 3,661 5 1 635 30,576 Nov. 30 5,577 14 4,942 2 2 617 30,855 Dec. 31 6,788 22 5,305 4 5 1,452 32,016 Jan. 31 5,472 29 3,981 5 3 1,454 33,184 Feb. 28 5,915 31 5,772 4 3 105 33,045 Mar. 31 5,037 18 4,734 2 4 279 33,093 Apr. 30 15,958 44 12,996 3 5 2,010 35,690 May 31 18,336 73 12,956 7 22 5,278 40,722 June 30 23,864 79 18,609 17 36 5,132 45,384 July 31 20,162 224 11,767 9 10 8,152 52,712 Aug. 31 17,286 115 11,528 5 40 5,598 57,628 Sept.30 16,175 190 13,484 5 83 2,404 59,556 Oct. 31 12,176 2 8,923 1 3,250 62,142 Nov. 30 13,284 2 9,129 2 4,151 65,459 Total 239,274 1,125 177,419 168 373 60,189 1. Rejections by commanding officer include minors whose parents refused consent, married men whose wives refused consent, and men with criminal records or who were otherwise undesirable.
2. Rejections by medical officer include all rejections at recruiting office as well as those rejected by the medical officer at the recruit depot to which they were transferred.
Enlistments by States
The following table shows the number of men enlisted in the Marine Corps, not including reserves enrolled but including inductees, between April 1, 1917, and November 11, 1918. These figures do not include the 13,214 enlisted men already in the Marine Corps on April 6, 1917:
Alabama 313 Nevada 86 Arizona 210 New Jersey 1,251 Arkansas 290 New Hampshire 67 California 2,527 New Mexico 25 Colorado 1,262 New York 6,782 Connecticut 240 North Carolina 488 Delaware 72 North Dakota 225 District of Columbia 451 Ohio 4,968 Florida 110 Oklahoma 384 Georgia 674 Oregon 1,006 Illinois 4,959 Pennsylvania 4,365 Idaho 508 Rhode Island 64 Indiana 1,182 South Carolina 66 Iowa 607 South Dakota 145 Kansas 673 Tennessee 1,418 Kentucky 592 Texas 2,205 Louisiana 832 Utah 898 Maine 24 Vermont 21 Massachusetts 1,957 Virginia 617 Maryland 867 Washington 1,767 Michigan 2,115 West Virginia 598 Minnesota 2,581 Wisconsin 876 Missouri 3,721 Wyoming 92 Mississippi 297 Total 57,144 Montana 1,205 Nebraska 461 Statistics that will show the exact number of officers and enlisted men from each State are being prepared.
Chapter IV
Geographical Locationn and Disposition of Marines During WarDuring the period of the war Marines served ashore and afloat all over the world. The following tables show where they were located at the outbreak of war and on the date the armistice became operative; also the naval vessels on which Marines were serving on both of these dates; and the geographical location of Marines during the war.
Location of Marines on April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918.
Location. Apr. 6, 1917. Nov. 11, 1918. Officers. Men. Total. Officers. Men. Total. American Expeditionary Forces 1857 23,698 24,555 Azores 11 188 199 China 8 268 276 11 271 282 Cuba 16 580 596 99 2,310 2,409 England (A.E.F.). See American Expeditionary Forces. England (not A. E. F.) 2 69 71 France (A. E. F.). See American Expeditionary Forces France (not A. E. F.) 146 1,030 1,176 Germany (A. E. F.) See American Expeditionary Forces. Guam 9 383 392 14 366 380 Haiti 62 622 684 60 825 885 Hawaiian Islands 3 137 140 10 466 476 Holland (The Hague) 3 3 Nicaragua 3 111 114 5 118 123 Philippine Islands 7 272 279 12 582 594 Porto Rico San Juan) 1 77 78 Samoa 1 Santo Domingo 69 1,856 1,925 84 1,879 1,963 Sea duty 49 2,187 2,236 64 2,009 2,073 Spain (Madrid) 1 1 United States 183 6,481 6,664 1,029 436,00 37,043 Virgin Islands 10 317 327 25 583 608 Total 419 13,214 13,633 2,431 70,489 72,920 1. Including enlisted men commissioned in Europe. Marines Serving on Board Naval Vessels.
Marine detachments served on board all the overseas battleships and on the battleships of Battleship Force Two throughout the war. The Marines of Battleship Force One of which the MINNESOTA was flagship were temporarily withdrawn in April, 1918.
Marines were also on board a great many of the cruisers which acted as escorts for the vessels transporting Army troops to Europe.
The following table shows in detail those vessels which carried Marine detachments at the beginning of the war and on Armistice Day:
Ship. Apr. 6, 1917. Nov. 11, 1918. Officers. Men. Officers. Men. Atlantic Fleet 1 1 Pacific Fleet 1 1 Asiatic Fleet 1 1 Battleship Force 2 1 Battleship Force 1 Cruiser Force 1 Division 6 1 1 Division 7 1 Division 8 1 Division 9 (Sixth Battle Squadron) 1 Alabama 1 40 Arizona 2 83 2 88 Arkansas 1 76 2 86 Brooklyn 2 69 2 98 Castine 20 Charleston 2 62 Cincinnati 1 40 1 41 Columbia 19 Connecticut 3 65 Constellation 6 7 Delaware 1 65 2 70 Denver 1 40 Des Moines 38 Dolphin 15 20 Florida 1 66 2 63 Frederick 2 64 Galveston 1 39 1 40 George Washington 2 97 Helena 1 30 1 25 Huntington 2 61 Idaho 2 19 Louisiana 1 64 Machias 20 Mayflower 15 5 Michigan 2 62 Minnesota 2 68 Mississippi 2 78 Montana 1 62 2 72 Nebraska 1 68 Nevada 1 77 2 79 New Hampshire 1 67 New Jersey 1 6 New York 1 77 2 20 North Carolina 2 65 North Dakota 1 64 2 65 Oklahoma 2 77 2 89 Olympia 1 40 Pennsylvania 1 94 3 133 Pittsburgh 2 75 2 105 Pueblo 1 69 2 15 Rhode Island 1 64 Seattle 1 61 South Carolina 2 65 South Dakota 2 59 St. Louis 2 62 Texas 1 72 2 78 Utah 2 62 2 72 Wilmington 1 30 1 30 Wyoming 1 78 2 82 Yorktown 20 Total 49 2,187 64 2,009 In addition to the above-named vessels, Marines served on the Leviathan, Albany, New Orleans, Georgia, Kansas, Vermont, San Diego, and Virginia.
Geographical Location of Marines During War
During the period of the war Marines were stationed at the following posts:
United States
Navy yards and stations. --Portsmouth, N.H.; Boston; New York; Philadelphia; Annapolis; Washington, D.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; Key West, Fla.; Pensacola, Fla.; New Orleans; Mare Island, Calif.; Puget Sound, Wash.; and North Island, Calif.
Naval magazines. --Hingham, Mass.; Fort Lafayette; Iona Island, N.Y.; Lake; Fort Mifflin, Pa.; St. Juliens Creek, Va.; and Mare Island, Calif.
Naval ammunition depots. --Dover, N.J., and New London, Conn.
Torpedo stations. --Puget Sound, Wash., and Newport, R.I.
