V T- The United States Navy in //eWorld War OFFICIAL PICTURES Selected from the files of the Navy Department, the War Department and the United States Marine Corps With supplemental photographs from unofficial sources. bp JAMES C. RUSSELL and WILUAM E. MOORE with the commendation and approval of Honorable EDWIN DENBY, Secretary of the Navy PICTORIAL BUREAU Washington, D.C. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. WASHINGTON. For Captain James C. Russell It is with pride that I add a few written v/ords to this hook which with pictures brings so forcibly to the people of our country the deeds of our men in the world War. Every man who went to the colors stored his mind with pictured in- cidents of this new experience which came to men of the Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps. To these the pages of actual pic- tures of what they saw, felt and went through will bring a newer and a closer realization of those unforgettable days. To generations growing and to generations yet to come, this picture book will ever be an inspiration, a guide to a real Americanism and a development of genuine loyalty just as these pictures will forc- ibly emphasize the written words of the historian. 3 HON. EDWIN DENBY SECRETARY OF THE NAVY Photo by T. F. Darling .V Hurris A Ewinjr 5 War! I T is a fearful thing to lead this great, peaceful country into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts — for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. "To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our for- tunes, everything that we are and everything that we have, with the pride of those who know that the day has come when America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.” President Wilson to Congress, April 2, 1917. THE WAR PRESIDENT 'IXT’E fully realize that had it not been for * * the Navy, which kept watch night and day over our transport fleet, American effort in France would never have been successful. General, Commander-in-Chief American Expeditionary Forces Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Operations and ranking officer of the United States Navy during the World War. When Germany Was Winning In month of America’s entry into war, tonnage loss was 875,023; at close of conflict sinkings were reduced to 1 12,427 tons Rear Admiral William S. Sims and his aide. Commander J. V. Babcock, landed in England, April 9, 1917. On the day of his arrival in London Admiral Sims had his first interview with Admiral Jellicoe who at that time was the First Sea Lord. “After the usual greetings,” says Admiral Sims in his remarkable volume, “The Victory at Sea,” “Admiral Jellicoe took a paper out of his drawer and handed it to me. It was a record of the ton- nage losses for the last two months. This showed that the total sinkings, British and Neutral, had reached 536,000 tons in February and 603,000 in March; it further disclosed that sinkings were taking place in April which indicated the destruction of nearly 900,000 tons. These figures indicated that the losses were three and four times as large as those which were then being pub- lished in the press. It is expressing it mildly to say that I was surprised by this disclosure. I was fairly as- tounded; for I had never imagined anything so terrible. I expressed my consternation to Admiral Jellicoe. ‘Yes,’ he said, as quietly as though he were discussing the weather and not the future of the British Empire. ‘It is impossible for us to go on with the war if losses like this continue.’ ‘What are you doing about it?’ I asked. Everything that we can. We are increasing our anti- submarine forces in every possible way. We are using every possible craft we can find with which to fight sub- marines. We are building destroyers, trawlers, and other like craft as fast as we can. But the situation is very serious and we shall need all of the assistance we can get.’” The gravity of the situation is plainly depicted on the faces of Admiral Sims and his aide. Commander Babcock, as they emerge from the British Admiralty after the momentous interview with Admiral Jellicoe. The his- toric photograph is taken from a British official film. The "close up” of Admiral Sims, made at the same time, reveals the bull-dog determination with which he tackled the tremendous problems of succeeding months. The other photographs indicate the tragic conditions at sea which required the most energetic means to overcome. It is significant that, when the American Navy entered the conflict, the total tonnage loss for April, 1917, was 875,023 and that the total in October 1918 was 1 12,427. How gallant American sailors turned the tide in the gigantic struggle for mastery of the seas it is the purpose of the succeeding pictures in some sort to adumbrate. I- and 1 bottom Seven men lost. 6 — Succoring an Allied freighter. 9 British patrol boat M L 181 going out to meet the American destroyer flotilla May 4, 1917. “One of the greatest days in Anglo-American history had dawned for the first contingent cf the American Navy had arrived in British waters and joined hands with the Allies.” Historic scene as Commander Taussig’s flotilla arrives off Queens- town May 4, 1917. The ship in the foreground is the‘‘Davis,” Lt.Com. R.F.Zogbaum. The gallant “Wadsworth" entering Queenstown harbor. The famous Cathedral, “Stella Maris," is seen in the background. The “Porter,” Lt. Com. W. K. Wortman, follows the Wadsworth. The other ships of the flotilla, besides those mentioned, were: the “Conyngham,” Com. A. W. Johnson; the “McDougal,” Lt. Com. A. P. Fairfield; and the “Wain- wright,” Lt. Com. F. H. Poteet. | —The American Consul, Mr. Wesley Frost, and British Naval officers greeting Commander Taussig and the other officers of the flotilla as they land at Queenstown. 2— The American flotilla officers and their escort walking up the hill to Admiralty House, Queenstown, where they were to report to Vice Admiral Bayly. 3 — "We are ready now, sir." Commander Taussig saluting Vice Admiral Bayly whose back is to the camera. 4— Yankee sailors of the destroyer flotilla “estimating the situation." 5— British Naval and Military officers keenly inspect destroyer ordnance. 6 — Tuning up after arrival. ass* “We Are Ready Now, Sir” Following out the instructions of the Navy Department, Commander Taussig and the other destroyer com- manders reported to Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly for duty. "The Admiral’s chief interest in the Americans at that time,” says Admiral Sims, "was the assistance which they were likely to bring to the Allied cause; after court- eously greeting the officers, the frst question he asked about these forces was: ‘When will you be ready to go to sea?’” "Even under the most favorable conditions that is an embarrassing question to ask of a destroyer commander. There is no type of ship that is so chronically in need of overhauling. Even in peace times the destroyer usually has under way a long list of repairs; our first contingent had sailed without having had much opportunity to refit, and had had an extremely nasty voyage. The fact was that it had been rather severely battered up, although the flotilla was in excellent condition, considering its hard experience on the ocean and the six months of hard work which it had previously had on our coast. One ship had lost its fireroom ventilator, another had con- denser troubles on the way across, and there had been other difficulties. Commander Taussig, however, had sized up Admiral Bayly as a man to whom it would be a tactical error to make excuses, and promptly replied: *' ‘We are ready now, sir; that is as soon as we finish refuelling. Of course, you know how destroyers are — always wanting something done to them. But this is war, and we are ready to go to sea immediately.* ” ‘"The Admiral was naturally pleased with the spirit indicated by this statement and, with his customary consideration for his juniors, said: “ ‘I will give you four days from the time of arrival. Will that be sufficient?* ” “ ‘Yes,* answered Taussig, That will be more than ample time.* “As we discovered afterward, the Admiral had a system of always ‘testing out’ new men, and it is not improbable that this preliminary interview was a part of this process.” HS The “Fanning's” “ashcans” with which she, operating with the ‘‘Nicholson, U-58 to surrender. To the right is the destroyer “Sigourney.” persuaded Kapitan Gustav Amberger and the crew of the International Film Compa 13 The Navy’s first U-boat capture, the U-58. The commanding officer of the “Fanning” is authority for the statement that this is a copy of a photograph taken from the deck of his vessel when the crew of the U-58 surrendered. r. s. Navy official 14 When the U. S. destroyer, "Fanning,” dropped a depth charge on the U*58 which had been prowling off Queenstown, it did not crush the submarine but it wrecked the motors, jammed its diving rudders and broke the oil leads. So Kapitan Gustav Amberger of the Imperial German Navy had the option of two alternatives: to sink until the pressure of water crushed the vessel or to blow the ballast tanks, rise to the surface and sur- render. The boat had sunk to 200 feet when the Kapitan chose the latter. Accordingly he ascended and he, three other officers and 37 men emerged from the conning tower and cried "Kamerad”! Their surrender having been accepted by Lt. Com. Carpender a couple of German sailors disappeared into the submarine. They opened the sea-cocks and scuttled the ship. Then all officers and men jumped and made for the "Fanning.” One sailor seemed to flounder and two American Jackies leaped over board and brought him to the "Fanning” where he died on the deck. Officers and men of the "Fanning” received the thanks of the British Admirality and Lt. Com. Carpender was decorated with the D. S. 0. at Buckingham Palace by King George. 7 Above is the “Fanning” and below is the “Nicholson.” flag-ship of Commander Frank Berrien, which assisted in the capture of the crew of the U-58, November 17, 1917. U. S. Navy Official “When the ‘Fanning’ approached the U-58 as her crew stood on deck with their arms raised, shouting ‘Kamerad! Kamerad!’ the Nichol- son’ stood by, with all her 4-inch guns trained upon the German boat, and the machine guns pointed at the kamerading Germans, ready to shoot them into ribbons at the first sign that the surrender was not a genuine one.” Rear Admiral Sims. u. s. n.w offimi i ■I Upper — The tell-tale oil patch, grim evidence of the destruction of a U-boat. Ireland. Lower right— Mustering shore patrol at Queenstown. Lower left — View of torpedo repair shop at Queenstown, l'. S. Navy Official 17 VICE ADMIRAL SIR LEWIS BAYLY, R. N. “Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, who now became the commander of the American destroyers at Queenstown, so far as their military op- erations were concerned, had spent fifty years in the British navy, forty years of this time actually at sea. This ripe experience, combined with a great natural genius for salt water, had made him one of the most efficient men in the service. In what I have already said, I may have given a slightly false impression of the man; that he was taciturn, that he was generally regarded as a hard taskmaster, that he never made friends at the first meeting, that he was more interested in results than in per- sons — all this is true; yet these qualities merely concealed what was, at bottom, a. generous, kindly and even a warm-hearted character. Admiral Bayly was so retiring and so modest that he seemed almost to have assumed these exterfor traits to disguise his real nature. When our men first met the Admiral they saw a man who would exact their last effort and accept no excuses for failure; when admitted to more intimate association, however, they discovered that this weatherbeaten sailor had a great love for flowers, for children, for animals, for pictures, and for books; that he was deeply read in general literature, in history, and in science, and that he had a knowledge of their own country and its institutions which many of our own officers did not possess. Ameri- cans have great reason to be proud of the achievements of their naval men and one of the most praiseworthy was the fact that they became such intimate friends of Admiral Bayly. For this man’s nature was so sincere that he could never bring himself to indulge in friendships which he deemed unworthy. Early in his association with our men, he told them bluntly that any success he and they might have in get^ ting on together would depend entirely upon the manner in which they performed their work. If they acquitted themselves creditably, well and good; if not, he should not hesitate to find fault with them. It is thus a tribute to our officers that in a very short time they and Admiral Bayly had established relations which were not only friendly, but affec- tionate. Not long after our destroyers left to re-enforce the hard- driven flotillas in the Channel and the North Sea, so that the destroyer forces at Queenstown under Admiral Bayly became almost exclusively American, though they worked with many British vessels— sloops, trawlers, sweepers and mystery ships, in co-operation with British de- stroyers and other vessels in the north and other parts of Ireland. The Admiral watched over our ships and their men with the jealous eye of a father. He always referred to his command as ‘my destroyers’ and "my Americans,’ and woe to any one who attempted to interfere with them or do them the slightest injustice! Admiral Bayly would fight for them, against the combined forces of the whole British navy, like a tigress for her cubs. He constantly had a weather eye on Plymouth, the main base of the British destroyers, to see that the vessels from that station did their fair share of the work. Once or twice a dispute arose between an American destroyer commander and a British, in such cases Admiral Bayly vigorously took the part of the American. 'You did perfectly right.’ he would say to our men. and then he would turn all his guns against the interfering Britisher. Relations between the young Americans and the experienced Admiral became so close that they would sometimes go to him with their personal troubles; he became not only their commander, but their confidant and adviser.” Rear Admi- ral Sims in “ The Victory at Sea." . r mU-1 W..0.1 .V Fna.’rw-^..l CAUGHT! Admiral Sims says: “Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly was so reticent and excessively mcdest .that he was averse to having his picture taken; even the motion picture operator detailed to get an historic record of the arrival of our destroyers did not get a good view of the Admiral, for whenever Sir Lewis saw him coming he would turn his back to the camera.” However, when Sir Lewis visited this country in February, 1921, Captain Lawrence Rubel of Underwood and Underwood man- aged to procure for the compilers of this volume the above picture. We had to have it. The photograph was taken on the portico of the State, War and Navy Building, Feb. 15, 1921. 19 The “Wadsworth” in her war-paint a year after her arrival in British waters as the flag ship of the first destroyer flotilla to enter the conflict. This Signal Corps photograph was withheld by the military censor during the war in deference to the wishes of the British Admiralty which objected to the showing of marine camouflage. Inset: Capt. Joseph K. Taussig, the Wadsworth s first commander during the operations at sea. The “Wadsworth” was later in charge of Commander I. F. Dortch. This photograph was made May 18, 1918. Two weeks before Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly sent this message to the Queenstown forces: "On the anniversary of the arrival of the first United States men-of-war at Queenstown, I wish to express my deep gratitude to the United States officers and ratings for the skill, energy, and unfailing good nature which they have all consistently shown and which qualities have so materially assisted in the war by enabling ships of the Allied Powers to cross the ocean in comparative freedom. To command you is an honor, to work with you is a pleasure. . . .” Upper Reading room of the U. S. Naval Men’s Club at Queenstown. Lower left — "Galloping dominoes” aboard the U. S. S. “Melville ” at Queenstown The "Mel- ville was the flagship of Admiral Sims. Commander of U. S. Naval Forces in European waters, although the Admiral's headquarters was in London to facilitate co- operation with the British Admiralty. The Melville is a destroyer tender fitted with repair shops, supply rooms, etc., for the upkeep of destroyers and as such was stationed most of the time at Queenstown as the floating base of the U. S. destroyer squadron operating in nearby waters. 21 The “life line" on this destroyer was handy in The sailor is gunner's mate, (later Ensign) Harmon. U. S. S. “Paulding” at Queenstown. U. S. destroyers “Wainwright,” “Winslow,” and “Bell” lying in the inner harbor at Brest ready for convoy service. Oct. 27, 1918. U. S. destroyer Benham getting under way to accompany a convoy through the danger zone. Oct. 22, 1918. A few dirigibles, says Rear Admira Sims, 'located on the flanks of a convoy, protected them almost as effectively as the destroyers themselves- and even a single airship not infrequently brought a group of merchantmen and troopships safely into port. All dirigibles had wireless telegraph and wireless telephone equipment. As soon as a submarine was spotted the word was immediately flashed broadcast and every offensive warship which was anywhere in the neighborhood, as well as the aircraft itself started for the indicated scene/’ 25 \ THE NAVY’S GREATEST ROLE DURING THE WORLD WAR. Two million troops were sent abroad with not the loss by enemy action of a single east- bound ship carrying troops under the protection of the Navy. “Great Britain,” says Rear Admiral Sims, “provided a slightly larger amount of tonnage for this purpose than the United States; but about 82 per cent of the escorting was done by our own forces In performing this great feat the American Navy fulfilled its ultimate duty in the war.” i„ ten ».ta»i F» m con. wny J — f->« r, ngj the 19 months of our participation in the war more than 2,000,000 American soldiers were carried to France. Half a million of them went over in the first 13 months and a million and a half in the last 6 months. In July, 1918, when the picture at the left was taken, an average of 10,000 soldiers was transported. Among every 100 Americans who went over 45 went in American ships, 49 in British ships, 3 in Italian, 2 in French and I in Russian shipping under English control. • The men U g e ^" otograp k at t ^ ie kf* are hoarding the “Leviathan.” The photograph at the right shows the commanding officer of the U. S. S. Leviathan, Captain H. L. Bryan. U. S. N'avv Official 27 The “Leviathan,” formerly the German passenger liner “ Vaterland.” leaving Hoboken for France. During the Spring and Summer of 1918 the “Leviathan” averaged 27 days for the round trip. The “Levi Nathan,” as the soldiers called her, carried on each eastern voyage 12,000 soldiers, or the equivalent of a German division, and a crew of 2,000. This picture was withheld during the War out of deference to the British, who did not wish to give the enemy an opportunity to study the system of camouflage used by the Allies. A warning: ‘‘Throw nothing overboard; floating articles reveal our course to enemy submarines." Distributing safe arrival cards as the men go aboard. These were ad- dressed to next of kin by the recipients and collected at the port of embarkation. When the transport arrived on the other side the postal authorities released them. "Abandon ship” drill on the "Leviathan." U. S Navy Photo Tall and short men of the "Leviathan.” “ THE YANKS ARE COMING.” Train of troop ships and escort at sea. U. S. S. ” George Washington,” “ America” and ” De Kalb” in column. Photograph taken from aboard U. S. S. "Whipple,” May 18, 1918. 33 v-i. — «•> . f - <4 r -", •’•. ggfeCSj #v/ m Lsstfaer m £®s . . . • 'T.fv” * '«Cr>(T f ■ ~ - . tj Cardinal Richelieu first recognized the importance of Brest as a seaport, but it remained for the American army and navy to give it fullest development. It was to this port that 791,000 Yankee soldiers were carried. The U. S. S. “Great Northern,” May 7. 1918, at Brest. Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 54,085. Number of passengers carried by “Northern Pacific” to and from Europe was 28,866. The U. S. S. Europe, 55,169. Siboney. Number of passengers carried to and from The U. S. S. “Northern Pacific.” The fastest transports were the “Northern Pacific” and the “Great Northern” which made complete turn- arounds taking on new troops and started back again in 19 days. The U S S Europe, 38,705. “Antigone.” Number of passengers carried to and from 39 The U. S. S. “Edellyn.” Number of passengers carried from Europe, 985. Close view of the U. S, S. “George Washington.” Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 83,350. The U. S. S. “Buford.” 4,717. Passengers returned from Europe, The U. S. S. “Agamemnon.” Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 78,249. U. S. S. “America.” Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 86,801. U. S. S. “Powhatan." Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 30,087. U. S. S. “Pocahontas.’’ Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 43,141. U. S. S. “Marcia.” Passengers returned from Europe, 3,243. -^° c U. S. S. “P rincess Matoika. Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 48,296. U. S. S. Santa Malta. Passengers returned from Europe 3,756. P U. S. S. “Mallory.” Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 21,901. U. S. S. “Ophir.” 44 The ''Leviathan” docks at Hoboken, April 25, 1919, with troops of the 42nd Division. Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 192,753. Troops boarding the "Manchuria” at St. Nazaire, January 10, 1919. Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 54,230. The U. S. S. "Madawaska” about to sail from St. Nazaire, December 27, 1918. Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 34,937 With 2500 soldiers aboard the U. S. S. "Susquehanna” leaves St. Nazaire for the United States. January 17, 1919. Number of passengers carried to and from Europe, 34,91 I. 46 NAVAL OVERSEAS TRANSPORTATION Six Million Tons of War Supplies Carried Overseas by a Fleet of 321 Vessels, Manned by 4,672 Officers and 29,175 Men “One of the Most Important and Successful Operations of the Navy .” — Secretary Daniels. BY ENSIGN J. J. FINLAY, U. S. N. R. F. I MAGINE, if you can, a steamship company which on January 9th, 1918, did not possess a single ship and which on Novem- ber II, 1918, only ten months later, was operating three hun- dred and twenty-one ocean going cargo carriers of 2,800,000 dead-weight tons — a fleet larger than the Cunard, Hamburg- American and North German Lloyd lines combined at the out- break of the war. The personnel of this fleet grew from nothing to 4,672 officers and 29,175 men. Six million tons of cargo, in round figures, were transported, including all kinds of supplies and munitions for our own forces and those of our allies. Early in 1918 it became evident that officers and men must be provided in great numbers to man our new merchant fleet or Europe and the A. E. F. would perish. Where were the seamen and officers to come from? The Navy supplied the answer. Skippers and mates of our pre-war merchant marine were rapidly commissioned Lieutenant- Commanders and made Captains and senior officers of these ships. Over five thousand college graduates and yachtsmen were given intensive training courses on Great Lakes ore-boats and coastwise vessels, followed by highly concentrated eight weeks study courses at Chicago and at Pelham Bay, given ensigns commissions and assigned to these ships as junior officers. These men generally became the gunnery officers. Assisted by veteran Navy petty officers they imbued the enlisted crews, largely apprentice landsmen, with a real Navy spirit. Many of these slow moving freighters fought lonely and victorious battles with the wily submarines. Every energy of the N. O. T. S. was bent on making the stays of these ships in port as brief as possible. Repair men swarmed over their decks, coal and oil barges hugged their sides. The Army working night and day loaded them with amazing cargoes — great locomotives — thirty-six in a hold — food, uniforms, drums of deadly mustard gas, army trucks, aeroplanes. Some became horse-ships, others T. N. T. ships. Often they were overloaded, sometimes undermanned, but always they wallowed out in time to join their convoy. X wo days at sea and storms, their varying speeds, or engine- troubles scattered them widely. Mostly they travelled alone, armed with but single guns fore and aft, through submarine infested waters. “Over There" colored stevedores emptied their hulls of their precious freight and they headed Westward again, riding high with little ballast and bucking the winter fury of the North Atlantic. Some were torpedoed, others on wild nights collided and sank. But luckily for the allied cause, these were exceptions. After the Armistice many cargo vessels were converted into troop ships. Others were placed out of commission and returned to private shipping interests, their officers and crews returned to Ohio cities and Kansas farms and the N. O. T. S. gradually passed into history. Of the untiring, wonderfully resourceful shore organization which grew up almost over night to handle, man, route and supply this great fleet, there is no room to speak. Nor of the bold initiative and courage shown by the old men and young boys who month after month brought these ships safely from port to port. It is a story of achievement — typically American — too intri- cate and vast to tell here. Ex-Secretary Daniels calls the N. O. T. S. "one of the most important and successful operations of the Navy.” The Navy is very proud of the record of the N. O. T. S. — and so are the merchant marine men and the youthful civilians who helped make its history. Thirty-six Baldwin and tenders already assembled were landed at Brest, Oct. 29, 1918 by the U. S. S. “Firmore,” seen in mid-ground. According to the Signal Corps caption her cargo also included 248 cases of airplane parts, 50 Quad trucks, 22 Reo trucks, 54 Ford trucks, 2,500 tons of steel rails, 1,100 tons of oats, 1,380 tons of hay and 250 tons of engineer supplies. 49 U. S. S. "Houston,” formerly North Ger- man Lloyd S. S. "Liebenfelds." She was scuttled in Charleston harbor, April 6, 1917. The vessel was raised and on July 3, 1917 was commissioned in the United States Navy. She entered the war zone August 16, 1917, being the first German ship to arrive overseas under the American flag. 1 he "Houston" steamed 42,225 miles up to Nov. 18, 1918 and carried 47,000 tons of freight and 225 passengers. She rescued 14 casta- ways from the Norwegian steamer "Tiro.” torpedoed off Lizard Light Dec. 29, 1917. The boat is faster by two knots than when her German skipper, S. B. Johansen, was in command. Commander W. H. Lee. U. S. N. R F., has been commanding officer of the “Houston" since she was commissioned. The “Houston" was in contact with enemy eleven times. Unloading Baldwin locomotives from steamer to rails in fifteen seconds. U. S. S. "Firmore," Brest. Discharging trucks at Bassens Docks. 50 Unloading United States cargo ships at Bassens Docks, Bordeaux, Aug. 28, 1918. 51 American tug, “Kingfisher,” first to reach France out of 38 that started. St. Nazaire, April 7, 1918. Giant crane hoisting 41,700 pounds of machinery from ship to cars at Bassens Docks. Supplies being transferred to lighters from U. S. S. “Zee landia.” Brest, Oct. 27, 1918. Unloading horses and mules at Bassens Docks. 