Chapter I: Front Matter

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

All nine footnotes are associated with tables. The footnote anchors
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The

United States Marine Corps

in the

World War

By

EDWIN N. McCLELLAN

Major, U. S. Marines
Officer in Charge Historical Division

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1920

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

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.

It is a partial compliance with the instructions contained in Marine Corps 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 Corps 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 recommendation that it be published to the naval service.

EDWIN N. MCCLELLAN.

[First endorsement.]

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR’S DEPARTMENT, HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS,

_Washington, D. C., November 26, 1919_.

From: The Acting Adjutant and Inspector. To: The Major General Commandant.

1. Forwarded, approved.

H. C. HAINES.

Approved:
GEORGE BARNETT,
_Major General Commandant,
United States Marine Corps_.

Approved:
JOSEPHUS DANIELS,
_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, rejections, 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 in
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. Marbache sector, 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

THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN THE WORLD WAR.