Radio stations, etc. --Greenbury, Md.; Point Isabell, Tex.; Radio, Va.; Key West, Fla.; Chatham, Mass.; Portland, Me.; Rye Beach, Me.; Otter Cliffs, Me.; naval radio station, Wellfleet, Mass.; French Cable Co., Orleans, Mass.; Postal Telegraph and Cable Co., Rockport, Mass.; Commercial Telegraph & Cable Co., Boston; Marconi Wireless Co., Boston; Western Union Co., Boston; Cape Cod, Mass.; Sayville, N.Y.; New Brunswick, N.J.; Belmar, N.J.; Tuckerton, N.J.; Beaufort, S.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Annapolis, Md.; Washington, D.C.; San Diego, Calif.; Chollas Heights, Calif.; Point Arguello, Calif.; Inglewood, Calif.; East San Pedro, Calif.; Eureka, Calf.; Bolinas, Calif.; Marshall, Calif.; Farallones Islands, Calif.; Marshfield, Oreg.; Astoria, Oreg.; Lents, Oreg.; Tatoosh, Wash.; North Head, Wash.
Naval prisons. --Portsmouth, N.H.; Parris island, S.C.; and Mare Island, Calif.
Naval hospitals. --Boston; New York; Washington, D.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Key West, Fla.; and Fort Lyons, Col.
Coaling stations. --La Playa, Calif., and Tiburon, Calif.
Receiving ship. --Boston.
Other places. --Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Office of the Judge Advocate General; assistant paymasters' offices at New York, Atlanta, Ga., and San Francisco, Calif.; depots of supplies at Philadelphia, Pa., San Francisco, Calif., and Charleston, S.C.; naval experimental station, New London, Conn.; naval district base, New London, Conn.; advanced base force, Philadelphia, Pa.; mobilization bureau, New York City; third naval district base, New York; New Navy Building guard, Washington, D.C.; naval mine station, Yorktown, Va.; naval base, Hampton Roads, Va.; Navy rifle range, Wakefield, Mass.; rifle range, Winthrop, Md.; naval proving grounds, Indian Head Md. Wissahickon Barracks, N.J.; Navy fuel depot, Curtis, Md.; Navy ordnance plant, Charleston, W. Va.; camp of instruction, bayonet team, Lansdowne, Pa.; signal battalion, Paoli, Pa.; staff office, San Francisco Calif.; Marine barracks, Quantico, Va.; Fort Crockett, Galveston, Tex.; Gerstner Field, Lake Charles, La.; naval air station, Cape May, N.J.; naval air station, San Diego, Calif.; naval school for mechanics, Great Lakes, Ill.; naval air station, Pensacola, Fla.; Army training field, Mineola, Long island, N.Y.; Marine Corps School of Machine Gun Instruction at Utica, N.Y., and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass.
Beyond COntinental Limits of United States
American Expeditionary Forces. --In France, England, and Germany.
With naval service in Europe. --Paris, France; Pauillac, France; London, England; Marine aerodromes between Calais and Dunkirk, France; Croix d'Hins, Gironde, France; naval base, Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands; Cardiff, Wales.
Naval stations. --Cavite, P.I.; Olongapo, P.I.; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Virgin Islands; Guam.
Occupation forces. --Santo Domingo, Haiti.
Legation guards. --Peking, China; and Managua, Nicaragua.
Couriers. --Madrid, Spain; The Hague, Holland; Luxembourg Jassy, Roumania; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; Christiania, Norway; Petrograd, Archangel, Murman Coast, Russia; Paris, France; London, England; Athens, Greece; and Rome, Italy.
Constabularies. --Guardia Nacional Dominicana and Haitian gendarmerie.
Radio stations. --Cavite, P.I.; San Juan, Porto Rico; El Cayay, Porto Rico; Haiti; Croix d'Hins, Gironde, France.
Naval ammunition depot. --Olongapo, P.I.
Naval magazine. --Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Depot of supplies. --Cavite, P.I.
Attach&ecute;s. --Paris, France; London, England; Yokohama, Japan; Petrograd, Russia; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Christiania, Norway.
Chapter V.
How Officers Were Obtained and TrainedHow Officers Were Obtained
The outbreak of war made it essential that the corps should be filled as far as practicable with officers who had had prior military experience and training, and immediate steps were taken to arrange for the designation and examination of Marine Corps warrant officers, noncommissioned officers, graduates of military colleges, and other civilians with military experience and training.
The appointment of officers subsequent to the declaration of war up to October, 1917, both for the permanent service and for the temporary increase authorized for the duration of the war, were drawn from the following sources:
Graduates of the Naval Academy 6 Former officer of the Marine Corps 1 Former graduate of the Naval Academy 1 Warrant officers and paymaster's clerks of the Marine Corps 89 Meritorious noncommissioned officers of the Marine Corps 122 Reserve officers and National Naval Volunteers 36 Graduates of military colleges 284 Other civilians with prior military or naval experience or training 136 Other civilians passing the competitive examination held July 10, 1917 86 In order to expedite the training of the new officers, advantage was taken of the law providing for a Marine Corps Reserve, and successful candidates were immediately enrolled as second lieutenants in the reserve and ordered to Marine Corps posts for instruction pending the issuance of their commissions in the regular service. Candidates designated for the examination held July 10, 1917, were authorized upon designation to enroll as privates in the Marine Corps Reserve, with the understanding that upon the completion of their examination they would be ordered to the Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C., for training pending the receipt of the report of the examining board. This policy was carried out, and the successful candidates were commissioned second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, while the unsuccessful candidates were given the option of continuing in the service as enlisted men or of being discharged therefrom.
Owing to the unusually large number of young men of excellent education and fine attainments who had enlisted in the Marine Corps after the outbreak of war, it was decided that no further appointments of civilians to the rank of second lieutenant would be made during the continuance of the war, and that all vacancies occuring in that grade, not required for graduates of the Naval Academy, would be filled by the promotion of meritorious noncommissioned officers. This decision was promulgated to the service in Marine Corps Orders No. 25 (Series 1917).
How Officers Were Trained
The officers appointed from civil life, as soon as enrolled, were ordered to the Marine barracks, Mare Island, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; Parris Island, S.C.; and the Marine Corps rifle range, Winthrop, Md., for instruction, pending the completion of the buildings for their use at the Marine barracks, Quantico, Va. Early in July, 1917, the buildings being in readiness, the newly appointed officers, about 345 in number, were assembled at Quantico, where an officers' camp of instruction was held, and the course completed in October, 1917.
In carrying out the policy of obtaining officers from the ranks, orders were issued to commanding officers of every post and station of the Marine Corps, both at home and abroad, as well as those on board ship, to the effect that all commissioned officers would be taken from the ranks, and that the number of men to be designated from each post to attend the training camp would be a certain percentage of the number of men stationed at such post or station. Each commanding officer was ordered to convene a board of three officers to examine into the qualifications of the men at his post, and to report in the order of merit the names of the men considered qualified for entry to the officers' training camp at Quantico, Va. These reports were all forwarded to headquarters, where a board was convened to examine them and to select, in accordance with their standing as reported by the various boards, the number of men who it had been decided could be quartered and properly instructed at Quantico. It was found that about 600 was the limit that could be accommodated, and approximately this number was selected for the first camp, which was established at Quantico, Va., in April, 1918.
The officers' training camp was commanded by an officer of adequate rank. The students were divided into companies with a major in command as chief instructor and captains and lieutenants to assist him. The candidates were given a very rigid course of instruction and intensive training. Some of the studies pursued were: Infantry drill regulations, manual of interior guard duty, bayonet training, bombing, minor tactics, military engineering, military topography, administration, military law, lectures on gas and on sea duty, and a practical course on the rifle range.