53 Chart of the Great $40,000,000 North Sea Mine-Barrage furnished by the United States Navy. The eastern end of the barrier abutted at the 3 mile limit of Norwegian waters between the latitude cf Bergen and the Island of Udsire and thence stretched across the North Sea for a distance of 230 nautical miles to within 10 miles of the Orkney Islands, north of Pentland Firth, It was deemed that the latter strait, on account of its strong currents and rough seas, would not constitute a serious leak in the barrier. The western passage was patrolled by surface vessels. The Norwegians, to maintain their neutrality, closed the eastern terminus by a mine field. The “explosive impediment laid by American and British sailors extended to a depth of 240 feet. The Americans set 56,611 mines and the British 13,652. The project cost $40,000,000 and consumed' more than 21,000.000 pounds of T. N. T. Inset: Captain Reginald R. Belknap, U. S. N., who directed the American part of the enterprise at its inception. Loading mines on railroad cars to haul to barges. September, 1918. Inverness, Scotland Mines in storage shed at Inverness, Scotland The loading basin for Naval Base No. 18 on the Caledonian Canal at Inverness, Scotland. The picture shows how the lighters were loaded to transfer the mines to the mine layers. Trucking mine spheres from the bulk stores to the assembly sheds U. S. Minelaying Force. Commander of Mine Squadron One, and commanding officers of ships. Front row, left to right: Capt. W. I . Cluverius (U. S. S. “Shawmut”), Capt. C. D. Stearns (U. S. S, “Roanoke”), Capt. R. R. Belknap (Comdr. Mine Squadron), Capt. H. V. Butler (U. S. S. “San Francisco”), Capt. A. W. Marshall (U. S S. “Baltimore”). Back row, left to right: Ccmdr. B. L. Canaga (Aide to Comdr., Mine Squadron 1), Capt. T. L. Johnson (U. S. S. “Canonicus”), Capt. J. H. Tomb (U. S. S. “Aroostook”), Comdr. J. W. Greenslade (U. S. S. "Housatonic”), Comdr. S. Gannon (U. S. S. “Saranac”), Comdr. W. H. Reynolds (U. S. S. “Canan- daigua”'). Corr.dr. D. P. Mannix (U. S. S. “Quinnebaug”). U. s. Navy Official M ine cases. Power plant, mine assembling base, Invergordon, Scotland, September, 1918. 57 Another view of the American mine laying squadron in the North Sea. The ships of the squadron were: the flagship “San Francisco,” Capt. H. V. Butler; the “Aroos- took,” Capt. J. H. Tomb; the “Baltimore,” Capt. A. W. Marshall; the “Canandaigua,” Commander W. H. Reynolds; the “ Canonicus,” Capt. T. L. Johnson; the “ Housatonic,” Capt. J. W. Greenslade; the “Quinnebaug,” Capt. D. P. Mannix; the "Roanoke,” Capt. C‘. D. Stearns; the “Saranac,” Capt. Sinclair Gannon, and the “Shawmut,” Capt. W. I. Cluverius. Originally these ships had been American coastwise vessels. u. s. Navy oiv.dai United States Mine Squadron in planting formation in the North Sea. On each of the thirteen operations there were eight ships in line abreast, with two in line abreast sailing ahead of them. The vessels were 500 yards apart. At the signal from the flag ship, “First Mine Over,” the mine layers, going at full speed, would drop mines at intervals of fifteen seconds for three or four hours Ac- cording to Rear Admiral Sims there were four planters which on several “excursions” lay about 860 mines in 3 hours and 35 minutes in a single line about 44 miles long. These were the Canan- daigua, the Canonicus, the Housatonic. and the Roanoke. | U. S. S. "San Francisco," flagship of Minelaying Squadron One at Inverness. The tug is bringing a lighter laden with mines alongside. The length of the "San Francisco” is 310 feet. Beam, 49 feet 2 inches. Mean draft, 18 feet 9 inches. Mean displacement, 4,093 tons. Trial speed, 19.52 knots. Guns: Four 5-inch, 51 caliber; two I -pounders. Inset — Rear Admiral Joseph Strauss who took command of the minelaying operations in March. 1918. 59 W RITING of the type of mine used in the North Sea barrage Rear Admiral Sims says: “It s great advantage was that it was not necessary for the submarine to strike the mine in order to produce the desired explosion. The mine could be located at any depth and from it a long ‘antenna,’ a thin copper cable, reached up to within a few feet of the surface, where it was supported in that position by a small metal buoy. Any metallic substance, such as the hull of a submarine, simply by striking this antenna at any point, would produce any electric current, which, instantaneously transmitted to the mine, would cause this mine to explode. The great advantage of this device is at once apparent. Only about one-fourth of the number of mines required under the old conditions (where the old contact mine was used) would now be necessary. The Mining Section estimated that 100,000 mines would form a barrier that would be extremely dangerous to submarines passing over it or through it, whereas under the old conditions about 400,000 would have been required. . . . “The spherical mine case, which contains the explosive charge, and the mechanism for igniting it, is only a part of the contrivance. While at rest on board the ship this case stands upon a box-like affair about two feet square known as the anchor; this anchor sinks to the bottom after launching and it contains an elaborate arrangement for maintaining the mine at any desired depth beneath the surface. The bottom of the ‘anchor’ has four wheels, on which it runs along the little railroad track on the launching deck to the jumping off place at the stern. All along these railroad tracks the mines were stationed one back of another; as one went overboard, they would all advance a peg, a mine coming up from below on an elevator to fill up the vacant space at the end of the procession. . . . It took a crew of hardworking, begrimed and sweaty men to keep these mines moving and going over the stern at the regularly appointed intervals.” u. s. Navy official Minelaying fleet proceeding to sea on minelaying expedition. Ships, left to right: U. S. S. “Can^nicus,” U. S. S. “Canandaigua,” U. S. S. “Aroostook,” U. S. S. “Saranac,” U. S. S. “Roanoke,” U. S. S. “ Housatonic,” U. S. S. “ Quinnebaug,” and U. S. S. “Baltimore.” Lower left — U. S. S. “Blackhawk” of the Mine Force, Inverness, September, 1918. Lower right — U. S. S. “Shawmut” in the North Sea, Sep- tember, 1918. 17 . S. Navy Official Rear Admiral Rodman’s forces of Division Nine took their regular turn in acting as a screen on the mine laying excursions. The photograph, taken by Commander Haines, U. S. N., shows a mine layer sowing T. N. T. in the North Sea under the protection of the guns of an accompanying battleship. u. s. Navy official 62 'Theseaquant'es which the subchaser displayed, and the development of listening devices which made it possible to detect all kinds of sounds under water at a con- siderable distance, immediately laid before us the possibility of direct offensive operations against the submarine. It became apparent that these listening devices could be used to the greatest advantage on these little craft. The tactics which were soon developed for their use made it necessary that we should have a large number of vessels; nearly all the destroyers were then engaged in convoy duty and we could not entertain the idea of detailing many of them for this more or less experimental work. Happily the subchasers started coming off the ways just in time to fill the need; and the several allied navies began competing for these new craft in lively fashion. — near Admiral Sims in The Victory at Sea. . NavjrOSdal 63 '.. October, 1918. 2 — Subchasers and patrols in Marine Basin. 3 — ped quarters on board the Jackies used to perform this beloved task 4 — Subchasers at Halifax, N. S. I — Subchaser 52 returning from patrol duty to Marine Basin, N. Y “Spud” peelers from subchasers at Marine Basin. Because of cram] on the dock alongside of which they were tied up. October, 1918. “Who would ever have thought that a little wooden vessel, displacing only sixty tons, measuring only I 10 feet from bow to stern and manned by officers and crew very few of whom had ever made an ocean voyage could have crossed more than three thousand miles of wintry sea. even with the help of the efficient naval officers and men who. after training there, convoyed and guided them across, and could have done excellent work in hunting the submarines? We built nearly 400 of these little vessels in eighteen months; and we sent 170 to such widely scattered places as Plymouth. Queenstown. Brest Gibraltar and Corfu Several enemy submarines now lie at the bottom of the sea as trophies of their offensive power, and on the day that hostilities ceased, the Allies generally recognized that this tiny vessel, with the ’listening devices’ which made it so efficient, represented one of the most satisfactory direct answers to the submarine which had been developed by the war .‘ — Rear Admiral Sims in “ The Victory at Sea." u. S. Navy Official Instructors at the Naval Reserve Training School at Columbia University, New York. The engine in the foreground was of the type used in the subchasers. It was employed in the instruction of men destined for service with the subchasers. rn». ' ‘By June 30, 1918, two squadrons of American chasers, comprising thirty-six boats, had assembled at Plymouth. England, under the command of Captain Lyman A. Cotten. U. S. N. The U. S. de- stroyer Parker.’ commanded by Commander Wilson Brown, had been assigned to this detachment as a sunporting ship. The area which now formed the new field of operations was one which was causing great anxiety at that time. It comprehended that section of the Channel which reached from Start Point to Lizard Head, and included such important shipping ports as Plymouth. Devonport and Falmouth. This was the region in which the convoys, after having been escorted through the submarine zone, were broken up. and from which the individual ships were obliged to find their way to their destinations with greatly diminished protection. It was one the most important sections in which the Germans, forced to abandon their submarine campaign on the high seas, were now actively concentrating their efforts. Until the arrival of the subchasers, sinkings had been taking place in these waters on a considerable scale. In company with a number of British hunting units. Captain Cotten’s detachment kept steadily at work from June 30 until the middle of August, when it became necessary to send it elsewhere. The historical fact is that not a single merchant ship was sunk between Lizard Head and Start Point as long as these subchasers were assisting in the operations .” — Rear Admiral Sims in "The Victory at Sea.” Photograph shows view of U. S. Naval Base No. 27 at Plymouth. England, from the Cattewater. i: ^ ,\ aV y ph"to 67 HARI-KARI UNDER SEA “A sharp piercing noise came ringing over the wires. It was a sound that made the listeners’ blood run cold. Only one thing in the world could make a sound like that. It was the crack of a revolver. The first report had hardly stilled when another shot was heard; and then there were more in rapid succession. In all twenty-five shots came from the bottom of the sea. As there were from twenty-five to thirty men in a submarine crew the meaning was all too evident. The larger part of officers and men, finding themselves shut in their coffin of steel, had resorted to that escape which was not uncommonly availed of by German submarine crews in this hideous war. Nearly all of them had committed suicide.” Admiral Sims thus describes the tragic end of a German sub- marine off Land’s End. On Sept. 6, 1918, it had been located, or “fixed.” by three units of submarine chasers under command of Ensign Ashley D. Adams, U. S. N. R. F. A unit consisted of three boats. Each vessel was equipped with listening tubes through which under-water sounds and their direction could be detected at a distance of twenty miles. Each was also supplied with a wireless telephone. The ships of a unit traveled a mile or two apart, the flagship in the center. At intervals the units stopped, lowered, their tubes and listened. The listeners were highly skilled in detecting the sounds made by a sub- marine. When at least two of the boats reported sounds and their direction the information was communicated to the plotting room in the flagship. The point of convergence of the direction lines, called a “fix,” was determined. Then a dash was made to the “fix.” In most cases the sounds would be louder. New observations would be made and another “fix” computed. Maneuvering in this way the chasers would find their quarry, drop their depth charges, fire their "Y ’ howitzers and man their guns. Sometimes destroyers followed the chasers and aided in the destruction of the submarine. When Ensign Ashley’s boats ran down the German sub- marine they had pursued similar tactics. They dropped depth charges lavishly. Then they listened. For some time there was no sound. Then the grating and " squeaking of machinery were heard intermittently. After a while a “wake” was seen. More depth charges were dropped. A black cylindrical object was hurled out of the sea. Followed a straining and lumbering sound. Then for a long time quiet. Suddenly came the noise of hammering. The sounds became fainter. The chasers had exhausted their ammu- nition. Two chasers were sent to Penzance for more. Hours of stillness ensued. Then the revolver shots. Submarine Chaser 49 bearing out to sea. U. S. Navy Photo Active career of U-53 ended by submarine chasers and destroyers. This celebrated U-boat. Capt. Hans Rose commanding, suddenly paid a visit to Newport. R. I., in the Fall of 1916. On its way back to Germany it paused long enough off Nantucket to sink half a dozen British cargo ships. It sank the American destroyer Jacob Jones. 'Thus Americans.” says Rear-Admiral Sims, "had a peculiar reason for wishing to see it driven from the seas.” About the middle of August. 1918, the U-53 was located west of Brest, where, with two other undersea boats, it was preparing to attack American transports. Twelve sub-chasers and the destroyers, Parker and Wilkes, were sent after her. They spotted the boat on Sept. 2. An accurate “fix” finally was obtained and depth charges were generously applied. After the tumult had subsided the listening tubes were lowered but there was no sound. For several days afterward the radio operators could, hear German submarines calling across the waters to the U-53 but there was no answer. "Naturally." says Rear-Admiral Sims, "we believed that this long-sought enemy had been destroyed; about a week later, however, our radios caught a message off the extreme northern coast of Scotland, from the U-53 telling its friends in Germany that it was on its way home. That this vessel had been seriously damaged was evident, for it had made no attacks after its experience with the sub-chasers. It apparently had as many lives as a cat. for it was able in its battered condition to creep back to Germany around the coast of Scotland, a voyage of more than a thousand miles. The subchasers at least had the satisfaction of having ended the active career of this boat. It was damaged two months before the Armistice was signed, but it. never recovered sufficiently from its injuries to make another voyage. Yet I must do justice to Capt. Rose — he did not command the U-53 on this last voyage. It was the only trip during the whole course of the war when he had not commanded it!” international Film T H E ISLAND pF CORFU In the Spring of 1918. Admiral Sims sent Captain Richard H. Leigh to Southern Italy to locate and construct a subchaser base in that neighborhood. It was decided that the Bay of Govino. in the Island of Corfu would best meet the requirements. The immediate connection which was thus established between New London and this ancient city of classical Greece fairly illustrates how widely the Great War had extended the horizon of the American people, says Rear Admiral Sims. There was a certain appropriateness in the fact that the American colleee bovs who commanded these little ships— not much larger than the vessel in which Ulysses had sailed these same waters three thousand years before— should have made their base on the same island which had served as a naval station for Athens in the Peloponnesian War, and which, several centuries afterward, had been used for the same purpose by Augustus in the struggle with Antony And probably the sight of the Achilleion. the Kaiser s palace which was not far from this new American base, was not without its influence in constantly reminding our young men of the meaning of this unexpected associa- tion of Yankee-land with the ancient world. 6 ^ Underwixxl & Underwood I. Austro-Hungarian dirigible brought down while our submarine chasers were on the “Otranto Barrage. 2. Ensigns E. Howie and K. Richardson on the bridge of S. C. 79. 3. Some members of the crew of S. C. 79. L to R: E. Young. W. Johnson. A. H. Schreil A Howard, T. A. Graham and Radio Operator. 4. S. C. 79 in ice at Montauk Point, L. I., before miking her 6,000 mile voyage to Corfu. In foreground: Charles Gaffney, George 1 ickle, and f . McGarthy. 71 SUB-CHASERS CAUSE AUSTRIAN MUTINY The chasers were 1 10 feet long, 20 feet in beam and their displacement was 60 tons. They were manned, for the most part, by college boys. We had 170 of them in foreign waters. ' They were based on Plymouth, Queenstown, Brest, Gibral- tar and the Island of Corfu. Under Captain C. P. Nelson they rendered peculiarly effective service on the famous “Otranto barrage,” the 40 mile impediment at the base of the Adriatic. “These little boats, the Austrians (after their surrender) now informed us, were responsible for a mutiny in the Austrian submarine force, says Rear Admiral Sims. Two weeks sifter their arrival in July, 1918, it was impossible to compel an Austrian crew to take a vessel through Otranto straits and from that time until the ending of the war not a single Austrian submarine ventured upon such a voyage. All the sub- marines that essayed the experiment sifter this Austrian mutiny were German. And the Ger- man crews, the Austrian officers said, did not enjoy the experience any more than their own. There was practically no case in which a sub- marine crossed the barrage without being bombed in consequence; the morale of the German crews steadily went to pieces until, in the last month of the war, their officers were obliged to force them into submarines at the point of a pistol. The records showed, the Austrian high officers said, that the Germans had lost six submarines on the Otranto barrage in the last three months of the war.” Headed for the hunting grounds. U. S. Navy Phi.to Main entrance to Base No. 27. The building to the left was the main office. The structure in the center was used for the officers’ mess, board, rooms, living quarters, etc. The building on the right was used as the Base Commander's and Duty Commander s quarters. ^ •4 PROTOTYPE OF THE MODERN SUBMARINE. "The man who designed the type of submarine which has become the standard in all modern navies. John P. Holland, similarly advocated it as the only means of destroying the British navy,” says Rear Admiral Sims, '‘Holland was an American of Irish origin, he was a member of the Fenian brotherhood and it was his idea that his vessel could be used to destroy the British navy, blockade the British coast, and, as an inevitable consequence, secure freedom for Ireland. This is the reason why his first successful boat was known as the Fenian Ram. despite the fact that it was not a ram' at all. And the point on which Holland always insisted was that the submarine vessel was a unique vessel in naval warfare, because there was no ‘answer’ to it ‘There is nothing that you can send against it.’ he gleefully exclaimed, ’not even it3elf.’ ” The picture shows the "Holland,” the first successful submarine built by the inventor. It was accepted by the United States Government in 1897. International Fill 1 76 DUMPS DEPTH CHARGES ON HIS ROOM-MATE A RATHER grim order directed all de- stroyers and other patrol craft to sink any submarine on sight, unless there was positive information that a friendly submarine was operating in the neighborhood. To a large extent, therefore, the life of our submarine sailors was the same as that of the Germans. Our men know how it feels to have a dozen depth charges explode around them, for not infrequently they have had to endure this sort of thing from their own comrades. Mistakes of this sort, even though not very numerous, were so likely to hap- pen at any time that whenever an Allied sub- marine saw an Allied destroyer at a distance, it usually behaved just as a German would have behaved under the same conditions: it dived precipitately to the safety of deep water. Our men. that is, did not care to take the risk of a discussion with the surface craft; it was more prudent to play the part of an enemy. One day one of the American submarines, lying on the surface, saw an American destroyer, and, cheered in their loneliness by the sight of such a friendly vessel, waited for it to approach, making all the identification signals carefully set down in the books. Instead of a cordial greeting, however, about twenty rounds of projectiles began falling about the L-boat, which as hastily as possible dropped to sixty feet under the surface. In a few minutes, depth charges began exploding around him in profusion, the plates of the vessel shook violently, the lights went out. and the end seemed near. Making a last effort, the American submarine rose to the surface, sent up all the recognition signals the officers could think of, and this time with success. The destroyer ap- proached, the commander shouting from the bridge : “ ‘Who are you? ’ ‘American submarine A L 10.’ ‘Good luck, old man,’ ” came a now familiar voice from the bridge. “ ‘This is Bill.’ ” “The commander of the destroyer and the commander of the submarine had been room- mates at Annapolis !” — Rear Admiral W. S. Sims, “ The Victory at Sea.’ ’ The ALIO, partially submerged, off the Irish coast. The "L” boats were American submarines. We had seven submarines based on Berehaven, Ireland, whose billets were located in the approaches to the Irish Sea. 77 The A L 9 off the Irish Coast. ‘‘In the daytime Allied submarines remained under water, their periscopes exposed for a short time every fifteen minutes or so, sweeping the sea for a distance of many miles. As soon as darkness set in, the boats usually emerged, began taking in new air and recharging their batteries, the crews seizing the opportunity to stretch their legs and catch a welcome glimpse of the external world. ‘We got used to your depth charges,’ said the commander of a captured German submarine ‘and did not fear them but we lived in constant dread of your submarines. We never knew what moment a torpedo was going to hit us.’ ” Rear Admiral Sims. 78 After the declaration of war, the Atlantic fleet rendezvoused in the York River, Virginia. The picture at the left shows the postoffice at Yorktown. Early in January, 1918, the Atlantic fleet, at anchor in the York River, was frozen in. Despite the efforts of tugs to break up the ice, it froze again as soon as it was broken. This completely imprisoned the fleet, although in an emergency a lane could have been made by other means. The picture on the right was taken by Henry J. Lucas of the U. S. S. Texas from the deck of that ship. Division Nine of the Atlantic Fleet, Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman commanding, joins the British Grand Fleet. It was designated “The Sixth Battle Squadron.” The photograph was taken from a British man-o’-war and shows the American battleships steaming past the Grand Fleet amid cheers from the British sailors. Bag inspection aboard the U. S. S. “Oklahoma.’’ A sky gun aboard the U. S. S. “Florida. 83 “COMRADES OF THE MIST.” Division Nine, known as the Sixth Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet, was composed of some of our best battle ships. "The basis of all our naval operations." says Rear Admiral Sims, "was the dreadnaughts and the battle-cruisers of the Grand Fleet. It was this aggregation which made possible the operation' of all the surface ships that destroyed the effectiveness of the submarines. Had the Grand Fleet suddenly disappeared beneath the waves, all these offensive craft would have been driven from the seas, the Allies* sea lines of communication would have been cut, and thq war would have ended in Germany’s favor. From the time the transportation of troops began the United States had a squadron of five dreadnaught battleships con- stantly with the Grand Fleet 1 . The following vessels performed this important duty: The ‘New York,' the ‘Wyoming,* the ‘Florida,’ the ‘Delaware,’ relieved by the ‘Arkansas,’ and the ‘Texas.’ These vessels gave this great force an unquestioned preponderance, and made it practically certain that Germany would not attempt another general sea battle. Under Rear-Admiral Hugh Rodman, the American squadron performed excellent service and made the most favorable impression upon the chiefs of the Allied navies.” The battleships of the squadron were attacked six times by sub- marines. On one occasion, qff the Norwegian coast, four torpedoes were fired at the "Florida” and two at the "Delaware,” and at another time three were fired at the "New York.” Not one of the vessels was hit and the only damage done was to the "New York” which, while leading the division into Pentland Firth, was rammed by a submerged submarine. Two blades of her propeller were broken off but officers and crew were convinced that the blows from the propeller sank the U-boat. The photograph shows the Battle Squadron at anchor in the Firth of Forth, Sept. 20, 1918. A scout balloon may be seen hovering over the fleet. u _ s Navy PJl))to U. S. S. "Delaware” in a heavy sea-way. The "Delaware” was commanded by Captain A. H. Scales. This ship served in Division Nine until July 30, 1918, when it was relieved by the “Arkansas." Length 510 feet. Beam 85 feet, 2'/z inches. Mean draft 26 feet, 1 1 inches. Displacement 20,000 tons. Horse- power (main engine) 28,578. Trial speed 21.56 knots. Guns: 10 12-inch 45 caliber; 4 5-inch 51 caliber; 2 3-inch 50 caliber A. A. Torpedo tubes (submerged) 2 21-inch. UiulerwoocU, Ui. i'll? i ' ’ i ; 'j vi i I 1 m% mmFWNr. Land type plane, used for “spotting, on turret of U. S. S. Texas. U. S. Navy Pliof Sopwith “spotting" plane being hoisted to deck of U. S. S. Okla- homa. 113 Navy Photo Instruction in plane erection at U. S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola. HS-I-L flying boat on practice flight at Pensacola, Florida. athematics room, U. S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. U. S. Navy Photo Training in wing construction, U. S. Naval Air Station, 114 Aviation mechanics receiving instruction in tipping and balancing propellers. U. S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla Fabric shop, U. S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. Plane erection, U. S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. U. S. Navy Pilot.) Motor instruction, U. S. Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. 115 r the North Sea. the Irish Sea. the Bay of Biscay and the Adriatic; "At the cessation of hostilities we had a total of more than 500 planes of various descriptions actually in commission, a large number of which were in actual operation over . , - , , - om l»mbing plan.. wer, making fr.qu.nt flight, over enemy eubmaime ba.e, and 2.500 officer, and 22.000 enli.ted men were making raid,, doing patrol,, bombing .tibmanne,. bombing enemy b»,e,. taking photograph, making connadisance over enemy water, and engaging enemy aircraft. There can be no doubt that th , great force w„ a factor ,n per.u.dmg the enemy o acknowledge defeat when he did, HS 2 seaplanes at the naval air station. Brest. Nov. 2. 1918. 2. Pulling an HS I type of seaplane up the ramp after being out on a four hour patrol. U. S. Naval Air Station. Rear Admiral Sims. I. Assembling HS I and L'Abe* Vrach. Finistere. Oct. 28. 1918. af z=m Ml 7 IS KnPTVBfevHrT?™" - " i _ 2 A few simple comparisons will illustrate the gigantic task which confronted us and the difficulties which were successfully overcome in the establishment of our naval aviation force on foreign service. If all the buildings constructed and used for barracks for officers and men were joined end to end. they would stretch for a distance of twelve miles. The total cubic contents of all structures erected and used could be represented by a box 245 feet wide. 300 feet long and 1500 feet high ” Rear Admiral Sims. 1 — View of hangars and seaplanes at U. S. Naval Air Station. L Aber Vrach. Oct. /O. IVIo. t. View of lie Vierge. with lighthouse, which was the landmark for U. S. naval air station at L’Aber Vrach. Oct. 28. 1918. Lt. Com. William M. Corry, Jr., Commanding Officer, U. S. Naval Air Station. Brest, and other officers, September 30, 1918. Captain David C. Hanrahan, U. S. N., and officers of the Northern Bombing Squadron. A group of men of the Naval Aeronautical Expedition which was landed in France during the first week of June, 1917. This expedition was the first United States regular force of any kind to be landed in France for service against the enemy. U. S. Navy Htoto 117 Navy hydroplane equipped with Davis non-recoil gun. In One of the many methods of fighting U-boats — dropping t },; s gun t f, e reco if force of the forward barrel is counterbalanced depth bombs from navy plane. by t h at of a rear barrel from which a dummy charge is fired simul- taneously with the projectile. Effect of explosion of depth charge dropped into the sea from A submarine skimming along the surface, as seen from a a plane. height of 830 feet ' LT. DAVID SINTON INGALLS, ACE OF ACES T HE long flights along the British, French and Italian coasts, the patrols far out to sea, the combats with enemy aircraft and submarines form one of the most brilliant chapters of the war. A volume would be required to relate them all. I tell here only the story of the first naval ace, who may represent the courage, daring and efficiency of our aviators who wrote a new page in naval history. The first naval “ace,” Lieut. David S. Ingalls, was attached to the northern bomb- ing group in Flanders. While aircraft were arriving from the United States to equip this group. Ingalls was assigned to Royal Air Force Squadron No. 213, with whom we co-operated in bombing the German sub- marine bases. Ingalls began his spectacular perform- ances on the 11th of August, 1918, when in company with a British officer he shot down a two-seater machine in a running fight over the German lines. Zipping through the upper air at 120 miles an hour, by the skillful maneuvering of their planes the allied fliers were able to get in several bursts from their Lewis gun on the tail of the Germans, whose machine crumpled up, burst into flame and fell to earth. Ingalls’ machine did not escape without its share of punctures, but luckily nothing was damaged which interfered with the functioning of the motors and the wings held until the re- turn to the squadron airdrome. SWOOPED DOWN ON 'AIRDROME On the night of Aug. 13, 1918, Ingalls flew over the German airdrome at Var- senaere, and dropping to a point where his plane nearly touched the ground, sprayed 450 rounds from his machine gun into the wondering Teutons, who were making des- perate efforts to get him with their “arch- ies.” Swinging in a wide circle, he again swooped down on the hangars and let loose four bombs in the midst of things, putting out searchlights, scattering Germans and mussing things up generally. On Sept. 15 he repeated at the German airdrome at Uytkerke the stunt he worked at Varsenaere. Flying low, he rushed out of the clouds upon the German hangars and fired 400 rounds from his "Lewis” into the light canvas structures, and with the up- ward swing of his plane he cut free four bombs upon the Fokkers grouped on the field below. BROUGHT DOWN RUMPLER AT OSTEND On the raid Ingalls was the leader of a formation of five in a wing of twenty Camels, and on the return from Uytkerke, he sighted an enemy two-seated Rumpler going west from Ostend at an altitude of 6,000 feet. Ingalls and Lieut. H. C. Smith of the British air force turned out of forma- tion, swung in over the shore and attacked. The Rumpler turned and dived toward Ostend, the Camels following. Firing 400 rounds from ranges of fifty to 200 yards they chased the enemy plane down to about 500 feet just off the Ostend piers, when the Rumpler went down out of control, burst into flames, and crashed just off the beach. On the 18th of September Ingalls made one of the most spectacular flights on record. In company with two English pilots in Sopwith- Camels, he sighted a kite balloon at about 3,500 feet elevation near La Bar- riere. Crossing the coast line the Camels attacked, firing about ninety Buckingham tracers each. GERMAN STATION BURNED The Germans began to reel in the kite, the Camels following it down to about 500 feet altitude, when two observers were seen to jump with white parachutes. Ingalls gave the balloon another spraying with tracer bullets and it burst into flames. Three balloon hangars were observed at this station, and as the flaming balloon fell it landed on one of these hangars, which in an instant was ablaze. There was an ex- plosion and the fire spread to the two re- maining hangars, destroying the entire sta- tion, while the flames were visible as far as Nieuport. All the Camels were badly dam- aged by machine gun and anti-aircraft fire, but they reached their base in safety. On Sept. 22, Ingalls, who, in company with four other Camels, flew all over Flan- ders, committing depredations on German hangars and ammunition trains, dropped four bombs on the German ammunitions dump at Handezeame, and blew up a num- ber of wagons loaded with shells. Later he flew over the ammunition dump at Wercken and landed four bombs on a large hut filled with explosives setting it on fire. Swinging around over the railway station at Thour- out, where the Germans had an enormous supply dump, he made two accurate hits. On the way back, being the fourth trip for the day, Ingalls dropped four more bombs on a horse transport, and he and his com- panions got in enough good bursts from their machine guns to account for some twenty-five Germans and thirty-five horses. It was work of this kind that won for Ingalls his British distinguished flying cross. During a test flight on Sept. 24, Ingalls, in company with another Camel, sighted a two-seated Rumpler over Nieuport. Both Camels attacked, following the Rumpler very close, Ingalls and his mate getting in two bursts of 200 rounds at 1 00 yards range. Driving the enemy to a tailspin, Ingalls followed him down to 600 feet, when the Rumpler burst into flames and quickly crashed. Josephus Daniels former Secretary of the Naoy. 119 Upper left: “Peerless Pilot,” a feathered hero of the war. year of the war he delivered 196 messages from the sea. servers. The bird was used at the U. S. Naval Air Station at Pauillac. During the last Lower left: Liberating a pigeon. Right: A kite balloon at sea. Changing ob- U. S. Navy Photo U. S. Naval Air Station at Brest, France. The Naval Air Station at Brest was located in the western extremity of the French Navy Yard at that port. Brest Roads were patrolled by planes from this station and the sectors north and south were linked up with the Brest patrol system in a manner to protect the tremendous amount of shipping, going in and out of the harbor. There was also maintained at Brest a kite balloon station in connection with destroyer patrols off the adjacent coast. I he main headquarters at Brest was the Aviation Section of Admiral Wilson’s naval headquarters and was commanded by Capt. T. T. Craven, U. S. N., Aide for Aviation i Admiral Wilson’s Staff.” Lt. Clifford A. Tinker, U. S. N. R. F. u - s photo U. S. Naval Air Station at Arcachon. "About half way between the mouth of the Gironde River and the Spanish border on the Bassin d’ Arcachon were located the sea-plane station of Arcachon and the lighter than air station at Goyan. These stations covered the area from the Gironde to the Spanish city of San Sebastian on the Gulf of Gascony. In this area German submarines were believed to be supplied by Spanish vessels and even to have been given shelter in Spanish ports. Amer- ican patrols swept this area and materially reduced U-boat activities in these waters.” Lt. Clifford A. Tinker, U. S. N. R. F. u.s. Navy Photo At Pauillac, half way up the Gironde to Bordeaux, was located the great assembly and repair base for aviation in Europe, supplying not only the French Unit, but al the other units with seaplanes, airplanes, motors, and general supplies. In addition. Pauillac was a receiving ship for aviation and general Navy personnel who were held in the great barracks at the station and shipped out in detachments as the air stations were put into commission. Pauillac was the port from which Lafayette sailed for America to aid the colonists in their struggle against Great Britain l ' s ' Xmt ii”>“ 122 Upper: U. S. Naval Air Station at Fromentine. “Fromentine was south of the mouth of the Loire. It was an important naval air station, covering, as it did, that section of the patrol area off St. Nazaire between lie d’Yeu and the mainland. Thousands of miles of flight were covered by seaplanes from this station, which did much to discourage the U-boat activities in the congested waters in the vicinity of St. Nazaire.” Lower: “ lie Tudy. On the southern end of Finistere near the point of Pen- march was located the naval air station at lie Tudy. This sector was a favorite lurking place of submarines and lie Tudy is credited with more sinkings of U-boats than any other station we maintained abroad. The French official figures place He Tudy as having sunk four enemy submarines, one of which was the famous Penmarch Pete.” Lt. Clifford A. Tinker, U. S. N. R. F. \\ S. Navy Phot-. 123 MOUTCHIC. "At Moutchic, on the north shore of Lake Lacanau, was located the naval aviation training school where instruction was carried on in aerial gunnery, navigation, aerial photography, ordnance, bomb dropping and intelligence work. Pilots trained in the United States were sent here for finishing a course in the art of aerial warfare as developed in Europe under actual war conditions." Lt. Clifford A. Tinker, U. S. N. R F i s. N»vy Photo Upper: Ponta Delgada harbor, U. S. Naval Base No. 13, Azores. Lower: First Marine Aeronautic Company, U. S. Naval Base. Azores. On Nov. II. 1918, the Marines at this base operated eighteen R-6 and N-9 seaplanes and HS-2-L and HS-I-L flying boats. u. s. n.»> rh.u, U. S. S. Brooklyn, flagship of the Asiatic fleet going into position near H. M. S. Suffolk, Vladivostok Harbor. U. S. A. T. Warren arrives in Vladivostok after a stormy voyage Jan. 23, 1919. Rear Admiral W. L. Rodgers and staff officers of the U. S. S. Brooklyn, flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. Left to right: Lieut. Commander T. J. Bright, pay- master: Commander J. E. Gill, surgeon; Capt. Adelbert Althouse, chief of staff; Rear Admiral W. L. Rodgers; Lieut. Col. E. T. Fryer, Marine Corps; Lieut. Commander Carl F. Smith, flag lieutenant; Lieut. (Junior Grade) F. V. Martinelc, communication; Lieut. H. C. Davis, fleet radio officer. Vladivostok, Siberia, Jan. 4, 1919. SILENCING THE BIG BERTHA. Five naval 14-inch guns on railway mounts constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works were landed in St. Nazaire in July. 1918. They were un- der the command of Rear-Admiral C. P. Plunkett, U. S. N. Their main mission, says Admiral Sims, was to destroy the “Big Bertha” which was raining shells on Paris and to attack strong points, especially railroad communications, and the bridges across the Rhine. Admiral Sims adds: “Expertly as this unusual train had been camouflaged, the German airplane observers had detected its approach. As it neared the objective, the shells that had been falling on Paris, ceased: before the Americans could get to work the Germans had removed their mighty weapon, leaving nothing but an emplacement as a target for our shells. Though our men were therefore deprived of the privilege of destroying this famous long range rifle, it is apparent that their arrival saved Paris from further bombardment, for nothing-was heard of the gun for the rest of the war." Up to the Armistice the guns fired 782 shells at distances ranging from 18 to 23 miles. They played havoc in the railroad yards at Laon, Montmedy and Conflans. Inset: Rear Admiral C. P. Plunkett, U. S. N. I — L. to R.: A. M. Sewell. Mr. Bock, us. W. H I— Nrval RanwTy Oott Mount at Dahlgren, Va. Rear Admiml Sims says. “The initiative in the design wick, designer; and Commander Ddfenbach who w.tne^ ^ Department, under Rear Admiral Ralph Earle, and the details of the dcs.gn were of these mobile railway battery was taken by the Bu T a p U j' ° f ""^Vac ual coZtrucLrn of the great gun mounts on the cars from which the guns were to be fired, worked out by the officers of that bureau and Admiral engineering feat which reflects great credit upon the Baldwm Locomotive Works and par- M^Im’ agwli th thf gre atest enthusiasm, “2-Shop s at St. Naza.re where nav a, guns were mounted ^ 3-Swinging a 14-inch. 50 caliber rifle for United States Naval Railway Battery into position to be placed °" | an , d 9 f| ke " l ° sh ° PS ' St NaZa,re ’ Fra " Ce ' gust 1. I9lfh 4— United States Naval Railway Battery leaving yards for the front. St. Naza, re. France. August . Au- I - Officers of United States Naval Railway Battery Number I at St. Nazaire, France, August I, 1918. More than 20,000 officers and men of the United States Navy volunteered for this service. 2 Lt. Com. J. W. Bunkley, U. S. N.. Second in Command. U. S. .Naval Railway Battery, Number I. 3 — Men at work in the interior of the Ammunition car, U. S. Naval Railway Battery. Number 1. 4 — Interior of the tool and repair car, U. S. Naval Railway Battery. Number I. 130 Extraordinary heroism was shown by gunner's mate (1st cl.) Osmond K. Ingram south coast of Ireland. Realizing that the oncoming torpedo was Ingram ran his ship and hit a s u L .. . — - — — i~i — the destroyer into Queenstown on the morning war the Secretary of the Navy named a destroyer in Ingram s honoi -hen the U. S. destroyer L«. Com W. N Vrm.u ... torpedoed Oct. 15. rAt' he depth charges were stored and th struck. Thus Ingram sacrificed his life W.o,.;.he,he,p.,t^«^ ,ftto s n trip K».h^Th^ oJeTfa ,d He was biown pieces . torpedo ^ rupturcd „ .. , About half an hour after the destroyer was bmarioe appeared 1.500 yards dietent. The^ Casein "^opened fire wire mentioned by name a, conspicuous Inset: Gunner’s mate Osmond K. Ingram. for their coolness and leadership. After the I nleront '■•u&l Killil Officers of U. S. S. ” Cassin." L. to R.: Lt. R. M. Parkinson. Lt. J. W. McClaren. Lt. L. R. Agrell, Lt. Com. W. N. Vernou. Lt. J. A. Saunders and Dr. D. D. Queen. Under date of Feb. 4. 1918, the Secretary of the Navy commended the conduct of Lt. Com. Vernou and the other officers and men of the ‘'Cassin" on the occasion of the action between that vessel and a German submarine Oct. IS, 1917. "The manner in which the Cassin' kept under way with her steering gear disabled and practically at the mercy of the submarine and then opened fire upon the sub. when she appeared on the surface an hour later, was well worthy of the best traditions of the naval service." wrote the Secretary. In his official report the commanding officer of the "Cassin" especially commended the work of Lt. J. W. McClaren and Lt. J. A. Saunders who inspected magazines and spaces below decks and superintended shoring of bulkheads and restaying of masts. Lt. R. M. Parkinson did excellent work in getting an improvised radio set into commission. W. J. Murphy, chief electrician and F. R. Fisher, chief machinist s mate were commended for cool and efficient work. lutornati*'nal Film ;3 .. . , , I I s A T Antilles was torpedoed on Oct. 17, 1917. two days out from Quiberon Bay. France. The vessel sank in four and one-half minutes. The behavior Sixty- seven lives were lost when the U. S. A. I . Antilles was torpeaoea .. . Commander Daniel T Ghent. U. S. N.. senior naval officer on board. The two forward guns crews, of the naval personnel throughout was equal to the best tradition . P° stations until ordered to save themselves. Radio Electrician Ausburne went in charge of Lt Tisdale remained at then gun Thohad^r.^ on the bridge for instructions, remained with me and was lost when the .hip sank. . . . One " 0 H f t “ l r^Hhom he 2 ”n means iTd floated clear and .in an upright position. When this young man saw the Corsair Stan mg doTn b o tk him p e seZphrd not to come too close as the box on which he was sitting contained live ammunition. 133 The U. S. Army Chartered Transport Finland, on her third return voyage to the United States, was torpedoed 150 miles off the coast of France, Oct. 28, 1917. Eight men lost their lives. The damage to the ship was confined to one compartment and, under her own steam, she made her way back to France at 15 knots. Capt. Stephen V. Graham, U. S. N., the senior naval officer on board, writes: "Cadet Officer David McLaren was the youngest officer on board — just 18 years old. After I had ordered the lowering of the boats this lad, who was in charge of one of them and who would have been entirely justified in leaving the ship which he believed to be sinking, returned to the bridge and reported to me that his boat was lowered and clear of the ship and asked if he could be of any service. Hr remained on the bridge, rendering valuable assistance and displaying nerve and resourcefulness worthy of the best traditions of the sea. One naval lad was down in the living compartment cleaning up when the ship was struck. Some one in one of the boats hanging at the davits seeing him hurrying along the promenade deck asked him which boat he belcnged to: He replied, 'Boat No. 4.' He replied, 'This is No. 4: jump in. And the youngster answered, ‘Oh, no, I have to go to my gun.’ And he did." Film A chance shot from the U-53 (Capt. Hans Rose) at a distance of two miles torpedoed the destroyer. Jacob Jones. Lt. Com. David W. Bag ley commanding. The action took place Dec 6. 1917 while the ship was returning to Queenstown from escort duty off Brest. The boat sank in eight minutes. Out of a total of 7 officers and 103 men on board at the time of the torpedoing, 2 officers and 64 men died in the performance of duty. Ueut. (J. G.) L. F. Kalk was among those who went down with the ship During the early part of the evening, while already ,n a wakened con- dition. he swam from one raft to another in an effort to equalise weight on the rafts. The men who were on the last raft with him said. He was game to the end During the night Boatswain, Mate 0 Charlesworth (1st col.) removed parts of his own clothing to try to keep alive men more thinly clad than himself. The behavior of officers and men under the exceptionally hard condi- tions was worthy of the highest praise." was the report of Lt. Com. Bagley. Rear-Admiral Sims writes: "The survivors of the Jacob Jones naturally had no means of communication since the wireless had gone down with their ship: and now Rose, at considerable risk to himself, sent out an S. 0. S. call, giving the latitude and longitude, and informing Queenstown that the men were float- ing around in open boats and rafts. Inset: Lt. Com. D. W. Bagley. A MYSTERY OF THE SEA -There has been no more baffling mystery in the annals of the Navy than the disappearance in March, 1918, of the U. S. S. Cyclops, navy collier, of 19,033 tons dis- placement with all on board. Loaded with a cargo of manganese, with 57 passengers. 20 officers, and a crew of 213 aboard, the collier was due in port on March 13 On March 4 the Cyclops reported at Barbados. British West Indies, where she put in for bunker coal. After her departure from that port there was never a trace of the vessel, and long-continued and vigilant search of tne entire region proved utterly futile, not a vestige of wreckage having been discovered. No reasonable explanation of the strange disappearance can be given. It is known that one of her two engines was damaged and that she was proceeding at reduced speed, but even if the other engine had become disabled it would have not had any effect on her ability to communicate by radio. Many theories have been advanced, but none that seems to account satisfactorily for the ship's complete vanishment. After months of search and waiting the Cyclops was finally given up as lost and her name stricken from the registry. i..i.niati..iiiil Film 136 A salvo of three torpedoes f.red at 830 yards sank the U. S. A. T. "President Lincoln" May 31, 1918. while she was returning to America from a voyage to France. Of 715 persons on board 3 officers and 23 men were lost with the ship. After the vessel went down a large German submarine emerged and came among the lifeboats and rafts seeking the commanding officer and some of the senior officers whom it was desired to make prisoners. One officer only. Lieutenant E. V. M. Isaacs, was identified He was carried away. Before midnight Me destroyers Warrington and Smith arrived on the scene and the work of rescue was begun. About 6 a. m. on the following day the return trip to France was begun. Ur. L. L. Whiteside and Paymaster J.U. Johnston, who saw to it that the men in their charge left the ship, remained too long and were lost. "The conduct of the men during this time of grave danger was thrilling and inspiring reported the commanding officer. Commander P. W. Foote, "as a large percentage of them were young boys who had only been in the navy for a period o a few months. I his is another example of the innate courage and bravery of the young manhood of America." The photograph shows the "President Lincoln" at Brest 6 days before she was hit. Inset: Commander P. W. f-oote. j 137 Survivors of "President Lincoln" on board “Warrington” June 1, 1918. "The boats and rafts had been collected and secured together, there being about 500 men in the boats and about 200 on the rafts.” U. S. S. "Warrington,” which went to relief of President Lincoln taking on oil from U. S. S. Roe. At sea June I, 1918. Army officers who survived wreck of "President Lincoln. L. R.: Capt. D. E. Hannan, Lt. Col., W. H. Clopton Jr.. Lt. W. W. Butts. OFFICER’S THRILLING ESCAPE [Condensed from report of Lt. E. V. M. Isaacs] The President Lincoln went down about 9.30 in the morning, 30 minutes after being struck by three torpedoes. In obedience to orders I abandoned ship after seeing all hands aft safely off the vessel. The boats had pulled away, but I stepped on a raft floating alongside, the quarter deck being then awash. A few minutes later one of the boats picked me up. The submarine, the U-90, then returned and the commanding officer, while searching for Capt. Foote of the President Lincoln, took me out of the boat. I told him my captain had gone down with the ship, whereupon he stearr^d away, taking me prisoner to Germany. We passed to the' north of the Shetlands into the North Sea, the Skag- gerak, the Cattegat, and the Sound into the Baltic. Pro- ceeding to Kiel, we passed down the canal through Heligo- land Bight to Wilhelmshaven. On the way to the Shetlands we fell in with two American destroyers, the Smith and the Warrington, who dropped 22 depth bombs on us. We were submerged to a depth of 60 meters and weathered the storm, although five bombs were very close and shook us up considerably. The information I had been able to collect was, I considered, of enough im- portance to warrant my trying to escape. Accordingly in Danish waters I attempted to jump from the deck of the submarine but was caught and ordered below. The German Navy authorities took me from Wilhelm- shaven to Karlsruhe, where I was turned over to the army. Here I met officers of all the allied armies, and with them I attempted several escapes, all of which were unsuccessful. After three weeks at Karlsruhe I was sent to the American and Russian officers’ camp at Villingen. On the way I attempted to escape from the train by jumping out of the window. With the train making about 40 miles an hour, i landed on the opposite railroad track and was so severely wounded by the fall that I could not get away from my guard. They followed me, firing continuously. When they recap- tured me they struck me on the head and body with their guns until one broke his rifle. It snapped in two at the small of the stock as he struck me with the butt on the back of the head. I was given two weeks solitary confinement for this attempt to escape, but continued trying, for I was determined to get my information back to the Navy. Finally, on the night of October 6, assisted by several American Army officers, I was able to effect an escape by short-circuiting all lighting circuits in the prison camp and cutting through barbed-wire fences surrounding the camp. This had to be done in the face of a heavy rifle fire from the guards. But it was difficult for them to see in the darkness, so I escaped unscathed. In company with an American officer in the French Army, I made my way for seven days and nights over mountains to the Rhine, which to the south of Baden forms the boundary between Germany and Switzer- land. After a four-hour crawl on hands and knees I was able to elude the sentries along the Rhine. Plunging in, I made for the Swiss shore. After being carried several miles down the stream, being frequently submerged by the rapid current, I finally reached the opposite shore and gave myself up to the Swiss gendarmes, who turned me over to the Ajnerican legation at Berne. From there I made my way to Paris and then London and finally Washington, where I arrived four weeks after my escape from Germany. Lt. E. V. M. Isaacs, U. S. N.. and American Army officers imprisoned at Karlsruhe. Mr. Isaacs is the officer in the dark uniform seated at the right. Lt. Isaacs was captured May 31. 1918. After three weeks at Karlsruhe he was sent to Villingen. On the way he jumped from a train going 40 miles an hour. He was recaptured and given two weeks in the solitary. On night of Oct. 6 he. with help of other officers, short-circuited all lighting circuits and escaped under heavy rifle fire. He arrived in Washington four weeks afterward. 139 AF2:30 p. m. July 2. 1918. the ‘Covington’ began to sink rapidly by the stern. It was an awe-inspiring sight as the ship rose rapidly to a vertical position in the water, the after smoke pipe being clear when the ship was in a vertical position. The vessel remained this way for perhaps a period of ten to fifteen seconds, then sank rapidly further in the vertical position, the bow disappearing at 2:32 p. m. Joseph Medill Patterson. Chicago Tribun Extract from the report of Capt. R. D. Hasbrouck. U. S. N. Photos by courtesy of Captain . The photograph shows the wreckage above the Spot where the ' Covington finally disappeared After having safely taken 27.000 soldiers to France the U. S. A. T. Covington was torpedoed at 9:15 p. m., July 1, 1918, while returning from her sixth trip ‘over there.” In an incredibly short time the entire crew were at their stations awaiting the next order from the bridge. The engine and fire rooms quickly filled. The ship lost headway rapidly and in 15 minutes lay dead in the water. She listed, giving the impression of instability. The ship was reeling and it seemed that at any moment she would take a heavy lurch and sink. The commanding officer, Captain R. D. Hasbrouck, U. S. N.. gave the order to abandon ship. "The behavior of officers and men was wonderful,” reports Capt. Hasbrouck. “Boats were lowered without lights, with the shipJisted and without the aid of a single winch. It was a stirring sight to see the men go down the Jacob ladders in an orderly procession as if they were at drill.” The destroyer Smith rescued the men from the boats. - Three salvage tugs and the destroyer Reade endeavored to tow the ship to Brest. However, the giant liner, which had been “bleeding internally" began to sink rapidly by the stern in the early afternoon of the next day. and at 2:32 p. m. she rose vertically and went down. The final muster showed that of 739 men and 46 officers, 6 were lost. Inset: Capt. R. D. Hasbrouck. 