The training at these camps was most intensive and thoroughly competitive, so that a man's position depended entirely upon himself. The material to draw from was so excellent that comparatively few of those who entered the camps failed to receive commissions and many of the young men so commissioned who were assigned to duty abroad demonstrated that their selection was fully justified.
Many officers also received special training in the schools of the Overseas Depot at Quantico, Va.
The majority of the members of the first officers' training camp were graduated in July, 1918. Three hundred of this camp were commissioned on July 15, 1918, and 91 on August 15, 1918.
The same proportionate allowance that was made in the United States was also designated for the Marines serving in France, and similar means were instituted there to carry out the policy of selection of men for the training camp. As a result of the camp established
over there, 164 second lieutenants were appointed from the Fourth Brigade in France.The second officers' training camp was opened at Quantico, Va., on August 20, 1918, the enlisted men forming its personnel having been selected in exactly the same manner as those attending the first camp and this procedure was also followed with regard to the Marines of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Of the 570 men enrolled 432 were graduated from the second officers' training camp, December 16, 1918, and 172 from the Army candidate school in France, who, immediately upon graduating, were enrolled as second lieutenants (provisional) in class 4, Marine Corps Reserve, and subsequently appointed temporary second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. An extension of three weeks to this course in America was necessitated by the epidemic of influenza.
There were 235 graduated in July, 1919, from the third officers' training camp who were enrolled as second lieutenants (provisional) in class 4, Marine Corps Reserve, and immediately assigned to inactive duty.
There were also 48 graduates of the Army candidate school in France, who were enrolled as second lieutenants (provisional) in class 4, Marine Corps Reserve, and who were discharged or placed on inactive duty upon their return to the United States, with the exception of four who were transferred to the temporary service.
Sixty-nine officers were graduated from the Marine Corps school of machine-gun instruction at Utica N.Y.
Information regarding the training of Marine officers for aviation duties will be found in Chapter XXI.
Marine Sections, Student Army Training Corps
In the act approved August 31, 1918, provision was made for a Student Army Training Corps, and under date of September 12, 1918, the Secretary of War directed the Provost Marshal General to allot 1,500 of the registrants authorized for induction into the Student Army Training Corps to the Marine sections under that organization. On September 23, 1918, with the approval of the Navy Department, Marine Corps headquarters designated the following institutions for the organization of Marine sections of the Student Army Training Corps and allotted quotas to each ranging from 100 to 190:
Leland Stanford Junior University 110 Georgia School of Technology 100 Harvard University 120 University of Minnesota 110 Cornell University 170 University of Washington 160 University of Texas 100 Yale University 100 University of Kansas 140 University of Wisconsin 190 Virginia Military Institute 100 University of North Carolina 100 A Marine officer was ordered to each of the designated institutions and charged with the duties of administration, instruction, and discipline of the Marine section, with the assistance of a noncommissioned officer of the Marine Corps.
It was intended to transfer, from time to time, well-qualified students who were inducted into Marine sections of the Student Army Training Corps to aviation duty, or to one of the two recruit camps, and in both cases men thus recommended, who proved themselves qualified to become officers, would be ultimately commissioned in either the Marine Corps Reserve Flying Corps or for general service in the Marine Corps. In either case after finishing their course in the Student Army Training Corps they would have been sent to a recruit camp for the regular course of training, because this would make it possible to imbue them with the necessary esprit de corps and indoctrinate them with the Marine Corps methods of procedure and training, both essential to the making of a Marine officer of the highest type. Owing to the ending of active hostilities there were no graduates from the Marine sections of the Student Army Training Corps at the different universities and colleges as they were ordered abandoned shortly after the armistice became operative
Chapter VI.
Training of Enlisted Men in the United States and EuropeIn United States
The Marine Corps system of training for the enlisted personnel during the war was thorough and excellent in every respect, and resulted in the turning out of men who proved themselves well fitted for the arduous duties of Marines.
For a short time after the outbreak of the war temporary recruit depots were opened at the navy yards at Philadelphia, Pa., and Norfolk, Va., with a capacity of 2,500 at the former and 500 at the latter. These were used until the regular recruit depots at Parris Island, S.C., and Mare Island, Calif., could accommodate the recruits. These two recruit depots were greatly enlarged both in size and scope, to take care of the temporary increase in strength authorized for the war, and were soon able to meet all demands made upon them.
At the beginning of the war the course of recruit instruction at the recruit depot, Parris Island, was of 8 weeks duration, and with but very few exceptions every recruit passing through this depot received 8 weeks instruction. At the Mare Island recruit depot, the recruits received 12 weeks training from April 6 to 28, 1917, 9 weeks from April 29, 1917, to June 21, 1918, and 8 weeks from June 22 to November 11, 1918.
The following table gives a list of the special schools at the Parris Island recruit depot and the number of graduates from each during the period between the outbreak of war and the date the armistice became operative:
Noncommissioned Officers School 2,144 Field Musics School 493 Radio School 143 Signal School 232 Band School 247 Clerical School 236 Pay School 78 Cooks, and Bakers, School 150 Total 3,723 The following table illustrates what was accomplished by the two recruit depots:
Depot. In training-- Maximum
strength
of post.Maximum
number of
recruits at
one time.Total
recruits
handled.Maximum
capacity.Apr. 6,
1917.Nov. 11,
1918.Parris Island 835 4,104 16,601 13,286 46,202 13,060 Mare island 358 1,143 2,799 2,470 11,901 3,009 Total 1,193 5,247 19,400 15,756 58,103 16,060
After leaving the recruit depots at Parris Island and Mare Island, advanced training was given the men at Quantico Va. This training was most intensive and as a result all the organizations which were trained there attained a high state of efficiency. It was made to approximate as nearly as practicable the real service which the men would have in the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Officers who were engaged in this training showed great ingenuity and efficiency in their attempts to make the training approach as nearly as possible what the men would be subjected to in actual service. That they succeeded was shown by the work done by the Marines in France and other places.
The first troops arrived at the Marine barracks, Quantico, Va., on May 18, 1917. The maximum enlisted strength was 9,849 on September 1 2,1918. The maximum number of officers present at one time was 484, on August 16, 1918. The strength on November 11, 1918, was 329 officers and 8,798 enlisted men. From May, 1917, to November 11, 1918, approximately 1,000 officers and 40,000 enlisted men passed through Quantico, Va.
In addition to giving the enlisted men general training at Quantico in preparation for overseas and other duty, the Overseas Depot was established on May 19, 1918, for the double purpose of organizing and training units of the Marine Corps for service with the American Expeditionary Forces.
Prior to the organization of this depot the Fifth and Sixth Regiments, the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion, the Base Battalion of the Fifth Regiment, and two replacement battalions had left the United States and had become part of the American Expeditionary Force.
The Overseas Depot consisted of an administrative staff and the various sections as follows: (a) The specialists' schools for the technical training of the infantry and machine gun, and the coordination of these specialists' arms; (b) the tactical department for the instruction and training of overseas units in new tactical principles; (c) the enlisted staff school for the training of first sergeants, mess sergeants, cooks, company clerks, armorers, etc: Two French and four Canadian officers, who had abundant experience in the fighting in Europe, were assigned as advisors of the commanding officer.