141 A contact mine planted by the L-156 sank the L. S. S. San Diego July 19, 1918. off Fire Island. She went down in 30 minutes. The ship was abandoned in good order and excellent discipline prevailed. Gun crews remained at their guns and continued firing at all suspicious objects until they were forced to jump into the water. Capt. H. H. Christy was the last to leave the ship. Six lives were lost and six men were injured. ‘‘From the end of May until October. 1918," says Rear Admiral Sims, “there was nearly always one submarine operating off our coast. The largest number active at one time was in August, when, for a week or ten days, three were more or less active in attacking coastwise vessels. Five submarines sunk in all approximately 1 10,000 tons of shipping but the vessels were, for the most part, small and of no great military importance. The only real victory was the destruction of the cruiser San Diego.” i Film 142 Almost immediately after the U. S. A. T. Mount Vernon was torpedoed while homeward bound 250 miles off the coast of France Sept. 5,1918, a shot was fired from her No. I gun which struck the water near the periscope of the enemy submarine. Within I minute and 10 seconds a barrage of five depth bombs was fired. It was such splendid discipline that saved the ship from further attack. The torpedo exploded in a bulkhead separating two fire rooms. Thirty-five men were killed and thirteen injured, one of them dying later. One hundred and fifty feet of the ship was flooded and she went down to 40 feet draft. However, the vessel never slowed down below 6 knots and within two hours was making two thirds of her best speed. There were 150 wounded soldiers aboard and these were returned safely to Brest. When the torpedo struck. Thomas F. Buckley, a sailor, although thrown to the deck by the force of the explosion, jumped to his feet and yelled "Remember, boys, we are all Americans and it’s only one hit.” "The doctrine." says Capt. D. E. Dismukes, U. S. N., commanding officer, "had been constantly preached to the men that one hit would not sink the ship if every man would do his full duty. This warning from Buckley was electrifying. All men immediately calmed themselves and went, not to their boats to abandon ship, but to their collision stations to save her. ” After being repaired at Brest the Mount Vernon resumed her duty as a transport. Capt. D. E. Dismukes, U. S. N.. (right) and Lt. Com. Doyle. Executive officer, on board U. S. S. “Mount Vernon.” “The depth charge crews jumped to their stations and immediately started dropping depth bombs.” While the ship seen in the picture is not the Mount Vernon, the explosion of depth bombs is strikingly visualized. “The men in the fire rooms knew that the safety of the ship depended on their bravery and steadfastness to duty." The picture shows No. 4 fireroom. Mount Vernon. Photo- graph was taken on Sept. 5, 1918. “Our starboard gun opened fire at once, but the periscope remained on the surface only a few seconds.” Photograph taken on deck of Mount Vernon Sept. 5, 1918. LOSS OF THE “TAMPA," WITH ALL ON BOARD. The greatest disaster suffered by the Coast Guard, and the largest individual loss of life sustained by our naval forces during the war, occurred on September 26, 1918. when the cutter Tampa was sunk with all hands on board in Bristol Channel, presumably by a torpedo from an enemy submarine. The cutter had gone ahead of her convoy; and although a distant explosion was heard by the vessels in the convoy, no positive evidence has ever been received as to the exact cause of the disaster. Diligent search by several destroyers in the vicinity of the disaster revealed only two unrecognizable bodies in sailors uniforms and some small pieces of wreckage. Thus perished 1 1 1 brave officers and men. I iilrmatioital Film Bi 145 V "The active systematic work oi sweeping up th North Sea mine barrage began May 8, 1919, under command of Rear Admiral Joseph Strauss. 1 he force actually employed in removal consisted of 83 ships, divided as follows: 36 sweeping vessels. 20 trawlers, 24 submarine chasers. I salvage vessel, and two repair ships. The personnel of these vessels was entirely American and a large proportion of the 4,000 officers and men manning them was of the reserve force. The war was over, yet this force of officers and men working under difficult and hazardous conditions, kept at their task with surprising persistence, maintained a high morale, were cheerful and loyal and the excellence of the personnel contributed largely to the success of whole operation. "That the maintenance of such a wonderful spirit in a force is largely due to the personality and ability of the officer in immediate command cannot be gainsaid. Great credit is due and must be given to Admiral Strauss for the high character of the leadership which he displayed." Report of Secretary of Navy for 1919. The photograph shows Admiral Strauss and staff at U. S. Naval Base No. 18 Inverness, Scotland. L. to R.: Ensign Vaughan, Lieut. Smither, Lieut. Noel Davis. Capt. Murfin, C. 0. Bases 17 and 18: Rear Admiral Strauss. Commander N Grow, Lieut. Harrell, Ensign Nichols. A nT . ^ * I a . IdHR i v;- v I ’ mm MRIffTi if ■ * •TJf The mine-sweeping fleet frequently put in at Stavenger, a bustling town in Norway made prosperous by the war. With gallantry worthy of the best traditions of the Navy, Lt. Frank Bruce, commanding officer, U. S. S. ‘‘Bobolink,’’ on May 14, 1919, went aft to clear a mine that had fouled the “ Bobolink’s ” kite. Almost before anything could be done it exploded, killing Lt. Bruce, and blowing the boatswain and three other men into the water All four were rescued, although the boatswain had been knocked unconscious by the shock. The photograph shows the explosion which caused the death of Mr. Bruce. The vessel’s smoke can be seen emerging from the left of the explosion. r. s. Xavy official CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS T HE second mine sweeping operation began May 10, 1919. On the second day in the field the casualties began. They continued intermittently throughout the operations. The cause of most of the mishaps came from a totally unexpected source. Up to this time the danger of mines fouled in the kites, exploding when the sweep was being hauled in, had not been experienced. The “Patuxent” was the first victim. On May 12 the sweep had been severed by an explosion and had to be hauled on board to be repaired. When the kite was within sight a mine could be seen hanging by its mooring cable. The commanding officer immediately sent all hands forward to a place of safety, going aft himself to clear it with the assistance of his chief boatswain’s mate. The mine was on the surface about 10 feet from the side of the ship when suddenly, without apparent cause, it ex- ploded. Several men were blown overboard by the mass of flying water, but all were rescued. The commanding officer, who at the time of the explosion was only a few feet from the mine, escaped with the loss of his thumb, which was amputated by a flying fragment. Since the force of the explosion had been largely spent in the air, the damage to the ship was not serious, and a few days in dry dock were sufficient to repair her. Up to this time several mines which had fouled the sweep had been hauled on board as souvenirs; for. ac- cording to design, they should be safe when within ap- proximately 30 feet of the surface. This practice now was discontinued voluntarily. No one trusted the mines under any circumstances, and one ship even went so far as to double the risk by throwing one, which was then on board, back over the side. Precaution, however, could not entirely eliminate the danger of mines fouled in the sweep. In the first place, they could not be seen until they were dangerously close to the ship; then the action which was taken might or might not prove the proper one. It was impossible to tell. Two days after the “Patuxent’s” accident the same casualty befell the “Bobolink,” but with far more serious results. Again the commanding officer went aft to clear the mine in person. Almost before anything could be done it exploded, killed the commanding officer, Lieut. Frank Bruce, United States Navy, and blew the boatswain and three other men into the water. All four were rescued, although the boatswain had been knocked unconscious by the shock. The ship was seriously damaged. The after hull plating had been driven in in places as much as 2 and 3 feet: the rudder and rudder post were gone: the propeller distorted and shaft bent; the engine had been thrown out of line; the towing engine, capstan, searchlights, and many other fixtures had been broken or disabled. The boilers, fortunately, were not damaged, which enabled the wrecking pumps to handle the water which poured into the after part of the ship. The "Tear' took the "Bobolink'' in tow and. accompanied by the "Swallow" and "SC-43," headed for port. After various vicissitudes the "Bobolink" was taken to Scapa where temporary repairs were made. Later she was towed to Devonnort where it required six months to complete repairs. "The Northern Barrage" (Taking Up the Mines ) by Lieutenants Noel Daois and Wil- liam K. Harr ill, U. S. N. H 147 of the mine fired by touching the sweep wire. r. s. Navy on'u-iul 148 On March 20, 1919, the "Patapsco" and "Patuxent'' under command of Capt. Roscoe C. Bulmer set out for the mine barrage to make the first real experiments with the actual gear which was intended to be used in the sweeping operations that were to follow. During the experiments an upper level mine exploded fairly close aboard on the port quarter of the “Patapsco." The photograph, supplied by the Navy Department, shows the explosion. There were, in all. seven mine-sweeping operations, and in nearly every one mine sweepers were badly damaged by explosions near them. Altogether two officers and nine men were killed during these hazardous enter- prises and twenty-three ships were damaged. By Sept. 30. 1919. the entire barrage was swept. A total of 20,71 I mines were actually destroyed. The remainder had not survived the severe storms, had exploded on laying, or countermined during mine sweeping. r. s. xavr official Upper— The fishing smacks “Red Rose” and “Red Fern” sweeping up the first mines in the Northern Barrage, Dec. 23, 1918. Lower— A view of the harbor of Kirkwall. Orkney Islands. Kirkwall was the primary base for mine sweeping operations on account of its proximity to the Northern Barrage. 151 SHAKING DICE WITH DAVY JONES S INCE the first mines had been laid in the barrage, there had been no means of telling its effectiveness nor how well the mines with their slender antennae had survived the frequent storms. During the latter part of the summer Admiral Sims had requested the Commander of the Mine Force to make a skimming sweep across the mine field to determine if the mines were still there and effective. Many had exploded shortly after having been laid; others had broken adrift and been discovered on the coast of Norway; there was also a possibility that the batteries which fired the mines had not survived as was intended. It was now more essential than ever to de- termine the actual condition of the mines in the barrage before sweeping operations were undertaken, and to this end arrangements were made to borrow from the Admiralty two wooden sailing vessels, man them with volunteers, and cross the mine field with a sweep wire between them to find out what percentage of the mines were still in place and effective. Two Lowestoft fishing smacks arrived at Inverness the latter part of November. Preparations were begun at once to fit them out for the experiment. The "Red Fern and the "Red Rose” — such were their names — were hauled out upon the ways at Inverness, their seams calked, nail heads driven in. the metal parts sheathed with wood, and then a heavy coating of tar applied— all to prevent mines from exploding when in contact with the hull. Additional billets were fitted to accommodate a crew of 10 men on each vessel, the rigging was overhauled, and on December 22, 1918, these tiny craft, in tow of the “Patapsco” and the “Patuxent” set out for the barrage. Lieut. Noel Davis. United States Navy, was in command of the expedition and the “Red Rose;” Lieut, (junior grade) Olaf Maatson. United States Naval Reserve Force, commanded the “Red Fern. The “Patapsco” and “Patuxent.” after reaching the southern edge of the mine field, were to stand by while experiments were being undertaken, then render assist- ance if necessary when the vessels again were off the field. The next morning found them a few miles to the southward of the first line of mines in the central portion of the barrage. Shortly after sunrise the smacks spread sail, stood up to each other, passed sweep and set course to cross the field of mines. A few minutes before noon, as the vessels crossed the first line of invisible mines, a^giant column of discolored water sprang high into the air close astern of the “ Red Rose. The first mine in the North Sea barrage had been swept. Separated as it was from that vessel by only a short length of manila rope, which insulated the sweep wire from her stern, the tremendous shock of the explosion all but crushed the wooden hull of the vessel; water spurted in between the timbers in countless places; the pump was started at once, but was barely sufficient to keep her dry. It was a pretty sight to see these little craft sailing back and forth across the mine field, wearing and tacking in unison, and keeping station on each other by furling topsails or streaming sea anchors. . In all, the lines of mines were crossed four times; six of the upper level mines were exploded, a negligible number, of course, when compared with the 56,000 mines which had been laid, but it had proved conclusively that the mines were still there, ready to explode upon the slightest contact, and that every possible precaution must be used in the forthcoming operations to guard the lives of the men who would be required to sweep the mines. >t . By 3 o’clock the sun had set; the “Patapsco” and “Patuxent were no longer in sight. To add to the difficulties, a storm, which had been foretold by the morning s sky and a rapidly falling barometer, burst with the force of a hurricane. The sweep was cut adrift from the “Red Rose” and “Red Fern;” the vessels headed about and set course to the southward to get clear of the mine fields before the twilight had faded. The days that followed were days of anxiety at Base 1 8, and hardship for the crews of the “Red Rose” and “Red Fern.” For three days the storm continued unabated. The “Patapsco” and the “Patuxent” were suffering as badly as or possibly worse than the fishing smacks, and had not been able to locate them after they had left the mine field. Realizing the severity of the weather. Admiral Strauss requested the British authorities to send such vessels as were available to search for the sailboats, but the majority of those sent out could not weather the seas and were forced to return to port. Then on Christmas Eve, when hope had almost ebbed away, Lieut. Davis telephoned to Admiral Strauss that the “Red Rose,” though badly wrecked by the storm, had man- aged to reach Peterhead that morning. The next day the “Red Fern anchored at St. Andrew’s Bay, having been blown more than 200 miles from her destination. The Ncrlhern Barrage” {Tailing up the Mines ) by Lieutenants Noel Daois and William K. Harr ill, U. S.N. 154 Upper left — The U. S. S. “Mallard,” mine sweeper. Thirty-four vessels of the “Mallard” type were engaged in the mine-sweeping operations. Their specifications were: Displacement, 1.009 tons; length over all, 157 feet 10 inches; beam, 35 feet 6 inches; loaded draft, 15 feet; maximum speed, 14 knots; cruising radius at 10 knots, 5.500 miles. Upper right- Homeward bcund. The subchaser in the foreground is losing no time. Lower — The U. S. S. “Panther” was the mother ship of the sub- chasers detailed to mine-sweeping operations. r. s. Xavy Official Return of the North Sea Mine Force to the United States. At 10 o'clock on the morning of November 24. 1919. the Secretary of the Navy reviewed the gallant Mine Force from on board the U. S. S. •• Meredith." Before departure of the force from the other side Admiral Strauss had received this cable from the Secretary of the Navy: It is with the greatest of pleasure that the Secretary of the Navy congratulates the officers and men of the North Sea mine-sweeping detachment on having so creditably completed the stupendous task of clearing the North Sea of the mines planted by our Navy during the war. This most arduous and dangerous work, one of the greatest and most hazardous tasks undertaken by the Navy, which has been carried on with cheerfulness and integrity, will go down in the annals of history as one of the Navy's greatest achievements. Every loyal citizen of the United States and every officer and man in the Navy must look with pride upon these men who have once again fulfilled the glorious traditions of the service which they represent. Josephus Daniels. International i-ilm Conuwuy 158 Recruits swearing allegiance to the United States government, United States Naval Training Station, Newport, R. I. When war was declared the enlistment and enrollment of the Navy numbered 65,777 men. On the day Germany signed the Armistice the Navy com- prised 497,030 men and women. The first unit of United States Naval Reserves to be ordered into the federal service at the beginning of the war. members of the First Battalion, Naval Militia, New York. They are aboard the training ship "Granite State.” The blue jackets were I iiti'm.-it ionnl Film Newly made tars leaving for active service. These sailors, just arrived from the Naval Training Station at Newport, R. I., are waiting on a New York pier to be sent to various naval vessels. Inset: "Cleanliness is next to Godliness. I nt« rnatiorcil Film Conusiny 170 Drill at Yerba Buena Island Inspection at Newport Training Station. Recruits at Great Lakes being taught how to handle oars. Electrical School. Hampton Roads, Va. Jackies from Great Lakes rehearsing for a show. Blindman’s Buff at a War Camp Community Center. Hazing a recruit at Great Lakes. Wash day on the Commonwealth Pier, South Boston. A scene at the United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, 111. The administration building can be seen in the distance. •*} r»«-i ■wr r »rr 178 Upper: The entire command at Newport Naval Training Station standing at parade rest. Lower left: Jackies at Newport. Lower right: Recruits arriving at Newport. "You 'll like it," is the cordial assurance of the sailors already in • Inti Tifaitional Film 'jt->^f A ^(y W3||* A complete new outfit. liit«*riiittional Kilin Drilling at Newport. “ K. P.” at Newport. Heaving the Lead. — 185 luii'rnational Film Mess time at Newport. Lt. C. W. Thomas instructing class in standard engine con- struction at Columbia University. A scene at the engineering school, Columbia University. Commander W. B. Franklin, Commandant at Pelham Bay Park Station receives a “ despedida.” Instruction in the handling of the rifle. Pelham Bay Park Chicagoans gave hearty support to all activities at the Lireat Lakes iNava Training Station. The picture shows the late Nelson Lampert. vice president of the Fort Dearborn National Bank, assisting at one of the athletic meets for which the station was famous. A company street. Great Lakes. The U. S. S. “Constellation” at Newport Naval Training Station. The frigate was launched at Baltimore in 1797 as one of six mcn-o'-war designed for use against the Barbary pirates. In 1 798 Commodore Thomas Truxtun cruised in her in the West Indies in the war with France. 1798-1800. He engaged and captured the French frigate “L’Insurgente” of 50 guns. Feb. 9. 1 799. and I captured two other vessels. Feb. 2, 1800, he fought to a surrender the French frigate “La Vengeance.” also of 50 guns, but she escaped in the darkness during a heavy squall. The main mast of the Constella- tion” having fallen overboard, she could not pursue her prize. For his distinguished service Commodore Truxtun was awarded a gold medal and the thanks of Congress. During the war of 1812 the “Constellation” was blockaded at Norfolk. In 1815 she was part of Decatur’s fleet in the Mediterranean and was one of the squadron which captured the Moroccan vessel Mashouda after a savage conflict August 26. During the World War the “Constellation” was used to quarter some of the men in training at Newport. U S N v Offi ' i Recruiting at U. S. S. Recruit New York City Encampment at Newport. Artillery practice at Newport. The march past at Newport. Battleships of the Second Line, Division Four, employed to teach engineering, deck and other duties afloat to men received from the training stations. From these ships they were transferred to stations aboard ships on active war duty. Training in this fleet was brought to a remarkable state of efficiency by its commander, Vice Admiral A. W. Grant, U. S. N. Upper: Scene a, Co.,. Cn.rd Schopl. For, Trumbull. New London. Conn. Lower let,: U. S^-O-trfj S.ndyH^k^^we^r.gh. ( ^ £jSS£Z? the existence of a state of war. the Coast Guard, pursuant to the prww'OM of the act o * PP ^ ^ ^ advantage. A number of the cruising cutters were equipped with more effec- ■" E — Y —, Als “ n - quin.'' “Manning.'* and Tamp.." the la,t cf which was lost with all her gallant officer, and men. letmataml I 'liti l '"“runs 193 The largest band in the world The photograph shows a detachment of the world famous Great- Lakes organization which at one time comprised fourteen hundred musicians. I hey were trained by Lieutenant John Philip Sousa. The various detachments of the band were in great demand throughout the nation to promote Liberty Loan drives and numerous other patriotic undertakings. Musicians to the number of 3056 were enrolled and trained at Great Lakes. Approximately 2250 of these musicians were transferred to the fleet and to naval bases. In the training of naval bandsmen the authorities were always mindful of the report of a British commission appointed to determine the things most important in winning the war. Music had been placed only after fond, clothing and shelter. The picture shows the bands- men from threat Lakes marching up Michigan Avenue, Chicago. 1 1 i „ c . n. .mv A naval band of 128 pieces on recruiting duty in San Fran- cisco, Sept. 28, 1917. A color guard at Great Lakes. A wrestling bout at Great Lakes. The Jackies themselves did much of the construction work at Great Lakes. 195 Field gun instruction. Naval training camp, San Diego, Learning to handle the oars at U. S. Naval Station. San Francisco. Internttloml Film 197 The United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Md. The school was established in 1845 by a special act of Congress. The origin of this institution was due to the efforts of George Bancroft. Secretary of the Navy. The academy was opened Oct. 10. 1845. with Commander Franklin Buchanan as superintendent hor a time dur- ing the Civil War the school was removed from Annapolis to Newport, R. 1. A new and improved plan of construction and organization of the school buildings was recommended in 1895. But it was not until 1898 that adequate funds became available. In that year the corner-stone of the new armory was laid by near Admiral F. V. McNair. The plan as viewed from the sea front shows the cadet quarters extending 720 feet, flanked on one side by the Armory and the other by the boat house. These buildings are at right angles to the direction of the cadet quarters, are 428 feet long and similar in appearance. In two years beginning March, 191 /. the Acad- emy graduated 1 .040 for the regular Navy and gave special instruction to five large classes of specially selected reserves who were thus equipped to perform important duties during the war. Imcrnatiiinal l-ilm Ci.iiii.uir Naval cadets drilling as infantry. Teaching the use of sailing craft at the Naval Academy. W Reserves marching to graduation exercises at the Naval Academy. Dur- ing the war period the number of line officers graduated from the special reserve classes was 1,730 while 200 staff officers also became ensigns after duty and examination. Cutters with instructor's launch following. U. S. Naval Academy The graduates performed a snake dance after the ceremonies. Graduation day at Annapolis. Admiral Von Reuter of the German High Seas Fleet boards Admiral Beatty’s flagship, the Queen Elizabeth, to surrender the enemy ships. German light cruisers proceeding to the Firth of Forth. Crews from German submarines being taken aboard British destroyer to be taken to a ship for transport to Germany. The German High Seas Fleet from a seaplane. W Surrender of the German navy in the presence of the Allied fleets of which Rear Admiral Rodman's Sixth Battle Squadron formed a part. This naval surrender the greatest in history, took place Nov 20 21 24 and Dec 1 1918 in the North Sea opposite the Firth of Forth. Under the terms of the Armistice. Germany was to give up to the Allies and the United States IbO submarines, six battle cruisers, ten battleships, eight light cruisers and fifty destroyers of the most modern type. From a spectacular point of view the surrender of the battleships, cruisers and destroyers was the most imnressive This occurred on Nov. 21 when seventy-one vessels were turned over to the entente. Ifie German ships headed by the Frieder.ch der Grosse, flagship of Admiral Von Reuter steamed between two columns of victorious men-of-war numbering between 250 and 300 vessels. The columns were six miles apart. As the Germans steered a middle course toward the Firth of Forth the entente columns reversed their course and the whole array moved in triple order toward the great anchorage. 202 Battalion of “Yeomen, F.” being inspected on the Ellipse, Washington. D. C. by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the Navy and naval officers among whom are Captains Joseph K. Taussig. William McDowell and Richard H. Leigh and Lieutenant Commanders L. B. Bernheim and Camalier. The Commanding officer of the battalion was Ensign J. P. 0 Neill. The Chief Yoeman was Loretta McBride. The young woman did splendid work during the war. m.iiu>inn l-om c-mi«ns 203 After the surrender of the German fleet at Scapa, at which our battleships serving with the British Grand Fleet, were present, the six battleships, comprising Division i) R ear Admiral 1 lugh Rodman commanding, proceeded to Brest, where they met the three battleships of Division 6. Rear Admiral 1 homas S. Rodgers commanding, which had been operating from the base at Berehaven, and several divisions of destroyers, all of which, under command of Admiral Sims took part in the demonstra- tion on the arrival of President Wilson, who went to Franceon the U. S. S. "George Washington," escorted by the " Pennsylvania,” flagship of Admiral Henry 1 . Mayo, com- mander-in-chief. United States Atlantic Fleet. The photograph shows the President's naval escort approaching the shores of France Dec. 13. 1718 i , s. Navy in-. »■ 205 The Atlantic fleet homeward bound from foreign waters. The return of the battleships from European service was signalized by a notable naval review Dec 26 1918. for which all available ships of the fleet in home waters were assembled. Arriving off Ambrose Lightship the afternoon of Christmas Day, the battleships the next morning steamed into New. York where they were accorded a great demonstration, the review being followed by a land parade of all the returning officers and crews. , , . , , . , . , ..„ D . , On the eve of the naval review the Secretary of the Navy issued a tribute to the battleship forces returning from service abroad. Among other things he said: .ea Power once again has demonstrated its primacy in making land victories possible. While the American dreadnoughts, an important pa- - 1 - sea victory, they did more: They co-operated in receiving the surrendered German Fleet, which capitulated to thi honors given to valiant victors. rtant part of the world’s strongest armada, were not given an opportunity to win a great ’ e superior force of the allied fleets, and they will be received at home with all the 207 Trans- Atlantic Flight T HE first flight across the Atlantic was made in May, 1919. by the NC-4. one of the division of three seaplanes of that type organized, manned, and specially equipped for this enterprise. This was the result of plans long contemplated and made possible by the completion of these, the largest flying boats ever constructed. To guide the planes, observe weather conditions along the route, and give assistance, if necessary, ships were stationed at intervals of approximately 75 miles along the entire route, which was from Rockaway. N. Y.. to Halifax. Nova Scotia, to Trepassey. New Foundland; then, via the Azores, to Lisbon. Portugal, and from Lisbon to Plymouth, ^Leaving Rockaway Naval Air Station at 10 a. m.. May 8, the division under command of Commander John H. Towers, the NC-3. his flagship, and the NC-I arrived that evening at Halifax. Having trouble with oil feed, the NC-4 was compelled to descend about 80 miles east of Cape Cod. remained on the water during the night, and the next morning reached the naval air station at Chatham, Mass. On May 10 the NC-3 and NC-I proceeded to Trepassey. Unfavorable weather conditions caused several days delay, and in the meanwhile the NC-4. which had completed repairs at Chatham flew to Halifax on May 14. arriving at Trepassey the next day. All three planes left Trepassey the evening of May 16, at about 6 o clock, for the Azores. I he NC-4 arrived at Horta the next morning. Nearing the Azores, the other two planes ran into a dense fog and were compelled to descend to the water Heavy seas damaged the NC-1 so badly that all attempts to tow her faded, and she sank. The crew were rescued by the Greek steamship "Ionia ’’and taken to Horta. The NC-3, which had descended the morning of May 17 at a point about 33 miles south of the island of Fayal, managed to “taxi" to port under her own power, arriving at Ponta Delgada 53 hours later, the afternoon of May 19, having drifted and “taxied" 209 miles. Bad weather occasioned trying delay, but on May 20 the NC-4 proceeded from Horta to Ponta Delgada. from which on the 26th she proceeded to Lis- bon, completing the flight across the Atlantic. Starting from Lisbon on the 30th, a small leak developed and the plane descended at Mondego River. Proceeding after repairs, she reached Ferrol, Spain, that evening, and the next day flew to England, reaching Plymouth, the end of the route. May 31. at I :26 p. m. ...... , , Following are the distances covered, stated in land miles, and the time in flight of the three planes: NC-4. Rockaway to Halifax Halifax to Trepassey Trepassey to Horta Horta to Ponta Delgada Ponta Delgada to Lisbon Lisbon to Plymouth Distance: Time: Miles. Hours. Minutes. 621 8 54 529 6 23 1.380 15 13 172 1 45 920 .9 43 891 12 4,513 53 58 NC-3. Distance Miles. Time. Hours. Minutes Rockaway to Halifax .. 621 9 32 1 lalifax to Trepassey 529 . 5 Trepassey to landing at sea . 1.290 15 30 2,440 30 2 NC-I. Rockaway to Halifax 621 8 59 F lalifax to Trepassey 529 6 56 Trepassey to. landing at sea 1.275 15 1 * 2.425 . 30 56 OFFICERS AND CREWS OF NC PLANES. The officers and members of the crews were: NC Seaplane Division No 1 Commander John H. Towers. U. S. N. (commanding) NC Seaplane No. 3 (flagship) Commander Holden C. Richardson, C. C.. U. S. N. Lieut. Commander Robert A Lavender, U. S. N Lieut. David 1 1. McCulloch. U. S. N. R. F Boatswain Lloyd R. Moore, U. S. N. NC Seaplane No. 4 Lieut. Commander Albert C. Read, U. S. N. (commanding). First Lieut. Elmer F. Stone. U. S. C. G. Lieut. James L. Breese. U. S. N. R. F Lieut. Walter Hilton, U. S. N. Ensign Herbert C. Rodd, U. S. N. R. F. Chief Machinist’s Mate Eugene S. Rhoads. U S. N NC Seaplane No. I Lieut. Commander Patrick N. L. Bellinger. U. S. N. (commanding) Lieut. Commander Marc A. Mitscher, U. S. N Lieut. Louis T. Barin, U. S. N. R. F. Lieut, (junior grade) Harry Sadenwater, U. S. N. R. F Machinist Rasmus Christensen, U. S. N. Chief Machinist’s Mate (A) C. T. Kesler, U. S. N. Lieut. Commander R. E. Byrd, who rendered valuable service in develop- ing and trying out new navigation devices used, made the flight to Trepassey on the NC-3. as did also Lieut, (junior grade) Braxton L. Rhodes, who was a member of the original crew, but was taken off at Trepassey to lighten the load of the plane. Ensign C. J. McCarthy. U. S. N. R. F.. observer for the Bureau of Construction and Repair, accompanied the NC-I to Trepassey PLUCK. While Chief Special Mechanic E. 1 larry 1 loward. an expert on Liberty motors, was tuning up the NC-4, his left hand was taken off at the wrist by one of the big propellers of the plane. 1 le walked unaided several hundred feet to the hospital at the Rockaway Air Station where his wound was dressed. Within an hour he was back at the ship trying to help make her ready for the trans-Atlantic flight As the NC planes at Rockaway Air Station were being made ready for their overseas flight an I IS- 1 Scout Seaplane with two naval fliers plunged into this hydrogen tank from a point 300 feet in the air The aviators were Ensign Hugh J. Adams and Chief Machinist ’s Mate 1 larold B. Corey. Both were killed. The tank, which was close to the hangars of the NC planes, was empty at the time of the accident. International Film Company 209 NC-3 and NC-4 in front of their hangar ready for the trans-Atlantic flight. The NC seaplanes, at the time of the flight, the largest flying boats in existence, were developed by naval constructors in cooperation with the Curtiss Aero- plane & Motor Corporation, by whom they were built. Originally designed for long-distance operations oversea, the first was completed in September 1918 thoroughly tested in October, and on a flight in December carried up 31 passengers. Four of these flying boats were built, three being assigned to the trans-Atlantic flight. Following are the general dimensions and principal characteristics of the NC boats: Wing span from tip to tip. 126 feet. Upper wing from tip to lip. 114 feet. Aileron projections beyond wing tips. 6 feet on either side. Lower wing span, 94 feet. Width of wings. 12 feet. f . Distance between wings. 14 feet at center and 12 feet at outer tips of lower Over-all length from front end to the rear end. 68 feet 3 1 •_> inches Length of hull. 44 feet 9 inches. Weight full load flying condition, 28,500 pounds. Estimated speed at full load. 79 nautical miles per hour. Estimated speed at light load. 84 nautical miles per hour. Horsepower of 4 Liberty engines. 1.600 horsepower. Number of gasoline tanks. 9 in hull. I in upper wing above boat hull. Capacity of gasoline tanks. 200 gallons for each hull tank and 90 gallons tor gravity feed tank in upper wing. Weight of engines. 825 pounds each. Flying control is of the dual control Deperdussin system with side-by-side seating. Pilots are in hull just forward of gasoline tanks. Navigating station is in front end of boat hull. Navigator is provided with chart board, charts, and ordinary navigating instruments including compass and sextant. Complete wireless installation, including telegraph and telephone and wireless direction indicator, is provided. System should give a radius of approxi- mately 300 miles while in the air and of 100 to I 50 miles while on the water. Wireless operator and engineer are located in main after compartment just aft of gasoline tanks. Each is provided with complete instrument board. Each of these operators has a cylindrical upholstered stool with back rest weighing 5 pounds complete, in the interior of which can be stored the small hand tools required for emergency work. Cruising speed of boats about 72 miles per hour. Gasoline consumption at cruising speed about 650 pounds average per hoar. Total gasoline carried about I 1.400 pounds. Cruising radius, without wind about 1,476 nautical miles. Crew and provisions, about 1,000 pounds. Crew: Five men — two pilots, one navigator, one wireless operator, and one engineer. Main structure is of western spruce. Metal wing fittings and structural fittings in general are of crome vanadium steel of an ultimate strength of 150.000 pounds per square inch. A!1 flying, landing and control wires are of standard woven aeroplane cord wire. " Ul ’ 1 ' 5 ^ 213 U TO er- The NC-4 landing at Ponta Delgada. Azores. She arrived at 2:24 p. m.. May 20. 1919 Her elapsed time in the air from Rockaway to this point was 32 hours ^minutes Lower left- NC-3 moored at Ponta Delgada. I ler fuel running low. the ship had descended May 17 at a point about 35 miles south of the island of FavH She managed to "tax." to port under her own power, arriving at Por.ta Delgada 53 hours ater. the afternoon of May 19. having drifted and taxied 209 rmles Lower righl The NC-4 at florta. Island of Fayal. She arrived here at 1:23 p m. May 17. Her elapsed time in the a,r from Rockaway had been 30 hours. 30 minutes. The ship was held at 1 lorta by fog and later a gale until May 20. She took off at 12:39 p m. bound for Ponta Delgada Blue Jackets signalling to NC-4 on arrival at Lisbon Ceremonies aboard U. S. S. "Shawmut in Lisbon harbor when Portu- guese foreign minister presented Lt. Com. Read and rest of crew of NC-4 with Grand Cross of Order of Tower and Sword. International Film The NC-4 taking oil from U. S. S. “Shawmut’’ at Lisbon preparatory to flight to Plymouth. The NC-4 moored at Lisbon 215 Left- NC-4 flying over U. S. S. "Rochester" and "Aroostook before alighting at Plymouth, Eng., at I :26 p m.. May 3 1 1 91 9. Her ^elap«= d time in the fro Rockaway was 33 hours, 58 minutes. In this period the ship covered 4.513 miles. Upper nghf. Crew of NC-4 leaving ship to board launch of U. S. S. Aroostook. Lower right: Commander Read and the crew of the NC-4 being driven through the streets of Plymouth amid tne acclamations of the people. Ir.,« > Left: Back home. Lt. Com. Read, upon his return to the United States, is met at the dock by Mrs. Read. Right: Lt. Com. Patrick N. L Bellinger, Mrs. Bellinger, Com. John H. Towers and Mrs. Towers. Photographed in New York upon the return of the fliers. Left: Crews of NC ships are guests of General Seeley of the British Army at the House of Commons. The personages in dark clothes are Lord Reading, Admiral Wemyss, the Prince of Wales and General Seeley. Lt. Com. Read is telling a joke to the Prince. Right: The Sec- retary of the Navy congratulates. Lt. Com. Read. L. R.: Secretary Daniels, Lt. Com. Patrick N. L. Bellinger, Commander John H. Towers, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Admiral W. S. Benson. "The distinguished Chief of Naval Operations honored at home and abroad for his wisdom, statesmanship and ability in his profession has, with fit! staff of experienced officers, rendered distinguished and important service." Report of Secretary of Navy 1918. Vice Admiral William S. Sims. "His brilliant services abroad won world-wide ad- miration and he demonstrated that he is worthy of the highest honors Congress can confer upon him." Report of Secretary of Navy 1919. 218 Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander-in-C hief of the Atlantic Meet during the World War. “He has given full proof of his leadership and the ability of the fleet to measure up to the requirements of war," says the Secretary of the Navy in his report for 1918. “Dis- tinguished naval officers of allied nations have regarded the presence of the Atlantic Fleet, fit and ready, 3,000 miles from the seat of war, as one of the most potent factors in the naval strength.” International Film C'oni|>a«r. Vice Admiral Henry B. Wilson, who commanded all our naval activities in France with headquarters at Brest. "One of the highest types of the American officer, says the Secretary of the Navy in his report for 1918. 1 — Rear Admiral William C. Braisted, Surgeon General, U. S. N. 2- Rear Admiral Roger Welles. Director Naval Intelligence, U. S. N 3 — Rear Admiral Leigh Palmer, Chief Bureau of Navigation, U. S. N. 4 Admiral Robert E. Coontz, Chief Bureau of Operations, U S. N- During war coipmanded Division Seven, Atlantic Fleet. 3 — Rear Admiral Ralph Earle, Chief Bureau of Ordnance, U. S. N. 221 vj 2— Rear Admiral R. S. Griffin, Chief Bureau of Engineering s 4 - Rear Admiral David W. Taylor, Chief Constructor, U. S 191 7-April 15, 1918. HEADQUARTERS U. S. MARINE CORPS. Washington, August 25, 1921 I MMEDIATELY upon the outbreak of the World War, thousands of the finest of young Americans sought service in the Marine Corps. Its slogan “First to Fight’ ’—a quotation from the Marines’ Hymn — attracted the adventurous spirit of America’s youth, and its ranks were filled with men of splendid physique, unusual intelligence, and high ideals. These young men brought to the Corps a fine enthusiasm, an intense energy, and an eager desire to meet and defeat the enemy without delay. They received from it the benefit of the practical knowledge and experience of the old time Marine, and the wonderful esprit de corps which had been handed down from generation to generation. From this combination there resulted the Fifth and Sixth Regiments and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion. These organizations bear on their colors the names of Bois de Belleau and Bouresches, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont Ridge and St. Etienne-a-Arnes, and Meuse-Argonne. The record of these regiments has never been surpassed. No regiments fought harder or more victoriously, and no regiments of the American Expeditionary Forces suffered heavier losses. Their endurance, their skill, their valor and their victories have immortalized their names and the name of the Marine Corps. 225 MAJ. GEN. JOHN A. LEJEUNE. MA |OR GENERAL COMMANDANT, U. S. M C “Than whom America has no abler mili- tary leader. Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, 1919. Gen. Lejeune assumed command of the Fourth Brigade (U. S. M. C.) July 26. 1918 On July 29. 1918, he became Commanding General. Second Division. Gen. Lejeune’s citation for the Army Distinguished Service Medal is as follows: He commanded the Second Division in the successful operations of Thiaucourt. Massif Blanc Mont. St. Mihiel. and on the west bank of the Meuse. In the Argonne-Meuse offen- sive his division was directed with such sound military judgment and ability that it broke and held, by the vigor and rapidity of execu- tion of its attack, enemy lines which had hitherto been considered impregnable.’’ fa f i United States Volunteers’’ was the proud title recruits in the United States Marine Corps could claim. The picture shows a detachment of recruits who have just arrived at the depot at Parris Island. S. C. At the beginning of the war the course of recruit instruction at Parris Island was of eight weeks’ duration and, with but very few exceptions, every recruit passing through the depot received eight weeks’ instruction. The total number of recruits handled at Parris Island from April 6. 1917, to Nov. II, 1918, was 46,202. At the Mare Island, Cal., depot the total number of recruits handled in the same period was I 1,901. DENBY OF THE MARINES B rigadier general a.* w. catlin, U. S. M. C., in his interesting book, “With the Help of God and a few Marines” quotes the letters of Bill, a gallant young Marine recruit, to his father. Among other things Bill wrote: — Parris Island, S. C.. July — , 1918. Dear Dad: — This morning after chow we went into an open-air pavilion and heard Captain Denby give his famous talk on what was expected of us Marines. Captain Denby is an ex-Congressman from Michigan, and he surely must have been an easy victor in his race for office, for he held us all spellbound as he described the duties of a Marine — where a Soldier of the Sea must go. what he is expected to do, how he must conduct himself, and the penalty imposed in war time for touching a drop of intoxicating liquor. Truth and the esprit de corps of the Marines seemed to be the theme of this oracle whom they call the “Daddy” of the Marine Corps. They all went up to him after it was over— all those who could get near him — just to shake hands and hear a few words more. A lot of the fellows who had lied when they enlisted went up to square themselves, and the Captain looked more like he might be their own father than either a Congressman or a Cap- tain of Marines. He is a big man in stature as well as spirit. Even I, who have learned to respect the uniform of Marine officers with respect born of confidence and esteem, forgot that Denby was anything so formidable as a Captain, and I told him about you and your fight for the City Council last Fall. He put his arm around my shoulder and his face lit up with all the enthusiasm of a man who knows men and loves them from the bottom of his heart. This. 1 think, will prove to be one of the biggest experiences of my camp life, for then and there I resolved to be a Marine in every sense of the word, first, last, and all the time, and try to uphold the splendid tradi- tions of the Corps. Love to all. Bill Further on in his narrative General Catlin pre- sents extracts from Captain (later Major) Den- by 's speech to the lads at Parris Island. .We take the liberty of quoting two: — “You will at the end of your training, I hope, find that you have learned four things supremely well — obedience, discipline, how to shoot well, and how to use the rifle with the bayonet. If you will have developed your bodies and made them strong, quick, and hard, and learn those four things, you will be Marines. All things else can be easily built upon that foundation, and all things else that you are required to learn are comparatively easy, once you have thoroughly mastered those four. Those are the four great elements of the foot soldier.” “Then, too. remember this. There is no man of us but has left at home some woman. It may be a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, or only a girl. But there is some woman vitally interested in each one of us. Let me say to you that ours is the easy part, no matter what suffering or hardships we have to undergo. You come here to the island and you go through work that is hard and trying, but that only needs a man 's spirit in a man's body. And all the while you are learning new things. You are learn- ing the art of a soldier. Your bodies are being built up and there are things of interest constantly coming to your attention. And so it will be throughout all your service, until perhaps you find yourselves on the battlefields of Europe. Even there, amid the horrors of which we have read so much, you will find the curious joy and exaltation of battle. After the guns begin to roll and the first tremor of nervousness is over, you will find the lust of battle to possess you. You will want to get at the enemy. Every man who has ever been under fire knows what I mean. And if the white road of duty shall lead to the soldier’s grave, after all, is that so terrible? You will never again have a chance to offer your lives in so noble a cause. All through your service you will have the pride and glory of the thought that you are offering all for humanity and for your country, and that is enough to make things seem easy. You may think me childish. Perhaps I am, but to me the sight of the flag takes the hurt and the pain out of most things. To me the flag seems like some beautiful spirit, lovingly brooding always over our ships at sea and our camps at home and the battle line of our men at war, the spirit of a nation looking down in sympathy upon its sons. “They do not have that at home — our women. They only work and work and work for us, and then they pray. And pray for three things: First, that the war shall be soon over, and most earnestly may we join in that; and then that their men. whoever they may be, will come home again alive out of the struggle, and we can again join in that. But we cannot promise; tha-t is on the knees of the gods, in the hands of fate. We may go home; we may not; we cannot control our destiny. And then they pray that, if we do come home, we shall come as clean and decent and upright and honorable gentlemen as we left — and we can do that. Nowhere in the world does a man stand more squarely on his own feet, to make or mar his character, than in the military service. We can go home clean if we want to. So remember always, if you want to go back worthy to look your women in the face, if you want to go back and have them glad you came and not sorry that some kindly bullet did not leave you on the field of honor over there — it is up to you, men; it is up to you.” COMRADE OF SAILOR AND MARINE. — Sergeant Edwin Denby, United States Marine Corps at Parris Island Recruit Depot. In the Spanish American War he was Gunner’s Mate on the U. S. S. Yosemite. At the outbreak of the World War Mr. Denby. who had been a member of Congress from the first Michigan district for three terms, enlisted as a private in the Marine Corps. He passed through successive ranks to a majority. President Harding appointed Mr. Denby Secretary of the Navy in March, 1921. 228 SCENES AT PARRIS ISLAND. I — The old dry dock. 2 — The Lyceum. 3 — Officers’ quarters. 4— The main training station. 5— Tents and maneuver grounds beyond. 6 — The target range. 7 — It is a habit of the Marines to push. 8 — Wall scaling. 9 — A company street. Photos from Master Sergeant C. Hundertmark, formerly U. S. M. C., now 48th Inf., U. S. A. ' / 229 Parris Island Recruit Depot FYOU 00 *' K* 0 *= lirOUOOHTM«W JYOOCCT KlUtOjj itYOUClTMUl f yoo oont rifrOUQONTKNl jYOU GCT KlUtj [f YOU OOKT KNW I IyOU MT KILLtD I [irvou oont knwI | YOU GEY HlUfOe .KYOUDQNTHMW kYOUMTWUIOl iff YOU ODNThs: ►YOU GET KILLS » YOU OONT KNOW, L YOU CO KILLtOfl 'OU GtT KILL to, Retreat. If Waterloo was won on the playing fields of England. Belleau Wood, Soissons, Thiaucourt, Blanc Mont and the east bank of the Meuse, were won on the drill grounds of Parris Island. Mare Island and Quantico. "The ultimate purpose of all military training is the battle. This purpose should always be kept uppermost in mind and all efforts should be directed to this end." Nowhere was energy more intensely devoted to vitalizing this maxim than at the Marine training camps. Bayonet exercise at Parris Island The pistol range, Parris Island A color company at the Recruit Depot, Parris Island. The colors, Parris Island. 231 SCENES AT QUANTICO RECRUIT DEPOT. I— Brig. Gen. John A. Lejeune (later Maj. Gen.) was the assistant to the Major General Commandant from Dec 14. 1914. to Sept. 26. 1917, when he was transferred to Quantico, Va., to command the Marine barracks. Photo shows Gen. Lejeune and aides at Quantico early in 1918 2 —Machine gun company. 3 —Marine artillery. 4— The Potomac at Quantico. 3— Lewis gun practice. 6 “On guard 7— Presentation of colors at Quantico 8 — Retreal 9 A Lewis gun crew 233 □t Maj. Gen. Gugliomotti of the Italian Military Mission applauds the Marines on review at Quantico so vehemently that it arouses the merriment of Maj. Gen. George Barnett, commandant. Standing with his arms folded is Col (later Brig. Gen.) Charles A. Doyen. Conversing with him is Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Smedley D. Butler. P The Secretary of the Navy and Col. Smedley D. Butler at Quantico. Col. Doyen’s 5th Regt. of Marines reviewed by Maj. Gen. Barnett the day the organization left for France, June 14, 1917. In rear of Gen. Barnett is Maj. Gen. Littleton W. T. Waller. Col. Doyen commanded the 5th Regt. from the date of its organization June 7, 1917, to October 29. 1917 Detachments of the 5th Marines leaving Quantico for “Over There.’ □ c: With cheers the 5th Regt., U. S. M. C., departs for France, Another year found them world famous. Members of Col. Doyen s command just before disembark ation at St. Nazaire, June 26, 1917. Landing on the docks at St. Nazaire. The first formation on French soil. Arrival of the Fifth Regiment of Marines at St. Nazaire. 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 DeKalb. formed approximately one-fifth of it. The DeKalb arrived at St. Nazaire, France. 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 Regimen^ was considered as being detached for service with the army by direction of the President. S4 236 SCENES AT ST. NAZAIRE. I— "On June 28 the Second and Third B^ttslions went ashore from the Henderson for a practice msrch 11 2 '"The following d^y the First Battalion erected tents for the regiment on a camp site a short distance outside of St. Nazaire” 3— “By 8 P. M. July 3. the entire Fifth Regiment was ashore under canvas” 4 — German prisoners. 5— The Marines lost no time in getting acquainted. 6— French visitors in camp. 7 —Currying a “ leather-neck” 8 -Pup tents at St. Nazaire. 9 — The mess line “Homines 40, Chevaux 8.” The Fifth Regiment of Marines, less the Third Battalion, which remained behind to perform guard duty, and other detached units and officers, proceeded to the Gondrecourt training area. July 15, 1917. With flowers and cries of “Soyez les bienvenus dren of Menaucourt greeted the Marines the The band of the Chasseurs Alpins. stationed at Menau- court. played the “Star Spangled Banner” when the Marines came. The close freemasonry between kids and American fighting men The 5th Regt. was stationed in Menaucourt and Naix (Gondrecourt area). Some of its members are seen arriving at Menaucourt by truck 239 MFNAUCOURT in the Gondrecourt training area where the Fifth Regiment of Marines was billeted “Training was carried on in this area under the direction ol the Chasseurs Alpins, from July 23 to Sept. 7. 1917. This instruction with Chasseurs Alpins troops was started by a demonstration at their camp, some miles distant of the various phases of attack and defense trench work.’ ’’ Inset (left): Lieut. Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Logan Feland, who had joined the Fifth Regiment June 27 1917 Inset (right): Col. Charles A. Doyen, Commanding Officer, Fifth Regiment, in a French helmet 240 The entente at Menaucourt. The regimental band. Une jolie demoiselle de Menaucourt.’’ Policing up at a wayside tap. 241 Col. Charles A. Doyen (officer in center), Maj. Harry R. Lay (officer at left) and Maj. Frederic M. Wise (officer at right) at Menaucourt. [ “ Beaucoup des francs. ” The first pay day in France. Divine service at Menaucourt conducted by Chaplain G. Livingston Bayard. They weren t porcelain bowls but quite as satisfactory. -^rzfnczi' 242 insisted of various phases of attack and defense trench work; practic g machine guns and their nomenclature and repair; machine gun lectures on sanitation of billets and troops; first-aid instruction; g onstructing dugouts and all types of trenches; obstacles, barbed-wi bat. approach and attack ” Maj Edwin N . McClellan . U S M ( jBjP v. /if JB fro V n 245 | On August I, 1917. General Pershing inspected the First and Second Battalions of the Fifth Regiment at Menaucourt and Naix. Walking abreast of General Pershing is Colonel Doyen and at the extreme right is General Harbord, First Chief of Staff. A. E. F., who was later to command the Marines. 2 -Color bearers oi the Fifth Marines at Menaucourt. 3 Brig. Gen Andre W. Brewster. Inspector General. A. E. F., inspects the Fifth Marines. 4 -Marines standing inspection 246 ,Tn U ^!mn7; The Fifth Re f i r e fi( t ° f M , annes °" Sept. 23. I9 |7 . was ordered to proceed to Damblain and Breuvannes, two towns ,n the Bourmonl. or Second Divi- ston. training area, approxtmateiy fifty miles m a southerly d.rect.on from Gondrecourt. ' r -~ : ’ , 0 .-, . „ econo unvi Colonel (later Brigadier General) Wendell C. Neville, who assumed com organized on October 23, 1917, and on that date Colonel Charles A. Doy. Training was resumed on Sept 26. 1917, in the Bourmont area Inset limed command of the Fifth Regiment January I. 1918. The Fourth Brigade of Marines had been 1 „ . j r 1 i— f 1 r» •" r -*es A. Doyen had wired his acceptance of appointment as Brigadier General. Major Frederic M W cted as temporary commander of the Fifth Regiment from Oct. 24. 1917, to Oct. iO. 1917 1 ■ - • • • - - • - J reaeric ivi. w Neville relieved Lieutenant Colonel Bearss on the date mentioned. when Lieutenant Colonel Hiram 1. Bearss succeeded hn ise Colonel 247 Marine and poilus watching effect of shell fire from a ruined stable in a destroyed t rench town, sector. March 23, 1918. “The Toulon and Troyon sectors, between St Mihiel and Verdun, were taken over by the entire Second Division, the troops holding in conjunction with the French. The Fourth Brigade of Marines, which had become a part of the Second Division, entered the Toulon sector on March 13. 