The basic independent unit of organization was the platoon, and the platoon therefore became the principal training unit. In the organization of this unit the scheme followed was to assure to each a certain nucleus of enlisted instructors trained in the various specialties, in addition to the platoon commanders, who were qualified to carry on the instruction along approved lines within the unit. This nucleus was taken from the graduates of the specialists' schools of the depot. When four such platoons had been formed they were assembled into a company. The company headquarters, trained in the enlisted staff school, was added to the four platoons and the company organization was turned over to the company commander complete in all details. Battalions were likewise formed by the consolidation of companies. In every instance the platoon, company, and the battalion, carried out a regular schedule of drills and institutions under the supervision of the depot, but all administrative details were left in the hands of the company and the battalion commanders. These training schedules were made up in the tactical department, approved by the commanding officer, and were
based on the most approved methods in effect at the time. In the cases of the formation of regimental organizations, of which there were two formed during the existence of the Overseas Depot, the battalions upon being formed were turned over to the regimental commander, and in this case direct supervision by the depot ceased, but all facilities on hand, such as material, officers acting in an advisory capacity, training areas, etc., directly attached to the depot, were placed at the disposal of the regimental commanders who were at all times in active liaison with the depot.About 85 per cent of the troops forming the detachments arriving at the Overseas Depot for service in France had undergone not less than 8 nor more than 12 weeks' training at the regular recruit depots of the Marine Corps. The preliminary training received at these recruit depots was such as to fit the men for general service throughout the Marine Corps, and resulted in the men being well disciplined, considering the short time they had been in the service. This facilitated the more advanced and specialized training they were to receive at the Overseas Depot. These detachments were composed entirely of qualified riflemen, having undergone during the recruit period a most thorough and comprehensive course in the use of the rifle. Upon the arrival of these detachments they were organized as outlined above, and the commissioned personnel was assigned to the units from the officers' school. The schedule and drills and instructions were provided them and were carried out under the supervision of specially selected officers of the tactical department of the Overseas Depot, including the foreign officers. This training continued until the units departed for France. Training in open warfare was given precedence over that of trench warfare from the very beginning in the proportion of about four to one.
The following units were organized by the Overseas Depot: Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh Separate Battalions; Second and Third Machine Gun Battalions; Fifth Brigade Machine Gun Battalion; Second and Third Separate Machine Gun Battalions; Eleventh and Thirteenth Regiments; total, approximately, 16,000 officers and enlisted men. The Seventh and Eighth Separate Battalions were organized and sent to France from Marine Barracks, Parris Island, S.C.
The following table shows the schools conducted by the Overseas Depot and the number of graduates:
School. Officers. Noncom-
missisoned
officers.Privates. Total. Officers 294 294 Bayonet 360 220 580 Bombing 200 150 350 Gas 180 180 Automatic Rifle 150 650 809 Scout Snipers 75 375 450 Machine Gun 120 145 295 560 Miners and Sappers 70 80 150 Enlisted Staff 105 300 405 Total 414 1,285 2,070 3,769
In addition to the training described above, 69 officers and 2,084 enlisted men, a total of 2,153, graduated from the Marine Corps school of machine-gun instruction at Utica, N.Y.Never before in the history of the corps have better drilled and trained or more generally efficient men been turned out, ready for duty, upon completion of their training, and to this factor is largely due the splendid record made by the Marines during the war.
The work of the officers training the Marines was not spectacular, and they wear no war chevrons, nor decorations for bravery, perhaps, but they were, nevertheless, a vital factor in whatever success the Marine Corps met with in the great struggle.
Information with reference to the training of enlisted men for aviation will be found in Chapter XXI.
Training in France
On June 27, 1917, the First Battalion of the Fifth Regiment actually landed in France and on July 3, 1917, the entire Fifth Regiment was under canvas on French soil. From that date every effort was made to train the men and officers. Elements of the Fifth Regiment trained as a part of the First Division of Regulars from July 15, 1917, to September, 1917, in the Gondrecourt training area. From September, 1917, on, the training of the available units of the Fourth Brigade as a unit of the Second Division of Regulars was conducted in the Bourmont training area.
Until February, 1918, the training of the Marines in France was handicapped by the fact that units of the Brigade were engaged in duties along the Line of Communications (Services of Supply), one company and a battalion commander being absent in England until March, 1918. It was not until the middle of February, 1918, that the Fourth Brigade of Marines (less the company in England) was conducting its training as a brigade with any degree of satisfaction. Owing to the well-trained condition of the individual Marine this condition did not vitally affect his professional ability as was so distinctly shown by his later accomplishments.
The Fourth Brigade continued its training in the Bourmont training area until the middle of March, 1918, when it entered the front line trenches in the Verdun sector.
The Marine replacements received little or no training in a training area in France as most of them were hurried into the fighting immediately upon arrival overseas.
To summarize, the average Marine who arrived in France received at least six weeks' training in the United States in a recruit depot and a very short period at Quantico. This is a contrast to the six months' training received by the average enlisted man of the Army After arrival in France the Marines, except those of the original Fourth Brigade, received practically no training in a training area since they joined the brigade almost immediately. The Marines comprising the Fifth Brigade of Marines received no training in a regular training area in France.
Chapter VII
Organizations and Replacements Sent to Europoe--
Organization of the Fourth and Fifth BrigadesThe Fourth Brigade of Marines
The Fourth Brigade of United States Marines was composed of the Fifth and Sixth Regiments of Marines, and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines.
The companies forming the battalions were as follows:
Fifth Regiment. First Battalion. 17th (A) Company.
49th (B) Company.
66th (C) Company.
67th (D) COmpany.Second Battalion. 18th (E) Company.
43d (F) Company.
51st (G) Company.
55th (H) Company.8th Machine Gun Company.
Supply Ccompany.
Headquarters Company.Third Battalion. 16th (I) Company.
20th (K) Company.
45th (L) Company.
47th (M) Company.Sixth Regiment. First Battalion. 74th (A) Company.
75th (B) Company.
76th (C) Company.
95th (D) COmpany.Second Battalion. 78th (E) Company.
79th (F) Company.
80st (G) Company.
96th (H) Company.73d Machine Gun Company.
Supply Company.
Headquarters Company.Third Battalion. 82nd (I) Company.
83rd (K) Company.
84th (L) Company.
97th (M) Company.
Sixth Machine Gun Battalion. 15th (A) Company.
23d (B) Company.77th (C) Company.
81st (D) Company.From June 27, 1917, to the middle of September, 1917, the Fifth Regiment was a unit of the First Division of Regulars. Although the Fifth Regiment was the only organization of Marines in France at the time, the Fourth Brigade of Marines was formed on October 23, 1917, when Col. Charles A. Doyen cabled acceptance of his appointment as Brigadier General. From October 26, 1917, to August 8, 1919, the Fourth Brigade was a part of the Second Division of Regulars, except from October 20-23, 1918, when the Brigade was provisionally at the disposal of the Ninth French Army Corps, in the vicinity of Leffincourt. On August 8, 1919, the brigade was transferred back to the naval service.
On May 29, 1917, in accordance with directions issued by the President, the Secretary of the Navy directed the Major General
Commandant "to organize a force of Marines to be known as the Fifth Regiment of Marines for service with the Army as a part of the first expedition to proceed to France in the near future." The Fifth Regiment was accordingly organized at the navy yard, Philadelphia, Pa., on June 7, 1917, with Col. Charles A. Doyen in command, and Maj. Harry R. Lay, as adjutant.Gen. Pershing and his staff, accompanied by two Marine officers, proceded the first expedition to France, sailing late in May, 1917, from the United States.