1918, with Brigade headquarters at Toulon, north of Souilly, under command of the French, where it remained until April I. 1918.” Maj. Edwin N. McClellan, U. S. M. C. Marine receiving first aid before being .sent to hospital in rear of trenches. Toulon sector, March 22. 1918. 248 To the Fifth Marines was assigned the sub-sector. Montgirmont-Les Eparges, part of the Verdun front, the Regimental Post of Command being located at P C Ravin. During the occupation of the sub-sectors on the Verdun front every battalion of the Fourth Brigade served in the front line, sending out patrols each night and at times raiding parties, occupied machine gun positions, established listening posts, built telephone lines and established first aid stations Brig. Gen. Doyen, accompanied by the Brigade Adjutant. Maj. II M Smith (left) and the commanding officer of the battalion occupying the advanced position, made an inspection throughout the trenches in the sub- sector occupied by the Marines. March 22, 1918. The part of the line where this photograph was taken was commanded by Lt. Col. F. M Wise (right) Gen. Doyen covered eight miles of trenches that day 1— Marines bury comrades with military honors at P. C. Moscou, April 12, 1918. 2-— A gas alarm at P. C. Moscou, April 20, 1918. 3 -Brig. Gen. Doyen at P. C Moscou, April 20, 1918. On April 25, 1918, Gen. Doyen assumed command of the Northern Sector, comprising the sub-sectors of Moulainville and Ronvaux. The French brigade occupying this sector with the Marine Brigade moved to another sector. 4 Mail was delivered direct to the dugouts. P. C. Moscou, April 17. 1918 I Marine (6th Regt.) transporting carrier pigeons to trenches in order to send messages back to headquarters when all other forms of communication were inter- rupted. Sommedieue, April 30. 1918. 2 A toast to the Allies. P. C. Moscou, April 16. 1918. The censor at the Army War College withheld this photograph during the war 3 — Marines of the Sixth Regiment at mess. Sommedieue. April 29. 1918. 4 --Camp Chiffoure. P. C.. Moscou 251 GAS. Members of the Sixth Regiment of Marines in the Verdun sector responding to a gas alarm. April 30, 1918. "On April 12. 1918. the Sixth Regiment had received its first heavy losses when the 74th (A) Company, First Battalion, then in reserve at Camp Fontaine St. Robert, was heavily shelled, the majority of the shells being gas. The enemy fire was extremely accurate, catching the men in their billets before they had a chance to escape. All officers were evacuated in a serious condition and about two hundred and twenty men were also affected by the gas, forty of them dying later as a result of this first severe bombardment." Major E. N. McClellan. U. S. M. C 254 Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy, Commanding General, 2nd Div., and Col. Albertus W. Catlin, 6th Regt. Marines, at the front near Sommedieue, April 30, 1918. On Aug. 4, 1917, the President had directed the organization of A member of the Fifth Regiment of Marines meditating before a the 6th Regt. Col. Catlin, with his staff, arrived in France, Nov. I. 1917. “Calvaire” near Sommedieue, May 13. 1918. The last element arrived at St. Nazaire, Feb. 6, 1918. Training was begun in the Bourmont area. The 4th Brig, organization, including the 6th Regt., was perfected Feb. 10, 1918. 255 Men of the Fifth Regiment of Marines passing through Sommedieue. May I I. 1918, on their return from the trenches. Inset: Brig. Gen. James G. Harbord who assumed command of the Fourth Brigade of Marines, May 7, 1918. Gen Harborcfsucceeded Gen. Doyen who had been ordered to the United States on account of his physical condition. Gen. Doyen's departure was deeply deplored. In a letter to him Gen. Pershing said in part: "Your service has been satisfactory and your command is considered one of the best in F ranee. 1 have nothing but praise for the service you have rendered in this command." Gen Harbord wrote to Gen. Doyen: " I assure you that it is with very genuine regret that I find myself in a way to inherit your fine brigade at the expense of the American Expedi- tionary Forces losing you. Your brigade has always set a pattern of soldierly excellence and has been a pride to us all.” 256 CHATEAU THIERRY in whose vicinity the United States Marines won imperishable renown. “On June I, 1918, elements of the Fourth Brigade of Marines marched toward the line northwest of Chateau Thierry, where the Germans were still advancing. Fourth Brigade Headquarters was established at Issonge Farmhouse on the afternoon of June 1 , 1918, and a line was established immediately behind the French units which had been forced to retreat slowly under pressure which the Ger- mans were bringing to bear. The French had orders to drop back through the American line with the idea of taking up a position in rear and again checking the Ger- mans.” Maj. Edwin N. McClellan, U. S. M. C. 257 THE BATTLE OF BELLEAU WOOD “The Gettysburg of the War”— General John J. Pershing. “For the United States, the Biggest Battle Since Appomattox and of the Greatest Magnitude of Any Engagement That American Troops Had Ever Had With a Foreign Enemy. Not in the Revolution, the Mexican War or the Spanish Conflict Had as Many Soldiers Participated in a Single Engagement.” BY MAJOR EDWIN N. McCLELLAN, OFFICER IN CHARGE, HISTORICAL SECTION, U. S. M. C. T HAT a possibly fatal upset of psychological values did not occur in favor of the Germans in June, 1918, was due to the wonderful refusal of the Marines, and the other troops of the American Second Division, to recognize a superiority which had been so impressively demonstrated by the Ger- mans in 1918 over the Allies. If the subsequent successes of the American sol- dier had anything to do with the final military result of the war, the month of June saw the passing of the mental and spiritual superiority and initiative from Teuton to Allies. There comes a grand moment in every struggle when the mind of one opponent con- cedes superiority. This may be long before the inevitable decision, but such a moment there is. In the World War, heavy blows were struck and ghastly losses inflicted even after this recognition by the Germans that the fighting quality of the Amer- ican soldier — as typified by the American Marines — was too huge an obstacle to surmount or to pass around. General Pershing wrote that “during the first days of June something akin to a panic seized the city [Paris] , and it was estimated that 1 ,000,000 people left during the spring of 1918.” There is abundant evidence that everybody believed that Paris was lost unless some saving factor intervened. Imagine, if you will, what would have happened, had the Marines and the remainder of the Second Division troops failed at that time. The psycho- logical effect, diffusing through the German armies, would have galvanized the Germans into an irre- sistible force and at the same time rendered the morale fibre of the Allies more flabby than ever. Public opinion would have been conclusively con- firmed that German propaganda, as to the inferi- ority of the American soldier, was a fact. The Ger- mans had orders that the Americans must be pre- vented from gaining any advantage regardless of cost and their disappointment over the American successes produced a feeling of utter hopelessness. GALVANIZING ALLIED MORALE It was not that these Americans, as General Pershing said, saved Paris, but that the sacrificial successes of an unknown quality — the American soldier — resuscitated the jaded spirit of the Allies and vivified the wil[ to win. As a result of these victories the soul of the Allies was revived and that of the Germans chilled with despair The effect was a double gain for the Allies. From then on the Germans realized that their efforts would be futile. The British no longer fought with their “backs to the wall,” and the French, with Paris saved, and with reborn hope and faith in the Americans met the subsequent German offensives with a rejuve- nated morale. The last two offensives of the Ger- mans were met by the Allies inspired with a major e n. McClellan knowledge that they possessed a new and powerful Reserve, and this knowledge was a vital factor in the final result. The year 1918 saw the Western Front in France, like a huge wall of rubber, bend in five places to its elastic limit, then snap back and move northward until it rested in Rineland. Get out your map of Europe and note carefully the towns of Ypres. Armentieres, Arras. Amiens, Noyon. Montdidier, Soissons, Rheims, and Chateau- Thierry, for with these located you will be able to review intelligently the frantic efforts between March and July. 1918, of the Germans to bring the war to a successful conclusion in their favor. Stopped before Amiens, after a mad rush in March of thirty-five miles across the old Somme battlefield, the Germans rested for a breathing spell; then, with interior communications working smoothly, the pushing weight was shifted in April to bend the line in demoralizing fashion along a twenty-five mile front farther north in the vicinity of -Armentieres, the loss of Passchendaele Ridge gassing morale; next, on May 27th came the third and mightiest bending of them all and the supreme surprise of the war, in the Marne Salient. The stands of our Allies in holding the first two pushes of the Germans near Amiens and Armen- tieres were grand, and the fourth and fifth defenses near Noyon and Rheims were superb, but it was in this third defensive in the Marne Salient in June that the Marines and the Second Division met the Teuton at the flood and turned the tide. SAVING PARIS General Pershing reported that the Second Division “on the morning of June I, 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.” The President of the United States said: "Our redoubtable Soldiers and Marines had already closed the gap the enemy had succeeded in opening for their advance upon Paris — had already turned the tide of battle back toward the frontiers of France and begun the rout that was to save Europe and the World. Thereafter the Germans were to be always forced back, back; were never to thrust successfully forward again.” On another occasion the President wrote: “We are intensely proud of their whole record, and are glad to have had the whole world see how irresistible they are in their might when a cause which America holds dear is at stake. The whole nation has reason to be proud of them." One who was in France during the week preceding the Battle of Belleau Wood. “ the most anxious and gloomy period of the entire war.” wrote: “It is the general impression that the tide of victory set in with Marshal Foch’s splendid movement against the German flank on July 18th [Aisne-Marne Offen- sive!. That movement, it is true, started the irre- sistible sweep of the wave which was destined to engulf and destroy the hideous power of Prussianism. But the tide which gathered and drove forward the waters out of which that wave arose had turned before It turned with and through the supreme valor of our Marines and other American troops in the first battle at Chateau-1 hierry and at Belleau Wood, in the first week, in June.' Colonel De Chambrun and Captain De Mar- renches. two French officers, wrote: “An American journal of operations now before us estimates that the commencement of the German withdrawal on July 18th was a direct consequence of the action above-described. [Capture of Hill 142, Bouresches. Belleau Wood and Vaux.J There is excellent reason to. sustain this opinion “GETTYSBURG OF WAR" “The Gettysburg of the war has been fought!” exclaimed General Pershing at Headquarters of the Second Division located at Montreuil-aux-Lions during the fateful month of June in the year 1918, and as events turned subsequently this ejaculation' of the American Commander-in-Chief was prophetic. If you had asked the French in May. 1918. whether the Germans would ever attack between Rheims and Soissons. they would have laughed, politely, no doubt, but laughed nevertheless. Yet the German did hurdle Chcmin-dcs-Damcs and in four days had marched thirty-five miles toward Paris His line started on a twenty-two mile front between Soissons and Rheims and a dagger-like salient was directed at the heart of Paris with the east blade touching the Marne and the point resting at Les Mares Ferme This farm is about two and one-half miles west of and nearer Paris than Bois de Belleau. which is about five miles nearer Paris than Chateau -Thierry. The first two offensives made such inroads upon French and British reserves that defeat was inevi- table unless the American troops should prove avail- able and capable. General Pershing, on September I. 1919. one and a quarter years after the event, re- ported that this seemingly irresistible offensive was “directed towards Paris" and that the plan of the German military mind was to use the Marne River as a defensive flank in the route to that city. At any rate the Germans never undertook a direct offensive along the Paris-Metz road through Chateau-Thierry but occupied that town, swung to the west of it and descended perpendicularly toward the road from the north. In view of this it is evident that the Germans wasted no great energy in any attempt to cross the Marne at Chateau-Thierry. As a matter of historical record no Marine ever fought in Chateau-Thierry during the month of June. 1918. because every one of them was occupied in blocking the German in his effort to reach Paris over a route to the westward of that town through Fielleau Wood. In this connection it might be ex- plained that the name Chateau-Thierry was made prominent not because of any heavy fighting in it but because it was the nearest well-known town to Belleau Wood, in and around which occurred im- portant operations and tragic losses. Since this fact has become generally known the names "Battle of Belleau Wood or " Marne Salient ” have to a great extent supplanted the name "Chateau-Thierry." THROWN ACROSS GAP In a paragraph here is what happened. On Decoration Day. the Second Division, including the Marine Brigade located in the vicinity of Chaumont- en-Vexin, northwest of Paris, under orders to enter the lines in the vicinity of Montdidier, received imperative orders to swing to the south and place themselves between Paris and the rapidly advancing Germans. By hiking and by use of all kinds of trans- portation the Soldiers and Marines passed through the suburbs of Paris, established a line early on June 1st across the Paris-Metz road near Le Thiolet, in a gap in the French line, where it stopped the German advance on Paris. ” (Pershing.) Of the fighting at this time, which had such resus- citating results, certain events stand forth most prominently: the wonderful defensive fighting from June I to June 6th. including the eventful Les Mares Ferme incident -the capture of Hill 142 — the six “Iron and Blood" attacks in Belleau Wood, includ- ing the spectacular capture of Bouresches. ending on the 26th of June with Shearer's historic message — and the capture of Vaux (by the Third Brigade). The Fourth Brigade of Marines fought through- out the war as one of the two infantry brigades of the magnificent Second Division. The first com- manding general of this division was Brigadier Gen- eral Charles A. Doyen of the Marines: it then was commanded in turn by Major General Omar Bundy in the Battle of Belleau Wood: by Major General James G. Harbord at Soissons; and last by Major General John A. Lejeune of the Marines, in the Marbache Sector, St. Mihiel Offensive. Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge. Meuse-Argonne Offensive, in- cluding the crossing of the Meuse River and through- out the time it was a part of the Army of Occupation in Germany. The Marine Brigade consisted of the Fifth Regi- ment. which had landed in France among the first arrivals of the American Expeditionary Forces, the Sixth Regiment. . and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion. CREDIT TO OTHER ELEMENTS Tribute is here paid in the fullest sense that can be expressed in a single sentence to the other elements of the Second Division, from every standpoint the leading division of the American Expeditionary Forces. These troops were the Ninth Infantry, the Twen- ty-third Infantry, and the Fifth Machine Gun Battalion, of the Third Infantry Brigade; the Twelfth. Fifteenth and Seventeenth Field Artillery, and Second Trench Mortar Battery, of the Second Field Artillery Brigade; the 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, and Second Sanitary T rain. The Bois de Belleau has been described as “a rocky elongated knoll a mile long and a half mile wide" and also likened to the turretted castle of the Engineers' insignia. Another description has pic tured it as a huge bear sitting upright on his haunches, his muzzle pointing west The view from the outside of this vast mass nearly rectangular in shape, gives the impression that the whole area is covered with boulders. This is due to the fact that the outcropping of the huge boulders exists where the ground drops away from the general elevations of the wood to the flats immediately surrounding it At nearly every point the wood rises very sharply from the surrounding fields, with a mass of under- brush covering the mightiest sort of rock formation, and traversed by ravines and gullies. The short, thick growth is most pronounced in the area without boulders, while in many parts lofty trees were growing. In other parts the brush was so thick that men could pass unnoticed within a few feet of each other. Due to the undergrowth it would be most difficult to exercise command of even a small unit and keep a formation. This topography lent itself excellently to machine gun positions and nests and such are difficult to reduce even with heavy guns The Germans had taken advantage of the natural strength of this position and had organized it artificially with method and rapidity The ‘Battle of Belleau Wood." as General Pershing officially called it. was for the United States the biggest battle since Appomattox and of the greatest magnitude of any engagement that American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy Not in the Revolution, the Mexican War. or the Spanish conflict, had as many soldiers participated in a single engagement. (Simonds.) "THE FLAMING TEST" “Belleau Wood! To American ears the very name has in it a resonant clangor, like the name of Waterloo or Verdun, which stirs recollections of days big with fate:" wrote Captain Hanson in the American Legion Weekly, "days when the armies of civilization were reeling before the blows of their enemies and when the people of the United States waited breathlessly for the advance guards of their own armed hosts, treading for the first time the soil of Europe, to prove alike to doubting friend and foe the courage, the perseverance and the irresistible audacity which they well knew the soldiers of their race would display when put to the flaming test on the field of battle." The Germans had been prompt to recognize the value of Belleau Wood as a place of concealment for the assembly of infantry and machine guns to con- tinue their advance on Paris. It had the protection of their artillery, placed in concealed positions to the north. The border of the forest facing the Americans extended for about 1.100 yards, conceal- ing behind its thick screen of foliage many clearings and hollows overgrown with brush and under- growths; scattered among these thickets were to be found large rocks and boulders which offered veritable strongholds on which the enemy had mounted machine guns and under which he had installed shellproof retreats in the form of natural caves and grottoes. 259 The order signed by the Commanding General of the French Sixth Army. June 30. 1918. which changed the name of the Bois de Belleau to the Bois de la Brigade de Marine, describes this wood as "the important stronghold of Belleau Wood, while the citation of the Fourth Brigade in French Army Orders, October 22. 1918. states that it was ‘extremely difficult ground, and that the Marines seized "two strongholds of paramount importance: The village of Bouresches, and the strongly fortified position of Belleau Wocd." IMPORTANCE OF BELLEAU WOOD A successful attack from it would result in a capture of the Paris-Metz road, the main source of supply, and compel the Allies either to fight with their backs to the Marne or cross jt with probable disastrous results. Its possession by the Germans was essential since it afforded a direct route to the Paris-Metz road behind a screen of rocky thickets, cover to the road leading from Chateau-Thierry to Soissons, and a pivot of manoeuvre for a movement southward through Gandelu The French considered it necessary that the Bois de Belleau. I fill 142. and Bouresches be captured and issued orders to advance the line whenever opportunity offered. General Degoutte saw the importance of Belleau W'ood and was in full accord with the desire of the Americans to capture it as soon as possible. General 1 larbord and the Marines believed that its capture was absolutely necessary, and. although that question was not decided by them, they undertook its capture in obedience to orders from Headquarters of the Sixth French Army with winch General Harbord was in strong sympathy. If the complete story of how the Marines and the rest of the Second Division managed to get from near Chaumont-en-Vexin to the vicinity of Belleau Wood is ever written, it will be an epic. Arrive there they did. however, and ready to go into the line There was a hole in the Allied line it is a fact Efforts to stop the gap had failed. Could the Marines and Soldiers prove more successful:* Could the menacing wedge of the Germans along the Paris-Metz Road toward Paris be blocked:* History contains nothing more splendidly affirm- ative than the satisfying answers that the American Marines and Soldiers made to these two very big questions. When the Fourth Brigade of Marines arrived in the Marne Salient, the sector which it took over was occupied by the 21st French Army Corps under command of General Degoutte and belonged to the Sixth French Army. General Degoutte assumed command of the Sixth French Army and was succeeded in command of the 21st Corps by General Naulin on June 15th. The 21st Corps was replaced on June 21st by the 3rd Corps under General Lebrun Major General Omar Bundy commanded the American Second Division. HARBORD IN COMMAND Brigadier Genera! James G. Harbord. U. S. Army, having assumed command of the Fourth Brigade of Marines on May 7. 1918. continued in command of the Brigade during the entire period in which the Marines were engaged in the Aisne defensive and during the subsequent operations in the Marne Salient. Brigadier General Harbord’s staff consisted of Major Harry R. Lay, U. S. Marine Corps. Adjutant : Major Holland M. Smith. U. S. Marine Corps. Liaison and Intelligence Officer; First Lieutenant Fielding S. Robinson. U. S Marine Corps. Aide; Second Lieutenant Richard N Williams. 2nd U. S. Army. Aide; from June I to 4. 1918. Second Lieu- tenant Claggett Wilson. U. S. Marine Corps, acted as personnel liaison officer between Brigadier General Harbord and General Degoutte; Second Lieutenant Carl R. Dietrich. U. S Marine Corps. Aide and Historian, from June 28. 1918. prior to which date Lieutenant Dietrich performed similar duties as an enlisted man: Quartermaster Clerk Thomas Dorney, and Sergeant Major William J Geary, who. on June 25. 1918. was "killed in action at Bois de Belleau. France, by shell fire, while lead- ing a platoon against the enemy OFFICERS WHO LED MARINES Colonel Wendell C. Neville was in command of the Fifth Regiment, with Lieutenant Colonel Loga.i Feland second in command; Captain George K Shuler was Adjutant and Statistical Officer of tha Fifth Regiment/Major Julius S Turrill, commanded the First Battalion of the Fifth Regiments Lieu tenant Colonel Frederic M. Wise was in command of the Second Battalion. Fifth Regiment, until June 22. 1918. reporting to the School of the Line Langres. on June 23. 1918; Major Ralph S Keyser relieved Lieutenant Colonel Wise in command of the Second Battalion. Fifth Regiment, on June 23. 1918. continuing in command during the remainder of these operations; Major Benjamin S. Berry was in command of *he Third Battalion. Fifth Regiment, until he was severely wounded in action on June 6. 1918. being relieved on that date by Major Maurice E. Shearer, who retained command of the battalion throughout the remainder of this period; Captain Henry L. Larsen was in command of the Third Battalion. Fifth Regiment, for a short time on June 6. 1918. between the time Major Berry was wounded and the time that Major Shearer assumed command Colonel Albertus W. Catlin commanded the Sixth Regiment until he was seriously wounded in action on June 6. 1918. being relieved on that date by Lieutenant Colonel I larry Lee. who retained com- mand of the regiment during the remainder of the operations; prior to assuming command of the Sixth Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Lee was Second-in- Command of the Sixth Regiment. "Regimental Strategy Officer." and "Adviser to Regimental Commander"; Lieutenant Colonel l lirajn I Bearss joined the Sixth Regiment from Headquarters Second Division on June 13. 1918. and assumed the duties as Second-in-Command: Major Frank E. Evans was the Adjutant of the Sixth Regiment; Major Maurice E. Shearer was in command of the First Battalion. Sixth Regiment, until he was relieved by Major John A Hughes on June 5. 1918. Major Shearer being transferred to the Fifth Regi- ment. and taking command of the Third Battalion on June 6. 1918; Major 1 lughes was gassed on June 14. 1918. and was relieved in command of the birsl Battalion, Sixth Regiment, on June 15. 1918. b> Major Franklin B. Garrett, who retained command throughout the remainder of the operations; Majoi Thomas I lolcomb was in command of the Second Battalion, Sixth Regiment, during the entire period of the operations in the Marne Salient. Major Berton W Sibley commanded the Third Battalion Sixth Regiment, during the period of these opera lions Major Edward B Cole commanded the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines until he received a mortal wound on June 10. 1918. when he was relieved by Captain 1 larlan E Major; on June I I. 1918. Captain Major was relieved in command by Captain George I I. Osterhout Jr., who retained corn mand until relieved bv Maior Littleton W 1 Waller. Jr., on June 21. i 9 1 8 ; Major Waller retained command of the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines during the remainder of these operations HARBORD MADE MARINE About the middle of June. 1918. Brigadier General I larbord was making his daily visit to the I leadquarters of the Fifth Marines and Colonel Neville, handing him a pair of Marine Corps collar devices, said: “I lere. we think it is about time you put these on." Brigadier General I larbord in describing the incident, said: "You. knowing Brigadier General Nevilles grufi manner, can realize just how he said it. and it is needless to say that I was as much thrilled by his brusque remark and his subsequent pinning them on my collar the next few minutes as I have ever been by any decoration of the several that have come to me 1 wore those Marine Corps devices until after 1 became a Major General, and I still cherish them as among my most valued possessions. I think no officer can fail to understand what that little recognition meant to me. an Army officer command- ing troops of a sister service in battle. 