The final report of the American commander in chief includes the following:
The offer by the Navy Department of one regiment of Marines to be reorganized as Infantry was accepted by the Secretary of War, and it became temporarily a part of the First Division.
On June 14, 1917, the first expedition of American troops left the United States for France and the Fifth Regiment of Marines embarked on the naval transports Henderson and Hancock, and the auxiliary cruiser De Kalb (former Printz Eitel Friedrich ), formed approximately one-fifth of it. The fourth group, including the Hancock, did not sail until June 17, 1917.
The orders received by the convoy commander on the day prior to sailing read in part: "A military expedition is to be embarked on the above-named transports, augmented by a regiment of Marines embarked in naval vessels, for transportation to a destination already communicated."
The De Kalb was in group 1, the Henderson in group 2, and the Hancock in group 4; all were part of the escort an not the convoy.
Rear-Admiral Albert Gleaves, the convoy commander, flying his flag on the Seattle, personally commanded the first group, while Maj. Gen. W.L. Sibert in the Tenedares, was the senior Army officer embarked.
The passage of the four groups across the Atlantic was successfully accomplished without a single disaster, or the loss of a life due to enemy causes.
At 10.15 p. m., June 22, 1917, the first group, including the De Kalb was attacked by enemy submarines. The wake of a submarine was sighted crossing 50 yards ahead of the Seattle's bow from starboard to port. A few seconds later the De Kalb and Havana sighted torpedoes and opened fire. Two torpedoes passed close to the Havana, and one passed ahead and one astern of the De Kalb . The second group encountered two submarines, the first at 11.50 a. m., June 26, 1918, about 100 miles off the French coast and the second two hours later.
The De Kalb arrived at St. Nazaire, France, on June 26, 1917, the Henderson on June 27, 1917, and the Hancock on July 2, 1917. On June 27, 1917, the commanding officer of the Fifth Regiment reported to the commanding general, First Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and from that date the Fifth Regiment was considered as being detached for service with the Army by direction of the President.
Five hundred negro stevedores had been brought from the United States by the Army to discharge ships, but they were found inadequate for the large number of ships concerned. The Marines relieved the situation somewhat by turning to and discharging their own vessels.
On June 27, 1917, the First Battalion, less the Fifteenth Company which joined the battalion the following day, disembarked from the De Kalb and occupied quarters ashore. On this date Lieut. Col. Logan Feland joined the Fifth Regiment. On June 28, 1917, the Second and Third Battalions went ashore from the Henderson for a practice march, and the following day the First Battalion erected tents for the regiment on a camp site a short distance outside of St. Nazaire. By 8 p. m., July 3, 1917, the entire Fifth Regiment was ashore under canvas.On July 15, 1917, the Fifth Regiment, less the Third Battalion, which remained behind to perform guard duty and other detached units and officers, proceeded to the Gondrecourt training area, and was stationed in Menaucourt and Naix.
On August 1, 1917, Gen. Pershing inspected the battalions at the two towns where they were billetted.
On August 15, 1917, the First Division, including the Fifth Regiment of Marines, was reviewed by its commanding general on a plateau 12 miles distant from the training area.
On August 19, 1917, Gen. Pershing and Gen. Petain, commander-in-chief of all the French forces, inspected the Marines, as a unit of the First Division. Gen. Petain congratulated the colonel of the regiment on the splendid appearance of its officers and men, as well as the cleanliness of the towns.
Every opportunity was taken advantage of to perfect the regiment for combat duty, but this work was handicapped by the fact that many units of the regiment were scattered along the Line of Communications performing duty of a necessary but of a nontraining nature. One company and one battalion commander left the regiment until March 11, 1918. Many other officers and men were placed on detached duty.
On September 24, 25, 1917, that part of the Fifth Regiment available for training arrived in the Bourmont training areas and was stationed at Damblain and Breuvannes.
The following letter dated November 10, 1917, addressed by Gen. Pershing to the Major General Commandant is both complimentary and explanatory as to why the Marines were used along the Line of Communications:
Your Marines having been under my command for nearly six months, I feel that I can give you a discriminating report as to their excellent standing with their brothers of the Army and their general good conduct. I take this opportunity, also, of giving you the reasons for distributing them along our Line of Communications which, besides being a compliment to their high state of discipline and excellent soldierly appearance, was the natural thing to do as the Marine Regiment was an additional one in the Division and not provided for in the way of transportation and fighting equipment in case the Division should be pushed to the front. When, therefore, service of the rear troops and military and provost guards were needed at our base ports and in Paris it was the Marine Regiment that had to be scattered, in an endeavor to keep the rest of the organized division intact.
I have been obliged to detach a number of your officers as assistant provost marshals in France and in England, all of which I take it you will agree with me was highly complimentary to both officers and men, and was so intended. I can assure you that as soon as our service of the rear troops arrive, including a large number of officers and men for the specific duties now being performed by your men, the Marines will be brought back once more under your brigade commander and assigned to the duties which they so much desire in the Second Regular Division under General Bundy.
It is a great pleasure to report on your fine representatives here in France.
Col. Charles A. Doyen was in command of the Fifth Regiment from the date of its organization on June 7, 1917, to October 29, 1917; and Lieut. Col. Hiram I. Bearss from October 30, 1917, to December 31, 1917. Col. Wendell C. Neville having arrived on on board the De Kalb at St. Nazaire, France, on December 28, 1917, reported to the Fourth Brigade for duty on January 1, 1918 and on that date assumed command of the Fifth Regiment, continuing in command until July, 1918.The Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines was organized at the Marine barracks, Quantico, Va., by order of the Major General Commandant on August 17, 1917. The battalion was designated the First Machine Gun Battalion, but on January 20, 1918, after arrival in France, was renamed the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion. On December 14, 1917, the battalion sailed from New York on the De Kalb, arriving at St. Nazaire, France, December 28, 1917. On January 3, 1918, the battalion arrived at Damblain in the Bourmont training area and began training with headquarters at Germain-villiers.
Maj. Edward B. Cole was in command of the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines from the date of its organization until June 10, 1918, when he received a mortal wound.
On August 4, 1917, in accordance with directions issued by the President, the Secretary of the Navy directed the Major General Commandant "to organize a force of Marines, to be known as the Sixth Regiment of Marines, for service with the Army in France," and the regiment was organized as directed.
On September 23, 1917, the First Battalion of the Sixth Regiment sailed on the Henderson from New York and landed at St. Nazaire, France, on October 5, 1917. On October 17, 1917, the Seventy-third Machine Gun Company, Headquarters, and Supply Companies, and Col. Albertus W. Catlin, commanding officer of the Sixth Regiment, with his Staff, sailed from Philadelphia, Pa., on the De Kalb, and from New York on October 18, 1917, arriving at St. Nazaire, France, on November 1, 1917. On October 31 1917, the Third Battalion of the Sixth Regiment sailed from New York on board the VON STEUBEN and anchored at Brest, France, on November 1 2,1917. On January 24, 1918, the Second Battalion of the Sixth Regiment sailed on the Henderson from New York and arrived at St. Nazaire, France, February 6, 1918, and with the arrival of this last battalion, the entire Sixth Regiment of Marines was in France.