1 1 seemed to me to set the seal of approval by my comrades of the Marine Corps, and knowing the circumstances, it meant everything to me Again General I larbord wrote: "1 have many times said that when the end of my life comes there will probably be no portion of it which will be of more pride and satisfaction to me than the few months in which I had the honor to command a Brigade of your gallant Marines." Picture the long dustv road from LaFerte. through Montreuil-aux-Lions to Chateau-1 hierry. packed with troops. The Germans had met some picce-meal resistance by the French but this did not stop the mechanical advance as it flowed nearer Chateau-Thierry and diffused over a large area 1 hen the Second Division arrived and reported to General Degoutte. The French were inclined to continue the piece-meal defense but the American arguments prevailed and a line> a thin line maybe, but a line nevertheless, was established LINE ESTABLISHED JUNE I The Germans held Chateau-Thierry and Hill 204. which gave them command of the Paris-Metz road 260 ctnd of the Marne Valley to the south and west. Their first line ran through Vaux and along the railroad to Bouresches. thence through Belleau Wood. Torcv. Bussiares and Chezy. General 1 larbord. commanding the Marine Brigade, wrote that he "well remembers the relief in the face of the gallant French General Degoutte on that morn- ing of J une 1st. when the first reports reached him of the arrival of our men near Montreuil-aux-Lions. and he asked their condition as to lood and rest and stated that if possible he would not send them into the line until next day. But in they went and on June 1st the American line was established. During June 1st. elements of the Fourth Brigade of Marines marched toward the line northwest of Chateau- Thierry, where the Germans were still advancing. General Harbord established his head- quarters on the afternoon of June 1st at Issonge Farmhouse, and a line was established immediately, behind the French units who had been forced to retreat slowly under the pressure which the Germans were bringing to bear. The line of the Fourth Brigade of Marines extended in general from the Bois-de-Veuilly. Lucy-le-Bocage. Triangle Farm. Le Thiolet on the Paris-Metz road, and the Third Brigade extended the line across the road from there. This was a front of approximately seven kilometers. On June 5th this was reduced to Triangle. Lucv-le-Bocage to a point north of Champillon. Vicious attacks by the Germans were repulsed and on June 4th the last of the French passed through the American line. On this date Brigade Headquarters was shifted to La Loge Farm. NEAREST POINT TO PARIS Lay a ruler on a map of France tangent to Paris and Chateau-Thierry, and you will find that the ruler is almost east and west, with Paris, of course, to the westward of Chateau-Thierry. Then lay off a point about nine miles a little north of west of Chateau-Thierry and write the name Les Mares Ferme. Measure the distance between that spot and Paris and compare it with the distance between Paris and Chateau-Thierry- Les Mares Ferme is considerably nearer Paris. That farmhouse was reached by the Germans on June 3. 1918. and is the nearest spot to Paris reached by them between the time when America entered the war and Armistice Day 1 1 was to the Second Battalion (Wise) of the Fifth Marines and particularly to the 55th Company (Blanchfield. Shepherd. Waterhouse. Lyle. Tillman, and Linehan) that fell the great honor of beirfg so placed as to come in contact with and repel the Germans at this point nearest Paris reached by them in 1918. As time passes on and perspective clarifies, that little stand at Les Mares Ferme, — seemingly then but an unimportant part of the larger operation which frustrated the Germans in their last effort to gain Paris, will take its place in history as an important incident. "RETREAT— HELL!" 1 1 was during this period, as reported by Brigadier General Harbord. commanding the Brigade of Marines, on June 3rd. that, "a retreating French officer gave an order in writing to an American officer to fall back from the position which we have been holding. The order was not obeyed. ’ Some say that Captain Lloyd W Williams, commanding the 51st Company, received the order and replied: "Retreat? Hell, no!" or "Retreat? I lell, I jusTgot here!’ Others credit Lieutenant Colonel Frederic M. Wise, commanding the Second Battalion. Fifth Marines, as having received the order and replying: "Retreat? Retreat? I lell! We've just come We ll let the Boches do the retreating! As far as the Marines and the other troops of the Second Division are concerned, the defensive known as the Aisne Defensive that officially ended on June 5th. was but the beginning of their fighting, for it was after its close that I fill 142. Bouresches, Belleau Wood and Vaux were captured The close of the Aisne Defensive found the line of the Second Division well established at that part of the Marne Salient nearest Paris, but not including Hill 142. Bois de Belleau. Bouresches. and Vaux. The Ger- mans were in possession of Chateau-Thierry and I hll 204 on the right of the Second Division and continued to hold that town and hill until about July 18. 1918 SNATCHING THE INITIATIVE On June 6th. the Second Division snatched the initiative from the Germans and started an offensive on its front which in reality never ended until eleven o’clock on the morning of November II. 1918. The Marine Brigade captured Hill 142 and Bouresches on June 6. 1918. and in the words of General 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. The American commander-in-chief in his first report calls this fighting "the battle of Belleau Wood” and states, "our men proved their supe- riority. 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 6th. which resulted in the capture of Belleau Wood after very severe fighting. The village of Bouresches was taken very soon after and on July 1st. Vaux was captured In these oper- ations the Second Division met with most desperate resistance by Germany’s best troops. The French relieved the Marines in line west of i Champillon at 3:00 a. m., June 6th. The 1st Bn.,, 5th Marines, occupied the line exclusive of Bussiares- Champillon Road, east to Flill 142 to unimproved road running southwest of Torcy. The 3d Bn., 6th Marines, joined this line to Lucy-le-Bocage, taking the place of the 1st Bn. 6th Marines, which went into Corps Reserve. The 3d Bn., 6th Marines, con- nected the 3d Bn., 5th Marines, to the Lucy-le- Bocage-Bouresches Road; and the 2d Bn.. 6th Marines, extended from that point to the vicinity of Triangle Farm. The French were on the left of the Marines and the Third Infantry Brigade on the right. Headquarters of the Fourth Brigade was at La Loge; Fifth Marines headquarters was at La Voie de Chatel; Sixth Marines headquarters was at Maison Blanche Farm; and the 5ixth Machine Gun Battalion headquarters was at Montigivrault-le-Grande Farm SEVEN MAIN ATTACKS While fighting was continuous, and attacks and counter attacks were numerous, during the period June 6-26. 1918. inclusive, and all battalions served on the actual front, the Marines made seven main attacks. Hill 142. to the westward of Belleau Wood,. was ^ captured by the 1st Bn., 5th Marines (Turrill) early on the morning of June 6th. the attack starting at 3:45 a. m. This battalion was supported by two companies of the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines while the 3d Bn., 5th Marines (Berry), advanced its left to conform to the progress of they 1st Battalion. At 9:00 a m., June 6th, Brigadier General I larbord. in a message to Colonel Neville, congratulated him and his two battalions "on doing so well, what we all knew they would do." A Marine. Gunnery Sergeant Charles F. 1 loffman. won the first Medal of Honor awarded in the Amer- ican Expeditionary Forces during this fight. This successful attack, on the morning of the 6th. inspired confidence and in the afternoon three battalions of Marines were flung at the Bois de Belleau from the west. These battalions were the 3d Bn.. 5th Marines (Berry). 2d Bn.. 6th Marines (Holcomb), and the 3d Bn.. 6th Marines (Sibley) The Marines attacked at 5:00 p. m. This was the most bitter fight that had yet occurred in this neighborhood. Throughout the afternoon and night the attack continued, resulting in the 3d Bn.. 5th Marines, and 3d Bn., 6th Marines, securing foot- holds in the southern part of the Bois de Belleau and in the capture of Bouresches by part of the 96th Company (Duncan, Robertson and Cates) of the 2d Bn.. 6th Marines. (Flolcomb.) Among the wounded in this attack were Colonel Albertus W. Catlin and Major Benjamin S. Berry. General Pershing was so pleased with the success of the operations on this day that he sent the following message to the Commanding General of the Second Division: "Please accept for the Division and con- vey to Brigadier General Harbord. and the officers and men under him my sincere congratulations for the splendid conduct of the attack on the German lines north of Chateau-Thierry. It was a mag- nificent example of American courage and dash.” In addition to this message General Pershing visited Second Division Headquarters, sent his p ersona l greetings and congratulations to the Marine Bjigade and added that General Foch especially charged him to give the Marine Brigade his "love and congratulations” on their fine work. SHEARER’S FAMOUS MESSAGE From the beginning of this fighting on June 6th in Belleau Wood the struggle never ceased until June 26th. Advances were made on June 10 by the 1st Bn , 6th Marines (Hughes); on June I I th by the 2d Bn.. 5th Marines (Wise): on June 12th by the same battalion; on June 23rd by the 3d Bn.. 5th Marines (Shearer); and on June 25th Major Shearer’s 261 battalion attacked at 5:00 p. m., clearing Belleau Wood of the last German early the next morning. On the night of June 13-14, the sector of the Fourth Brigade of Marines was shortened, the new front of the Brigade including Bois de Belleau to Champillon Brook. This gave up the line Boures- ches to Triangle Farm to the Third Brigade. For a few days, about the middle of June, the Seventh Infantry of the Third Division temporarily relieved elements of the Fourth Brigade of Marines in Belleau Wood but no advances were made during this period. Colonel Neville retained command of the woods while this Infantry Regiment was sta- tioned in it. On June 25th the following Battalions were in line: 2d Bn., 5th Marines (Keyser); 3d Bn., 5th Marines (Shearer) ; and 3d Bn. , 6th Marines (Sibley) ; with Major Shearer’s battalion occupying that part of the line included in the northern tip of Belleau Wood. The attack in the north end of the Bois de Belleau by Shearer’s Battalion commenced at 5:00 p. m., the 25th, after a heavy artillery preparation, and on the morning of the 26th Major Shearer sent in that now famous message “Woods now U. S. Marine Corps entirely.” The message included in the report “our lines now include the entire Bois de Belleau.” General Pershing and the French Corps Commander warmly congratulated the Marines on this final success. It is quite probable that the French idea of renaming the Bois de Belleau, Bois de la Brigade de Marine was originally suggested by Major Shearer’s historic message. 4,643 CASUALTIES During these twenty-six days of constant fighting 28 officers and 1 ,007 enlisted Marines met death in battle and additional casualties were suffered amounting to approximately 3,608. It was that fighting and those 4.643 casualties that first made the name Chateau-Thierry famous. The achievements of the Marines in the Chateau- Thierry Sector were 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 nearby 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 second recognition by the French of the Marines’ work, comprised citations of the Fourth Brigade, Fifth and Sixth Regiments and Sixth Machine Gun Battalion. Thiscitation was one of the two upon which the French Government based its award of the Fourragere, in the colors, of the Croix de Guerre, to these organizations. The Mayors of the Meaux District sent their official thanks to the Second Division and Marines; Mar- shal Foch sent his “ love and congratulations on their fine work” to the Marines; General Pershing com- mended and congratulated the Marines several times and also referred to the battle as the “Gettys- burg of the War;” the President of the United States recognized the results of their success in public utterances, and Premier Clemenceau con- gratulated and thanked the Marine Brigade; cap- tured German documents showed that the enemy rated the Marines very highly as shock troops; the press of France, of the British Isles, and of the United States were flooded with praise that reflected the psychology of the Marines’ sacrifices and suc- cesses; the American and French Corps Com- manders, the Commanding General Second Division, the Commanding General of the Twenty-sixth Division, the British Royal Marines, and the Com- manding General of the French Sixth Army all commended the Marines’ gallantry in the fighting of June, 1918 HONORS In addition to the many foreign decorations, (such as seven French Legion d’Honneur, six French Medaille Militaire and about 450 French Croix de Guerre, awarded to the Marines for heroism and gallantry during the operations in the Marne Salient between June 6th and July 1st, 1918), one enlisted man was awarded the Medal of Honor — the first awarded to any person in the American Expeditionary Forces — the Army Distinguished Service Medal was awarded to Brigadier General Harbord, Colonel Neville, Lieutenant Colonels Feland and Lee and 48 Marine officers and 100 en- listed men were awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross. The Navy also awarded three Dis- tinguished Service Medals and 148 Navy Crosses. During the night of July 5-6, 1918, the units of the Brigade were relieved and moved to an area in rear of the lines and occupied what was known as the Line of Defense or Army Line, in the expectation of a threatened large scale German offensive. Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters of the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion were at Nanteuil-sur- Mame; Headquarters of the Fifth Marines was at Crouttes and that of the Sixth Marines at Pisse- loupe. The Brigade remained in this area until July 16. 1918. The subsequent operations of the Marines in the Aisne-Mame Offensive near Soissons, in the St. Mihiel Offensive, at the Battle of Blanc Mont in the Champagne, in the Meuse-Argonne, including the heroic crossing of the Meuse under murderous enemy fire, were all of a larger scale of fighting than that in June. Despite this fact, the significance of that stand at Les Mares Ferme, of the renaming of Belleau Wood by the French, and of the turning of the enemy tide as it bore toward Paris, is so im-' portant that the fame of the Battle of Belleau Wood will live as long as the French nation. MARINES STOP GERMANS AT LES MARES FARM, POINT NEAREST PARIS REACHED BY ENEMY IN 1918. by maj. e. n. McClellan, u. s. m. c. I N view of the fact that it was at Les Mares Farm that the Germans reached the nearest point to Paris in their third 1918 offensive, the details of the fighting by the 55th Company. Second Bat- talion. Fifth Marines, under the command of Cap- tain John Blanchfield, around that historic spot, will be set forth. On June 2. 1918, the 55th Company received orders, with the rest of the Second Battalion. Fifth Regiment, which was bivouacked near Pyramides Ferme, to proceed through Marigny and take up a position about one and one-half kilometres north- east of the town. They stated that the French, a few kilometres ahead, were slowly falling to the rear, and directed the Second Battalion to form a line of resistance which was to be held until the last. The companies of the Second Battalion went up separately, as the battalion was to cover a large front and the German artillery was very active. The 55th Company was halted in the woods just above the town of Champillon, while the officers went for- ward to reconnoitre the ground to be occupied by the company. It was then about 4 p m., and the German artillery suddenly increased, the barrage being plainly visible as it moved up the valley by Bussiares and Torcy. A number of French soldiers passing to the rear along the Champillon-Bussiares road, stated that the Germans were right behind them. A runner was sent back with orders to bring up the company on the double. A skirmish line was formed, the right of the company touching and covering the Champillon-Bussiares road, and its left resting at Les Mares Farm. A few French stragglers kept breaking through the line established, and all said that the Germans were just on the other side of the hill (Hill 165). However, nothing was seen of them that afternoon and as darkness was coming on and their barrage had ceased, it was judged that the Germans had gained their objectives and would come no further that day. The Marines dug in along the line they had taken up and placed their automatic rifles in the most ef- fective positions, as th^y had no machine guns with the company. On the right the 55th Company was connected with the 51st Company, but on its left there was a gap of some five hundred yards between the farm and the edge of Bois de Veuilly where the 43rd Company was. and, as the company front was so large, no men could be spared to fill this gap. That night the shelling around Les Mares Farm was quite heavy, but there was no infantry action. On June 3. 1918, the 55th Company was under a heavy shell fire all the morning by the German guns. As the American artillery had not yet arrived, and the French “ 75 ’s” were being moved back there was very little retaliating fire. An outpost of some ten Marines was placed about three hundred yards in advance of the lines on a small knoll which commanded an excellent field of fire and their orders were to hold until the enemy’s fire became too hot, then to drop back to the line of resistance. About 5 p. m., June 3, 1918, the barrage increased and the Germans attacked in a very open formation, preceded by scouts. The outpost opened on them and a little later the left of the line became engaged. The Germans set machine guns up in the woods op- posite the outpost and worked around to its right. Their machine gun fire became quite intense, several casualties occurring, so the outpost fell back to its place in the American line. It is believed that a number of German casualties resulted and that the fire of the Marines surprised and confused them. Meanwhile, a strong attack was being made on the Les Mares Farm. The Marines had no ma- chine guns to aid them, but their rifle fire was exceptionally fine, each man aiming coolly and de- liberately and not a German got closer than a hun- dred yards of the line. After what appeared to be the first two waves had fallen, the third turned back and commenced to work around to the left of the company and rear of the farm. Some French stragglers had been placed in this gap between the 55th Company and the 43rd Company, but these all dropped back some three or four hundred yards, apparently thinking that the farm had been taken by the Germans. Part of a platoon was brought up from the extreme right of the line and was placed so as to protect the left flank. In front and on the left of the Les Mares Farm was a wheat field under cover of which the Germans worked around the Marines. Inter- mittent machine gun and rifle fire continued until dark. During the night German patrols came close to the American lines and the patrols reported that a number of Germans had come up and were in the Bois des Mares and also in the Bois de Baron. They further reported that the Germans were “digging in” in the wheat field around the farm. The 55th Company was reinforced by some men of the Head- quarters Company, and several machine guns which strengthened the lines greatly. On the morning of June 4, 1918. a number of Germans were seen filtering over the crest of Hill 165. and into the Bois des Mares. This was reported to the artillery, which had come up in the night, and it shelled Bois des Mares and the Bois de Baron heavily all day. Snipers had been placed in the farm house and were active during the day. as the Germans were continually moving around in the wheat field. About 2 p. m. a lookout reported that he thought the Ger- mans were trying to set up a machine gun. as he heard digging close by. Corporal Francis J. Dockx volunteered to go out and investigate the noise. He took three men with him and was later reinforced by Gunnery Sergeant David L. Buford and two more men. After crawling about fifty yards through the wheat field they ran into a patrol of about thirty men and two machine guns. The patrol was completely surprised by the Marines, who opened up with their automatics, the gun- nery sergeant personally killing seven. Those that jumped up and ran for a clump of woods in their rear were picked off by snipers, only four or five getting back to their lines. One of the machine guns was disabled and the other brought back with several wounded prisoners. Corporal Dockx and one other man were killed in taking the machine guns. An- other attack was expected that afternoon, but it did not materi- alize as the artillery put down a heavy and complete barrage. All was quiet that night, and it is believed that the enemy withdrew from the immediate front of the 55th Company. Nothing important occurred during June 5. 1918. and the 55th Company was relieved that night by the French, and proceeded to a support position for the attack the following day. Captain John Blanchfield. commanding the 55th Company, Fifth Regiment, was mortally wounded on June 6, 1918. the citation awarding him a Distinguished Service Cross reading: He demonstrated exceptional ability in organizing his line at Chateau-Thierry, France. June 6. 1918. and showed heroic leadership in holding it under violent attack. His company successfully repelled two assaults by superior forces, in the second of which he was mortally wounded.’’ As time goes on and perspective clarifies, that little stand at Les Mares Ferme. seemingly at the time as but an unimportant part of that larger operation, designated the Aisne Defensive, which frustrated the Germans in their last effort to gain Paris, will take its place in history as the point nearest Paris reached by the Germans during the period of the World War partici- pated in by America. 263 La Voie du Chatel, P. C. t Sixth Marines, June I, 1918. The Mairie, Montreuil-aux-Lions. Headquarters 2d Div., June I, 1918. During morning of same day headquarters of Fourth Brigade of Marines was established in this town also — for half an hour in an automobile. La Loge Farm. On June 4, 1918, the Fourth Brigade of Marines changed its headquarters to La Loge Farm. Brick kiln, near Le Thiolet, just behind the line taken up by the Marines on June 1.1918. 264 Photo bv M.mh: “RETREAT? HELL, NO! WE JUST GOT HERE.” D ESCRIBING the activities of the Fourth Brigade on June 3, 1918, Brigadier General Harbord reported to the Commanding General of the Second Division in part as follows: “Forenoon comparatively quiet. Some French artillery activity prepar- ing an offensive in the neighborhood between Torcy and Bouresches. The attack, if made, of which I am not informed, failed. Reported during the afternoon that the Germans were massing in the neighborhood of Bouresches and at various times during the day that groups were seen near Torcy and Bussiares. Near the middle of the day the town of Lucy was shelled with high explosives and the town of Marigny has been under shell fire practically all day. The P. C. of my Sixth Regiment and the position of the supporting battalion of this regiment have been shelled and there have been a few casualties. “The French line has fallen back nearly to our own line, practically on our whole front. *****” In these circumstances. Colonel (later Brigadier General) Manus McClos- key, commanding the 12th Field Artillery of the Second Division, recon- noitered and selected positions for his batteries between Ferme de Paris and Fermed’Issonge, near the Paris-Chateau Thierry road, in order to relieve the 12th French Field Artillery which was badly spent after a gallant and pro- tracted resistance. In plain view of the German observers in their Drachen balloons and under a heavy shell fire Colonel McCloskey posted his guns in the positions being vacated by the French in order that he might have the advantage of their firing data. The German advance was continuing steadily, in what the Germans thought was their last, victorious march on Paris. The Commander of the French regiment remonstrated with Colonel McCloskey. “ 1 1 is impossible to remain here^ surely you are going to retreat?” he exclaimed “Retreat? Hell, No!’’ answered the American artilleryman. “We just got here!’’ That was the invincible spirit of the gallant gunners who supported the Marine Corps in all their engagements with the Germans and it was the glorious spirit of the entire American Army in France. Colonel McCloskey ’s utterance has taken its place with Lawrence’s “Don t give up the ship." Farragut’s “Damn the torpedoes; go ahead!” and Mulligan’s "Lay me down and save the flag!” NOTE. — In collating data for this volume it was found that to three officers had been ascribed the utterance: “ Retreat? Hell.no! We just got here! ” Major McClellan in his able monograph on the Battle of Belleau Wood says that the words, or their essence, were spoken either by Captain Lloyd W. Williams, commanding the 31st Company, or Lieutenant Colonel Frederic M. Wise, commanding the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines. On the other hand. Colonei (later Brigadier General) Manus McCloskey, who commanded the Twelfth Field Artillery in the operations northwest of Chateau Thierry, has assured the writer that it was he who uttered the remark. “The spirit of this army is the spirit of the offensive and we are going to be just as damned offensive as we can!” ex- claimed Major General Charles H. Martin, 86th Division, at Camp Grant in the early training days. American soldiers have always had a propensity for being “damned offensive” and the “Retreat — Hell!’’ remark would seem to be apppropriate to any American fighting man in the circumstances. As Colonel McCloskey ’s regiment was the immediate and main support of the Marines during all their combat activities, undoubtedly, reference to the episode above narrated should have a place in this book. The portrait is that of Colonel McCloskey . — James C. Russell. 265 Lucy-le-Bocage. in mid-ground; Ravin St. Gobert in foreground; on horizon the high ground held by Germans. The first field order to be sent from the Headquar- ters, Fourth Marine Brigade. Issonge Farmhouse, June I, 1918, was: “Second Bn., 6th Marines, in line from Le Thiolet through Clarembauts Woods to Triangle to Lucy. Instructed to hold the line. 1st Bn., 6th Marines, going into line from Lucy through Hill 142. 3d Bn. in support at La Voie du Chatel, which is also P. C. of 6th Marines. 6th M. G. Bn. distributed at line — Harbord. Inset: Col. A. W. Catlin, 6th Marines, who was wounded north of Lucy-le-Bocage, June 6, 1918. 266 Ground over which the F.rst Battalion. Fifth Marines advanced on June 6. 1918. to capture Hill 142. Inset: Gunnery Sergeant Charles F. Hoffman. 49th Company. Fifth Regiment U S M C who was the hrst member of the Marine Corps to win the Congressional Medal of Honor during the World War. His citation follows: -For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Chateau-Thierry. France. June 6. 1918. Immediately after his company had reached its objective on Hill 142 several hostile counter attacks were launched against the line before the new position had been consolidated. Sergt. Hoffman was attempting to organize a position on the north slope of the hill when he saw 12 of the enemy armed with five livht machine guns crawling toward his group. Giving the alarm, he rushed the hostile detachment, bayoneted the two leaders and forced the others to flee, abandoning their guns. His quick action initiative and courage drove the enemy from a position from which they could have swept the hill with machine-gun fire and forced the withdrawal of our troops " No Man’s Land as viewed from the lines established by the First Battalion, Fifth Marines, after ! iill 142 was captured on June 6. 