On October 23, 1917, the Fourth Brigade of Marines was organized, with Brig. Gen. Charles A. Doyen in command. Brig. Gen. Doyen continued in command until May 7, 1918, when he published in General Orders No. 5, that he had relinquished command. Maj. Harry R. Lay was the first brigade adjutant, and performed the duties of that office from October 24, 1917, to August 9, 1918, except during the period February 7 to May 9, 1918, when Maj. Holland M. Smith was brigade adjutant.
On October 26, 1917, Brig. Gen. Charles A. Doyen, United States Marine Corps, assumed command of the Second Division as its first commanding general, and announced his staff in General Orders No. 1, with station at Bourmont, Haute-Marne, serving as such until relieved by Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy, United States Army, who announced
that he assumed command in General Orders No. 4, November 8, 1917.Like the Fifth Regiment, the Sixth Regiment spent several months performing the necessary but undesired duties along the Line of Communications. On January 12, 1918, Col. Albertus W. Catlin established headquarters for the Sixth Regiment at Blevaincourt in the Bourmont training area. The Third Battalion arrived in this area on January 12, 1918, the headquarters units the same date, the First Battalion during January, 1918, and the Second Battalion on February 10, 1918.
Therefore, on February 10, 1918, the Fourth Brigade of Marines was in the Bourmont training area intact, with the exception of one company on duty in England, training industriously as an infantry brigade of the Second Division. While the brigade had been organized on October 23, 1917, and had actually functioned as a brigade with elements of all three of its units present from January 12, 1918, it was not until February 10, 1918, that the Brigade organization was perfected.
Fifth Brigade of Marines
On September 5, 1918, the Major General Commandant directed the post commander, Marine barracks, Quantico, Va., to organize brigade headquarters of the Fifth Brigade, United States Marine Corps.
This brigade was accordingly organized and was composed of the Eleventh and Thirteenth Regiments and the Fifth Brigade Machine Gun Battalion. The companies of the Fifth Brigade were designated by letters and not by numbers.
Brig. Gen. Eli K. Cole was designated as the brigade commander and on September 15, 1918, he and the Brigade Staff sailed from Hoboken, N.J., on board the Von Steuben, arriving at Brest, France, on September 24, 1918.
The Thirteenth Regiment left the Overseas Depot at Quantico, Va., on Friday, September 13, 1918, and on September 15, 1918, sailed from Hoboken, N. J., on board the Henderson and Von Steuben, arriving at Brest, France, on September 25, 1918.
On September 29, 1918, Eleventh Regiment Headquarters and the First Battalion sailed on the De Kalb from Philadelphia, Pa., and arrived at Brest, France, on October 13, 1918. On October 16, 1918, the Second and Third Battalions of the Eleventh Regiment sailed from Brooklyn, N.Y., on board the Agamemnon and Von Steuben and arrived at Brest, France on October 25, 1918.
On October 28, 1918, the Fifth Brigade Machine Gun Battalion sailed from South Brooklyn, N.Y., on board the Henderson and arrived at Brest, France, on November 9, 1918. With the arrival of this unit the entire Fifth Brigade was in France.
Aviation Units
On January 21, 1918, the First Marine Aeronautic Company arrived at naval base No. 13, Ponta Delgada, Azores.
On July 30, 1918, the First Marine Aviation Force (less Squadron D) disembarked at Brest, France, and formed the Day Wing of the Northern Bombing Group. Squadron D joined the Day Wing in October, 1918.
Marine Detachments for Naval Bases
On January 21, 1918, and on July 20, 1918, detachments for the naval base No. 13, arrived at Ponta Delgada, Azores.
On September 30, 1918, the detachment for naval base No. 29, arrived at Cardiff, Wales.
On December 29, 1918, the detachment for the naval forces in France, staff office, Paris, France, landed at St. Nazaire, France.
Replacements for American Expeditionary Forces
The following table will show the names of the replacement organizations sent to the American Expeditionary Forces, dates of sailing and arrival, and names of vessels:
Name of organization. Date
embarked
in U.S.Date
disembarked
in France.Name of Vessel Fifth Regiment Base Detachment July 31, 1917 Aug. 22, 1917 Henderson. Twelfth and Twenty-sixth Companies (disbanded in France) Dec. 8, 1917 Dec. 31, 1917 De Kalb. First Replacement Battalion Feb. 5, 1918 Feb. 25, 1918 Von Steuben. Second Replacement Battalion Mar. 14, 1918 Mar. 27, 1918 Henderson. Third Replacement Battalion Apr. 22, 1918 May --, 1918 Do. Casual Company ...do... ...do... Do. First Machine Gun Replacement Battalion May 26, 1918 June 8, 1918 Do. First Casual Replacement Battalion ...do... ...do... Do. Second Casual Replacement Battalion June 30, 1918 July 9, 1918 Do. Third Separate Battalion Aug. 13, 1918 Aug. 26, 1918 Do. Fourth Separate Battalion ...do... ...do... Do. Fifth Separate Battalion Aug. 17, 1918 Aug. 27, 1918 Von Steuben. Sixth Separate Battalion ...do... ...do... Do. First Separate Machine Gun Battalion Aug. 21, 1918 Sept. 2, 1918 De Kalb. Seventh Separate Battalion Oct. 20, 1918 Nov. 3, 1918 Pocohontas. Eighth Separate Battalion ...do... ...do... Do. Ninth Separate Battalion Oct. 27, 1918 Nov. 9, 1918 Henderson. In addition to the above the Twelfth Replacement Battalion sailed from the United States on board the Hancock in June, 1919, arrived in France in June, 1919, and joined the American Expeditionary Forces.
Number of Marines Sailing from the United States to Europe for Duty With the American Expeditionary Forces and for Shore Duty With the Naval Service
There were 834 officers, not including observers, and 30,481 enlisted men, or a total of 31,315 Marines, sent overseas for shore duty with the American Expeditionary Forces and naval service. The following tables give details:
For duty with American Expeditionary Forces.
Month of Departure from United States. Officers. Enlisted Total. May, 1917 12 2 June, 1917 70 2,689 2,759 July, 1917 29 1,054 1,083 September, 1917 27 1,045 1,072 October, 1917 45 1,536 1,581 December, 1917 23 637 660 January, 1918 31 1,031 1,062 February, 1918 24 1,041 1,065 March, 1918 23 1,034 1,057 April, 1918 22 1,284 1,306 May, 1918 24 1,565 1,589 June, 1918 6 751 757 August, 1918 32 4,362 4,394 September, 1918 172 5,275 5,447 October, 1918 132 5,809 5,941 Total 662 29,113 29,775 1 Accompanied Gen. Pershing. Sixty officers of the Medical Corps, twelve officers of the Dental Corps, five hundred enlisted men of the Medical Corps, and eleven Chaplains, of the Navy, not included in the above figures, were sent to France and served with the Marines in the American Expeditionary Forces.
In addition to the above the Twelfth Replacement Battalion, consisting of 9 officers and 500 enlisted men, joined the American Expeditionary Forces in June, 1919.
For duty with naval service ashore.
Month of Departure from United States. Officers. Enlisted Total. December, 1917 2 59 61 January, 1918 13 172 185 June, 1918 2 75 77 July, 1918 107 654 761 August, 1918 4 120 124 September, 1918 4 288 332 Total 172 1,368 1,560
Chapter VIII
Operations in GeneralWhile the battle operations of the Fourth Brigade as an infantry brigade of the Second Division of Regulars overshadowed all others taken part in by Marine Corps personnel, those operations were by no means the only ones participated in by officers and men of the Marine Corps.
The commanding general of the Second Division from early in August, 1918, to the date of demobilization, and several officers on his staff were Marine officers. Officers of the Marine Corps were at various times attached to the First, Second, Third, Fourth Sixth Twenty-sixth, Thirty-second, Thirty-fifth, Ninetieth, and Ninety-second Divisions, and in some cases engaged in operations with them. Brig. Gen. John A. Lejeune assumed command of the Sixty-fourth Infantry Brigade of the Thirty-second Division, then in the front line on the Swiss border in the Suarce sector, on July 5, 1918. He was in command of this brigade on July 22, 1918, when it was withdrawn from the above-mentioned sector and continued in command until July 25, 1918, when he left to command the Fourth Brigade of Marines. Between July 5, 1918, and July 22, 1918, Brig. Gen. Lejeune, in addition to the Sixty-fourth Brigade, commanded three French infantry regiments. Col. Robert H. Dunlap was in command of the Seventeenth Field Artillery Regiment of the Second Field Artillery Brigade, Second Division, from October 30, 1918, to February, 1919. Col. Hiram I. Bearss commanded the One hundred and second Regiment of the Fifty-first Infantry Brigade, Twenty-sixth Division, in the St. Mihiel offensive. Col. Frederic M. Wise commanded the Fifty-ninth Regiment of the Eighth Infantry Brigade, Fourth Division, from September 5, 1918, to January 4, 1919, during which period he participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne major operations. From January 1, 1919, to February 9, 1919, Col. Wise commanded the Eighth Infantry Brigade of the Fourth Division.
A few Marine officers and enlisted men engaged in Army aviation operations and suffered casualties. About 20 Marine officers were sent to France as observers and as such participated in operations with American, French, and British forces. Marine aviation personnel served in France as the Day Wing of the Northern Bombing Group of the Navy. Marine flyers served with Squadrons 213 (pursuit squadron), 217, and 218 (bombing squadrons), Royal Flying Corps of England; and with pursuit, observation, and bombing squadrons of the French Flying Corps. Quite a few casualties were suffered by the Marine aviation personnel.
The First Marine Aeronautic Company, naval base No. 13, Ponta Delgada, Azores, equipped for water flying only, performed patrol duty from January, 1918, until November 11, 1918.
The Marine Aviation Section, naval air station, Miami, Fla., performed arduous patrol duties in the Florida Straits in connection with the Navy from July, 1918, until the date the armistice went into effect.Marine detachments served on board all the American battleships attached to the British Grand Fleet and also on the American battleships which based at Castletown Berehaven, Bantry Ba, Ireland. Marines also served on board many of the cruisers which escorted the vessels transporting Army troops to Europe. They were also attached to many other naval vessels such as the Brooklyn, Helena, and Wilmington, in China and Siberian waters, at one time landing at Vladivostok in conjunction with other naval forces; on the Galveston on the Murman Coast; and on the Pittsburgh in South American waters. Marines were also on the San Diego when that vessel was sunk, and the Minnesota when that ship was damaged by German mines. Marines were in intimate contact with the Germans in Guam and Philadelphia in conjunction with the Navy in the first hours of the war.
One brigade of Marines was held in readiness in Texas for possible trouble in Mexico which might endanger the Allies' oil supply. Another was scattered throughout the island of Cuba. Large detachments of Marines were stationed in the Azores and Virgin Islands in the nature of advanced base forces, while an advanced base force at Philadelphia was available at all times for naval needs.
Marine forces were also stationed in Guam, Philippine Islands, Peking, Pearl Harbor, and Nicaragua and they assisted materially, under the limited conditions, in the war.
Active operations were conducted in Haiti and Santo Doiningo against bandits during the period of the war by Marine forces, the Haitian Gendarmerie and the Guardia Nacional Dominicana, the two latter organizations being composed of natives and administered and officered by the Marine and Navy personnel. Casualties were suffered by Marines in the operations in Santo Domingo, 4 Marines being killed, 13 wounded, and 1 officer wounded, between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918.
Chapter IX
Units Composing, and the Commanding Generals of, ohe Second Division-Verdun OperationsThe Second Division of Regulars
The first unit which ultimately formed a part of the Second Division arriving in France was the Fifth Regiment of Marines which landed in France with the first expedition of American troops in June, 1917. One Marine lieutenant colonel, who afterwards was the first chief of staff of the Second Division, and another Marine lieutenant colonel, who later commanded the Seventeenth Field Artillery of the Second Division, accompanied Gen. Pershing and his staff when they sailed from the United States late in May, 1917.
The Second Division was composed of the following units:
Third Infantry Brigade:
Ninth Infantry.
Fourth Infantry Brigade:
Twenty-third Infantry.
Fifth Machine Gun Battalion.Fifth Marines.
Second Field Artillery Brigade:
Sixth Marines.
Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines.
Twelfth Field Artillery.
Other troops:
Fifteenth Field Artillery.
Seventeenth Field Artillery.
Second Trench Mortar Battery.
Second Engineers.
Fourth Machine Gun Battalion.
First Field Signal Battalion.
Second Headquarters Train and Military Police.
Second Ammunition Train.
Second Engineer Train.
Second Supply Train.
Second Sanitary Train.On October 26, 1917, Brig. Gen. Charles A. Doyen, United States Marine Corps, assumed command of the Second Division as its first commanding general and announced his staff in General Orders, No. 1, with station at Bourmont, Haute-Marne, France. Lieut. Col. Logan Feland, United States Marine Corps, was the first chief of staff. On November 8, 1917, Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy, United States Army, assumed command, published such fact in General Orders, No. 4,. November 8, 1917, and was in command of it during the operations in the Verdun and Chateau-Thierry sectors. Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord, United States Army, commanded the division in the Aisne-Marne (Soissons) offensive in July, 1918. Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune assumed command of the division on July 28, 1918, and retained command until its demobilization in August, 1919. Many Marine officers occupied positions of importance and responsibility
on the staff of the commanding general, Second Division. A Marine officer commanded the Seventeenth Field Artillery during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and other Marine officers commanded battalions of the Ninth Infantry and Fifteenth Field Artillery for a time.Neither the Marine Brigade nor any other element of the Second Division was the first American unit to enter the front line's since the First Division enjoyed that honor in October, 1917, when it entered the line in the quiet Toul sector.
The Fourth Brigade remained in the Bourmont training area, with headquarters at Damblain, until March 14, 1918, when it commenced movement into subsectors of the Verdun front, the first units of the brigade entering the front line during the night of March 16-17, 1918, with headquarters at Toulon. On April 1, 1918, brigade headquarters was changed to Moscou. The brigade remained on the Verdun front until May 14, 1918, when it proceeded to an area around Vitry-le-Francois for open warfare training, with headquarters at Venault-les-Dames. In the meantime, on May 6, 1918, Brig. Gen. James G. Harbord assumed command of the brigade relieving Big. Gen. Doyen who has been ordered to the United States on account of his physical condition. Brig. Gen. Doven relinquished command of the brigade most unwillingly, and the reasons for his relief are best set forth in the words of the citation of a Navy distinguished service medal posthumously awarded to him, reading as follows.
By reason of his abilities and personal efforts, he brought this brigade to the very high state of efficiency which enabled it to successfully resist the German army in the Chateau-Thierry sector and Belleau Woods. The strong efforts on his part for nearly a year undermined his health and necessitated his being invalided to the United States before having the opportunity to command the brigade in action, but his work was shown by the excellent service rendered by the brigade, not only at Belleau Woods, but during the entire campaign when they fought many battles
Gen. Pershing in a letter to Brig. Gen. Doyen stated in part:
Your service has been satisfactory and your command is considered as one of the best in France. I have nothing but praise for the service which you have rendered in this command.
On May 14, 1918, the brigade left the area around Vitry-le-Francois as it was unsuitable and proceeded to an area around Gisors-Chaumont-en-Vixen, with headquarters at Bou-des-Bois. The brigade was in this area when sudden orders came to move to the Chateau-Thierry sector.
On May 27, 1918, Brig. Gen. John A. Lejeune and Maj. Earl H. Ellis sailed from New York on board the Henderson and arrived at Brest, France, on June 8, 1918.
Chapter X
Aisne Defensive, Hill 142, Bouresches,
and Bois de la Brigade de Marine,
In the Chateau-Thierry SectorIn order to appreciate understandingly the importance of the early operations participated in by the Marine Brigade as a unit of the Second Division it is necessary to remember that in 1918, prior to the middle of July, the offensive was in the hands of the Imperial German Staff, and that between March 21, 1918, and July 15, 1918, the Germans directed no less than five major offensives against the Allied lines in efforts to bring the war to a successful conclusion for the Central Powers. American troops assisted in breaking up every one of these drives, but the Second Division, including the Marines, opposed only one, that in the Chateau-Thierry sector. It should also be noted that on March 28, 1918, the American commander in chief placed all of the American forces at the disposal of Marshal Foch, who had been agreed upon as commander in chief of the Allied Armies, to be used as he might decide.
The first offensive (Somme) of the Germans was stopped within a few miles of Amiens, and the second (Lys) overran Armentieres. In this second German offensive, which lasted from April 9 to 27, 1918, and which has been designated by the Americans as a major operation, there were approximate 500 American troops engage.
Then late in May, 1918, with startling success, which brought a corresponding depression to the morale of the Allies, the Germans launched their third offensive, west of Rheims, crossed the Chemin-des-Dames, captured Soissons, and the last day of May found them marching in the direction of Paris down the Marne Valley. Again the American commander in chief placed every available man at the disposal of Marshal Foch. It was at this critical time, when the Allies were facing a grave crisis, that the Second Division, including the Marine Brigade, together with elements of the Third and Twenty-eighth Divisions, were thrown into the line and, in blocking the German advance in the Chateau-Thierry sector, rendered great assistance in stopping the most dangerous of the German drives.
The first report of the American commander in chief states that "the Third Division, which had just come from its preliminary training area, was hurried to the Marne. Its motorized machine-gun battalion preceded the other units and successfully held the bridge-head at the Marne opposite Chateau-Thierry. The Second Division, in reserve near Montdidier, was sent by motor trucks and other available transport to check the progress of the enemy toward Paris."
The final report of the American commander in chief with reference to this third German offensive stated in part:
On reaching the Marne that river was used as a defensive flank and the German advance was directed toward Paris. During the first days of June something akin to a panic seized the city and it was estimated that 1,000,000 people left during the spring of 1918. * * *
The Second Division, then in reserve northwest of Paris and preparing to relieve the First Division, was hastily diverted to the vicinity of Meaux on May 31, and, early on the morning of June 1, was deployed across the Chateau-Thierry Paris road near Montreuil-aux-Lions in a gap in the French line, where it stopped the German advance on Paris.
Without minimizing in any way the splendid actions of the Twenty-sixth Division at Seicheprey and Xivray in April 1918, or the brilliant exploit of the First Division at Cantigny on May 28, 1918, the fact remains that the Second Division, including the Marine Brigade, was the first American division to get a chance to play an important part on the western front, and how well it repelled this dangerous thrust of the Germans along the Paris-Metz highway is too well known to be dwelt upon at length in this brief history.
The fighting of the Second Division in the Chateau-Thierry sector was divided into two parts, one a magnificently stubborn defensive lasting a week and the other a vicious offensive. The defensive fighting of the Second Division between May 31 and June 5, 1918, was part of the major operation called by the Americans the Aisne defensive. Without discussing at this time the tactical or strategical significance of the work of the second Division in the Aisne defensive, suffice to say that its psychological effect upon the morale of the Allies was tremendous and has been recognized in practically every writing worthy of consideration up to the present date.
The close of the Aisne defensive on June 5, 1918, found the line of the Second Division well established at that point of the Marne salient nearest Paris, but not including Hill 14 2,Bois de Belleau, Bouresches, or Vaux, and the Germans were in possession of Chateau-Thierry on the right of the Second Division, and continued to hold that town until about July 17, 1918.
On June 6, 1918, the Second Division snatched the initiative from the Germans and started an offensive on its front which did not end until July 1, 1918. The Marine Brigade captured Hill 142 and Bouresches on June 6, 1918, and in the words of Gen. Pershing, "sturdily held its ground against the enemy's best guard divisions," and completely cleared Bois de Belleau of the enemy on June 26, 1918, a major of Marines sending in his famous message: "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps' entirely." The American commander in chief in his first report calls this fighting "the battle of Belleau Wood" and states, "our men proved their superiority, and gained a strong tactical position with far greater loss to the enemy than to ourselves." In his final report he states: "The enemy having been halted, the Second Division commenced a series of vigorous attacks on June 4, which resulted in the capture of Belleau Woods [on June 26] after very severe fighting. The village of Bouresches was taken soon after [on June 6] and on July 1 Vaux was captured. In these operations the Second Division met with most desperate resistance by Germany's best troops." On July 1, 1918, the Third Brigade captured Vaux. The Artillery, Engineers, and the other elements of the Second Division assisted materially in these successes, while the Seventh regiment of the Third Division was in Belleau Wood for a few day about the middle of June.
During these 31 days of constant fighting, the last 26 of which has been defined by general headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces as a "local engagement," the Second Division suffered
1,811 battle deaths (of which approximately 1,062 were Marines) and suffered additional casualties amounting to 7,252 (of which approximately 3,615 were Marines). It was that fighting and those 9,063 casualties that first made the name Chateau-Thierry famous.The achievements of the Fourth Brigade of Marines in the Chateau-Thierry sector was twice recognized by the French. The first, which changed the name of the Bois de Belleau, was a beautiful tribute spontaneously made to the successes and to the losses of the Fourth Brigade of Marines, and shows the deep effect that the retaking of Belleau Wood and other near-by positions from the Germans had on the feelings of the French and the morale of the Allies. Official maps were immediately modified to conform with the provisions of the order, the plan directeur used in later operations bearing the name "Bois de la Brigade de Marine." The French also used this new name in their orders, as illustrated by an ordre general dated August 9, 1918, signed by the commanding general of the Sixth French Army, reading in part as follows:
Avant la grande offensive du 18 Juillet, les troupes americaines faisant partie de la VIe Armee francaise se sont distinguees en enlevant a l'ennemi le Bois de la Brigade De Marine et le village de Vaux, en arretant son offensive sur la Marine et a Fossoy.
The order changing the name of Bois de Belleau reads as follows:
VI° ARMEE, ETAT-MAJOR,
au Q. G. A., le 30 Juin, 1918.6