1918. “At 3:45 a. m. (June 6) thc\ 1st Bn., 5th Marines, in conjunction with the French 167th D. I. on its left, attacked in the direction of Torcy. The attack was successful and the enemy’s line on I 1 Iill 142 was penetrated to a depth of one kilometre and the position was being consolidated by 7:00 hours.’’ Journal of Operations, Second Division 268 =1 I Ground over which the 96th Co., 6th Marines, Captain Donald F. Duncan commanding, advanced on the afternoon of June 6, 1918. The attack resulted in the capture of Bouresches (seen in the background) by platoons under Lieutenants James F Robertson and Clifton B. Cates. 2 Captain Duncan 1 In the advance on Bouresches Capt. Duncan was severely wounded. While being carried to the rear a shell struck nearby, killing Capt. Duncan, Lt. (j. g.) Weedon E. Osborne (M. C. D. S.), 1st Sgt. Srssler, and two stretcher bearers The picture shows the scene of the casualties. The railroad station at Bouresches 269 PANORAMA OF BOURESCHES and the surrounding country, showing the results of the heavy bombardment to which the terrain was subjected when the Marines advanced June 6^ I9lfl left- Major Randolph T. Zane. U S. M. C. At the head of the 79«h Company. Major (then Captain) Zane garrisoned Bouresches after its capture. H.s citation for the Distinguished Service ■ While holding the^own of Bouresches on the nights of June 7-8. 1918 he displayed such bravery as to inspire the garrison to resist successfully ahea v ymach me-gu n and in f a " ‘ r V a ““ £ b > numbers " A United States destroyer was named in his honor by the Secretary of the Navy. Inset right: Captain Clifton B. Cates. U. S. M. C., D. S. C.. with bar. who assisted in the c. Bouresches Captain Cates' citation for gallantry at Bouresches is: "While advancing with his company on the town of Bouresches their progress was greatly hindered by withering rnachine artillery fire of the enemy which caused many casualties, one of whom was his commanding officer. Taking command. Capt. Cates led them on to the objettrve despite the fact that he was y I ... .1 • ■ - I ■ I .1 . .1 * _ L :_ C. . - - - . l. ....If t n Awt.a m n kaaa r.l l« . . r.xiri.^ Kl« nAdllOII With blit d niind I 11 1 OI men. temporarily unconscious by ipture of gun and rendered Captain Cates received a bar to be worn with the D. S. C. for heroism at Belleau Wood a week later. Official tJ. S, Air Servic 270 Men of the Second Division, including the Fourth Brigade of Marines, at Fifteenth Field Hospital near Montreuil-aux-Lions, June 7, 1918, Jnded in the operations northwest of Chateau Thierry, arriving A stream of wounded poured into Montreuil-aux-Lions for many days, the right indicates that he has been gassed. He has also sustained an injury i The cross marked on the forehead of th n the left foot. e wounded soldier on me?' A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF AMERICAN COURAGE AND DASH.” Effectives of the Second Battalion. Sixth Marines. Major Thomas Holcomb com- manding. photographed near Chateau Thierry, June' I 7. 1918. As a war strength battalion was 1000 men. the depletion which this gallant organization had undergone in the preceding days is apparent. These men were included when General Pershing on June 9. 1918, sent to the 1 leadquarters of the Fourth Brigade of Marines, through the Commanding General. Second Division, this telegram: “Please accept for the Division and convey to Brigadier General 1 larbord and the officers and men under him mv sincere congratulations for the splendid conduct of the attack on the German lines north of Chateau Thierry. It was a magnificent example of American cour- age and dash.” 272 The remains of fox-holes in the tangle of under-brush in Belleau Wood Looking from the top of Belleau Wood hill toward Lucy-le-Bocagc. In Belleau Wood. “Scattered among the thickets were to be found large rocks and boulders which offered veritable strongholds on which the enemy had mounted machine guns and under which he had installed shell-proof retreats.” Hunting lodge in the northern part of Belleau Wood. 273 Drawing by Captain Wallace Morgan, Corps of Engineers. Fox-holes of the Fifth Marines in Belleau Wood. BELLEAU WOOD! To American ears the very name has in it s w ore the blows of their enemies and when the Europe, to prove alike to doubting friend and foe the courage, the - r l - j l l 1 resonant ganger. 1'ke the names of W'aterloo or Verdun, which stirs recollections of days big with fate: days when the armies ol at, on were reeling before the blows of the.r enemies and when the people of the United States waited breathlessly for the advance guards of their own armed host, treading for the first thliT thn ,k C'U ,L ,. , . L u i E.” ■£ f er5e r e „ ra, ^ ce , an “ thc 'rresistible audacity which they well knew the soldiers of their race the held of battle. Lapt. Joseph Miller Hanson. Inset: Maj. Edward B. Cole. Commanding Officer. 6th M. G. Bn.. U distinguished Service Cross is: "His unusual heroism in leading his company under heavy fi wounded." - would display when put to the flaming test o f .... , i ^ ‘ - wh o was mortally wounded at Belleau Wood. His citation for the re enabled it to fight with exceptional effectiveness. He personally worked fearlessly until he was mortally 275 ‘WOODS NOW U. S. MARINE CORPS’ ENTIRELY.” This was the historic message sent on June 26, 1918, by Major Maurice E. Shearer, Commanding Officer, 3d Bn., 5th Marines One of the most desperate battles in the annals of the American Expeditionary Forces had ended. On orders of General Degoutte, Commandant VI th French Army, the epic struggle was commemorated by chang- ing the name of Bois de Belleau to Bois de la Brigade de Marine. President Wilson, in presenting the Peace Treaty and the League of Nations to the Senate, spoke, on July 10. 1919, in part as follows: * 'That fi rst never-to-be-forgotten action at Chateau Thierry had already taken place. Our redoubtable Soldiers and Marines had al ready closed the gap the enemy had succeeded in opening for their advance upon Paris — had already turned the tide of battle back toward the frontiers of France and begun the rout that was to save Europe and the World. Thereafter the Germans were always to be forced back, back; were never to thrust successfully forward again. * * * Inset left: Major Maurice E. Shearer. D. S. C. Inset right: Captain Edward C. Fuller, 6th Regt., U. S. M. ( .. who was killed at Belleau Wood, June 12. His citation for the Distinguished Service Cross is: ' While fearlessly exposing himself in an artillery barrage for the purpose of getting his men into a position of securitv in the attack on Bois de Belleau, on June 12, 1918. he was killed and thereby gave his life in an effort to protect his men.” The Secretary of the Navy named a destroyer in his honor. s 276 Brig. Gen. Harbord (right) and CoL Manus McCloskey (left) questioning a prisoner at La Loge Farm, June 12. 1918. By this time Gen. Harbord had been “adopted” by the Marines. Note the Marine collar device that had been conferred by Col. Neville. “It seemed to me to set the seal of approval by my comrades of the Marine Corps,” wrote Gen. Harbord later; “knowing the circumstances it meant everything to me.” A gun of Battery B. 1st Anti-Aircraft Bn., 2d Div., in action at Montreuil aux-Lions, June 15. 1918. Col. McCloskey supervises the construction of a dugout at La Loge farm to be used as Marine and Artillery headquarters during the operations at Belleau Wood. Capt. Hyatt (with megaphone) Battery F, 15th F. A.. 2d Div., receiving reports from observation posts via field telephone. June 5. 1918. 277 I — Members of the 1st Bn., 5th Marines, en route to rest camp. Montreuil-aux-Lions, June 17, 1918. 2 — Surviving officers of 2d Bn., 6th Marines, photographed in Belleau Wood Sector, June 18, 1918. Left to right: Lt. G. A. Grunland, Capt. G. L. White (surgeons), Lt. G. B. Erskine, Capt. E. V. Lloyd, Capt. R. T. Zane, Maj. T. Holcomb, Lt. C. B. Cates, Lt. fc.. J. Stockwell, Lt. J. B. Schneider, Lt. J. A. West, Lt. H. R. Shirkel. 3 — German trench mortar captured at Belleau Wood by Lt. Col. Frederic M. Wise, Commanding Officer, 2d Bn., 5th Marines. 4 — Men of 1st Bn. 6th Marines, Maj. F. D. Garrett, commanding, on the way to rest camp June 17, 1918. I — Premier Georges Clemenceau visited the 2d Div. Hqrs. June 30. 1918. to express his gratification over the achievements of that organization, including the Marine Brigade. Behind M. Clemcnceau. to the right, is Brig. Gen. (later Maj. Gen.) F. M. Lewis. Next in order, left to right, are Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy. 2d Div.; Maj. Gen. C. H. Muir, 28th Div.; Gen. Degoutte, 6th French Army; Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Preston Brown. C. S., 2d Div. 2 — Floyd Gibbons, correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, wounded while going forward with an assault battalion of Marines in the operations northwest of ( ba- teau Thierry. Mr. Gibbons received the Croix de Guerre. 3 A camp at St. Aignan for prisoners captured by the 2d Div.. including the Marines, in the operations northwest of Chateau Thierry. 4 - General Pershing decorating Marines who were cited for gallant conduct in Belleau Wood. Brig. Gen. Flarbord at extreme left wearing French helmet. Maj. Gen. Bundv is the officer who had raised his hand to his lace Fie seems pleased. 279 THE VICTOR OF BELLEAU WOOD. - ' On July II. 1918. Brig. Gen. James G. Harbord, Commanding General ol the Marine Brigade, received notification of his appointment as a Major General. Gen. Harbord assumed command of th» > Second Division and Col. Wendell C. Neville’, as Brigadier Gen- eral. took over the Fourth Brigade of Marines Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy was assigned to command of the 6th Corps. July 10. 1918. He was here seen on that date in the center of a group of distinguished officers at Second Division headquarters. Ste. Aulde. To the left of Gen. Bundy is General Pershing Behind General Pershing, in steel helmet, is Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Paul B. Malone. 23d Inf. Behind Gen. Bundy, partly visible, is Lt. Gen. Hunter Liggett. On the right of Gen. Bundy is General Degoutte. Sixth French Army. Next is Maj. Gen. George H. Cameron. Fourth Division. 280 !l ~ jjljl 1.,'J ] HI iJlllliii TKr.Ilmg scene in the newly named Avenue de President Wilson,” formerly the Avenue de Jena. July 4, 1918, when American combat troops marched past the statue “ h" eorge Washington. In the column were one company each from the 5th and 6th Marines, and the 9th and 23d Inf. : also two campanies each from the 39th and 58th int„ 4th Div. 1 he rugged appearance and martial bearing of the men stirred all Paris. The 2d Div. men were taken out of the line to participate in the show 281 So great was General Pershing’s pride in the achievements of the Marines in the operations northwest of Chateau Thierry that he designated a detachment of the Marine Corps as a special escort at the ceremonies commemorative of Bastille Day at General Headquarters, Chaumont, July 14, 1918. Beginning at the right of the lamp- post are Capt. A. Levy, Mayor of Chaumont; Gen. Perelli, Gen. Ragneau. Gen. Wirbel, Gen. Pershing, M. le Prefet Jessier; Maj. Gen. James W. McAndrew, Chief of Staff, A. E F. ; Gen. Wagstaff. I 282 THE VICTORY OF SOISSONS Flft *l. Mar ' nes Attack July 18, 1918, Under Terrific Enemy Counter-Barrage. Second Battalion Takes Verte Feuille Farm, hirst Battalion Captures Chaudun. Third Battalion and Auxiliaries Seize Vierzy. Sixth Marines Gallantly Carry On. Second Division, Including Fourth Brigade of Marines, Advances Over 6 Miles, Captures 3,000 Prisoners, 11 Batteries of Artillery, More than 100 Machine-Guns, Minenwerfer and Supplies. With First Division Definitely Turns Tide of War for Allies. y BY MAJOR EDWIN N. McCLELLAN, OFFICER IN CHARGE, HISTORICAL DIVISION, U. S. M. C. O N July 1 I, 1918, Brig. Gen. J ames G. Harbord, commanding general of the Marine Brigade, received notification of his appointment as a major general, and two days later left on a five days’ leave of absence. As Col. Neville had been evacu- ated to a base hospital after leaving the Chateau-Thierry sector, Lieut. Col. Harry Lee assumed temporary command of the brigade. Maj. Gen. Harbord and Col. Neville both returned in time to enter the Aisne-Marne offensive, the former in com- mand of the Second Division and the latter in command of the Fourth Brigade Of the six Allied offensives taking place in 1918 on the Western Front, designated by the Americans as major operations, the Fourth Brigade of Marines, with the other units of the Second Division, participated in three, the first being the vast offensive known as the Aisne-Marne, in which the M arine Brigade entered the line near Soissons. On July 17. 1918, the first Moroccan Divi- sion and the First and Second Divisions of American Regulars were hurriedly and secretly concentrated, by terribly fatigu- ing, forced night marches over roads jam- med with troops, artillery, and tanks, through rain and mud, in the Bois de Retz, near Soissons. Headquarters of the Fourth Brigade was established at Vivieres. The getting to the “jump-off” on time for this operation will always share in Marine Corps history with the glorious victory that followed. - - Early on the morning of July 18. 1918, Marshal Foch threw these three picked divisions at the unsuspecting Germans with overwhelming success, and again on the fol- lowing day. A brief description of the first attack on July 18, 1918, is contained in the History of the Fourth Brigade, reading substan- tially as follows: Late during the afternoon of July 17, 1918, orders were received that the Fourth Brigade of Marines would attack at 4:35 a. m. on July 18. 1918. The Fifth Marines were designated to attack, with the Sixth Marines following in support. After con- siderable difficulty, due to the darkness and the congestion of the road leading through the forest, the Fifth Marines arrived at the jumping-off posi- tion. The Allied artillery preparation J*ad been going on since 4:35 a. m., increasing in intensity until just before the hour set for the attack, which was 6:00 a. m., when the Fifth Marines attacked under a teriffic enemy counter-barrage. The advancing waves burst through the barbed-wire interlaced among the trees of the forest and soon carried the enemy s front line. Overhead shrapnel caused most of the losses that day. The secondary posi- tions were speedily taken and many prisoners and much materiel captured. The First Battalion. Fifth Marines, occupied the extreme left of the Second Division line with the 49th Company in combat liaison with the Moroccan Division of French Colonials on the left. To the right .was the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, with the 51st Company acting as liaison company with the Ninth Infantry of the Third Brigade on the right.* The Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, speedily took Verte Feuille Farm and thus gained their first ob- jective. Here the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion of Marines arrived after an all-night march, having been forced to carry all its guns, ammunition and machine-gun equipment by hand. Companies of the Machine Gun Battalion were assigned their combat missions. At the crossroads two kilometres north of Beaure- paire Farm the at tacking waves of Second Bat talion. Fifth Marines, changed direction to 1 I 5 degrees and soon had carried the advance so far as to reach the artillery positions of the Germans. The troops were continually subjected to machine-gun fire and the bombs from enemy planes circling low overhead. At the ravine running north from Vauxcastile strong machine-gun resistance was met and the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, paused while tanks worked around them and broke the opposition. Owing to the rapidity of the advance the companies of the battalion by this time had become somewhat scat- tered and stretched from Maison Neuve Farm to Vauxcastile. Late in the afternoon the final objec- tive of the- Second Batallion, Fifth Marines, had been carried and the night was spent in the ravine running northwest from Vierzy. In the meantime, a company of the First Battalion. Fifth Marines, found its left exposed, swerved to the left, and after stiff fighting, captured Chaudun. Late in the after- noon of July 18, 1918, a platoon of the 49th Com- pany of the Fifth Marines, three companies of the Third Battalion of the Fifth Marines, and the Eighth Machine Gun Company of the Fifth Marines attacked and captured the town of Vierzy. after which a line was formed extending north from this village. Following the advance of the Fifth Ma- rines. both the Division and Brigade Headquarters had moved forward, the Division being established at Verte Feuille Farm and the Brigade in a cave in Vierzy. In the meantime, the Sixth Marines had followed the attack and advance of the Fifth Ma- rines about three kilometers in rear of the attacking troops The Journal of Operations, Second Divi- sion, describes the division’s fighting on the 1 9th as follows: of evening of July 18th ran about three kilometres west of SOISSONS-CHATEAU-THIERRY road and parallel to it, from the old French trenches southwest of CHARANTIGNY to a point on the Vierzy-Tigny road two kilometres west of TIGNY. Field Order No. 16, Second Division. 3:00 a. m.. July 19th, directed that the attack take the line HARTENNES. ETAUX (inclusive). BOIS de I IARTENNES to BOIS de CORNCOIS (inclusive) 283 Artillery preparation by Second Artillery Brigade to begin at 6:00 a. m. according to orders of the C. G. of the artillery brigade. The infantry attack was to be made by the Sixth Marines and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel Harry Lee. The First Battalion, Second Engineers, was designated as support. Passage of the lines was to be effected at 7:00 a. m., the troops then in the line to remain there until the attack had attained its objective. At 3:15 the afternoon of July 1 9th the Command- ing General sent word to General Ely that he had directed Colonel Lee to dig in where he then v/as and to hold. "Please let the troops know that their work is considered to be very gallant and that the failure of the troops on our left and right to keep pace with our advance makes it necessary to dig in and hold the line as it now is,” General Harbord wrote. Although the orders for the attack contemplated a passage of the lines at 7:00 a. m., this was not actually accomplished until about 9 o’clock. At 6:46 Colonel Lee reported to his Brigade Com- mander that he was at the railroad station at Vierzy with his three battalions and three Machine Gun Companies, 6th, 73rd and 81st. Colonel Lee reported favorable progress for the first hour of the advance. The First Battalion, Second Engineers, in line when the Sixth Marines passed through, followed them in the attack. Various reports came in during the morning indicating that Tigny had been captured, but these proved untrue. Colonel Lee attacked with all three battalions in line. First, Third and Second, from right to left. Heavy casualties were reported from all attacking units, and constant calls for reinforcements came back. At I I :45 Colonel Lee sent this message to the Division Commander: “Reports indicate grow- ing casualties, amounting heavy, say about 30 per cent. Seventy-eighth Company by runners say have only one platoon left. All are requesting rein- forcements' and M. G. and Chauchat ammunition. First Battalion reports no French troops on right, and are held up 300 yards in front of Tigny. Have in line from right. First, Third and Second Battal- ions, Reserves, Battalion Engineers, Headquarters Company and two companies Sixth Machine Gun Battalion have ordered line dig in.” The Chief of Staff sent the following to Colonel Lee at 1 .30 p. m. : "The Division Commander desires that you dig in and entrench your present position and hold it at all costs. No further advance is to be made for the present. He desires to congratulate your com- mand upon its gallant conduct in the face of severe casualties.” The Division was relieved the night of July I9th-20th by units of the French 6th and 1 1 th Tirailleurs. The American commander in chief in his first report stated: The place of honor in the thrust toward Soissons on July 18 was given to our First and Second Divi- sions, in company with chosen French divisions. Without the usual brief warning of a preliminary bombardment, the massed French and American artillery, firing by the map, laid down its rolling barrage at dawn while the Infantry began its charge. The tactical handling of our troops under these trying conditions was excellent throughout the action. * * * The Second Division took Beaurepaire Farm and Vierzy in a very rapid ad- vance, and reached a position in front of Tigny at the end of its second day. In his final report he stated: General Petain’s initial plan for the counterattack involved the entire western face of the Marne salient. The First and Second American Divisions, with the First French Moroccan Division between them, were employed as the spearhead of the main attack, driving directly eastward, through the most sensitive portion of the German lines to the heights south of Soissons. The advance began on July 18, without the usual brief warning of a preliminary bombardment, and these three divisions at a single bound broke through the enemy’s infantry defenses and overran his artillery, cutting or interrupting the German communications leading into the salient. A general withdrawal from the Marne was immedi- ately begun by the enemy, who still fought stub- bornly to prevent disaster. * * * The Second Division advanced 8 kilometers in the first 26 hours, and by the end of the second day was facing Tigny, having captured 3,000 prisoners and 66 field guns. It was relieved the night of the 19th by a French division. The result of this counter offensive was of decisive importance. Due to the magnificent dash and power displayed on the field of Soissons by our First and Second Divisions the tide of war was definitely turned in favor of the Allies. Major General James G. Harbord, com- manding the Second Division in this opera- tion, describes the two days’ fighting of his division in these words: It is with keen pride that the division commander transmits to the command the congratulations and affectionate personal greetings of General Pershing who visited the division headquarters last night. His praise of the gallant work of the division on the I 8th and 19th is echoed by the French high command, the Third Corps commander, American Expedi- tionary Forces, and in a telegram from the former division commander. In spite of two sleepless nights, long marches through rain and mud and the discomforts of hunger and thirst, the division attacked side by side with the gallant First Moroc- can Division and maintained itself with credit. You advanced over 6 miles, captured over 3,000 prison- ers, I I batteries of artillery, over 100 machine guns, minnenwerfers, and supplies. The Second Divi- sion has sustained the best traditions of the Regular Army and the Marine Corps. The story of your achievements will be told in millions of homes in all Allied lands to-night. Following the advance of the first day, brigade headquarters was moved forward to a cave in Vierzy. Colonel Logan Feland was in command of the Fifth RegimeAt during the Aisne- Marne offensive, near Soissons, and con- tinued in command of it with the exception of two days in July, 1918 (when Brigadier General Lejeune commanded the Fourth Brigade and Colonel Neville the Fifth Regiment), until March 21, 1919, when he was relieved by Colonel Harold C. Snyder, who retained command until the date of demobilization. The Fourth Brigade was relieved about midnight July 19, 1918, and after remain- ing in a reserve position until July 22, 1918, marched to an area farther in the rear, but still in a reserve position, brigade head- quarters being established at Taillefon- taine. After final relief from this active sector the brigade was billeted July 24-25 1918, in an area around Nanteuil-le-Haud- ouin, brigade headquarters being estab- lished at Nanteuil. The brigade remained in this area until July 31, 1918'. On July 25, 1918, Brig. Gen. John A. Lejeune arrived, and assumed command of the Fourth Brigade on July 26, 1918. Gen- eral Orders, No. 16, reading as follows: I have this day assumed command of the Fourth Brigade, U. S. Marines. To command this brigade is the highest honor that could come to any man. Its renown is im- perishable and the skill, endurance, and valor of the officers and men have immortalized its name and that of the Marine Corps. Brigadier General Lejeune retained com- mand until July 29, 1918, when he became commanding general of the Second Divi- sion, relieving Major General Harbord, who left to assume command of the Services of Supply. Colonel Neville, on this latter date, resumed command of the Fourth Brigade. BOI S DE RETZ. On the n.ght of July 16. 1918, the Fourth Brigade of Marines moved in camions from the neighborhood of Nanteuil-sur-Marne for the offensive t! r Flfth and S j Xt j M t n ? es arrived during the evening of July I 7, 1 918, in the Bois de Retz, and the Sixth Machine Gun Batallion about 3 00 a m July 18, 1918 I he forest resounded with the tramp of infantry, the clank of horse transportation and the rumble of artillery and tanks, all moving to the front The main roads were so packed with traffic that progress was almost impossible. In a few hours the gates in the German lines would be burst open by the dashing infantry and the dammed up flood of artiffery, ammunition wagons, supply trains and automobiles would be flowing over the ground now held by the unsuspecting Germans ” 285 ' k v\' « .'Y ir u : Farm was taken by the 2d Bn., 5th Marines, on the morning of July 18, 1918. Maj. Ralph S. Kayser was the commanding officer. The units 18th Co., Capt. L. S. Wass; 43d Co., Capt. J. D. Murray; 51st Co., Capt. W. O. Corbin; 55th Co., Lt. E. Cook, N. A. 2 — A battery of the in action near Vauxcastille, July 19, 1918. 3 Ammunition trains of 2d Div. pushing forward near Chavigny. Bois de Retz in the background. July 18, 1918. 4 — Prisoners of the 1st and 2d Divisions cap- tured in the advance south of Soissons. Dommiers, July 19, 1918 286 TIGNY. "The Second Division (including the Fourth Brigade of Marines) advanced 8 kilometers in the first 26 hours (beginning 4:45 a. m., July 18. 1918) and by the end of the second day was facing Tigny, having captured 3,000 prisoners and 66 field guns. It was relieved on the night of the 19th by a French division. The result of this counter-offensive was of decisive importance. DUE TO THE MAGNIFICENT DASH AND POWER DISPLAYED ON THE FIELD OF SOISSONS BY OUR FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS THE TIDE OF WAR WAS DEFINITELY TURNED IN FAVOR OF THE ALLIES." Final report of Gen. John J. Pershing. Sept. I. 1919. Inset: Second Lieutenant John W. Overton of the 2d Bn.. 6th Marines, who was killed at the head of his platoon July 18. 1918. 288 On Aug. 5. 1918, movement of units of the Fourth Brigade of Marines was started for the occupation of the quiet Marbache subsector, near Pont-a-Mousson on the Moselle River. By Aug. 8. 1918 the movement was completed, with headquarters established at Scarponne, just across the Moselle River from Dieulouard. The brigade remained in the Marbache subsecl '* * • • ’ -- 1918, Brig. Gen. John A. Lejeune had arrived and assumed command of the Fourth Brigade on July 26. 1918. In promulgating General Orders No. 16. Gen. Lejeune this day assumed command of the Fourth Brigade. U. S. Marines. To command this brigade is the highest honer that could come to any man. Its renown is impe valor of the officers and men have immortalized its name and that of the Marine Corps.” Gen. Lejeune retained command of the brigade until July 29. 1918, when h Second Division. U. S. A., relieving Maj. Gen. Haxbord. who left to assume command of the Services of Supply. The photograph was taken at econd Division Headqi 1918. L. to R.: Lt. Col. Hugh Mathews (U. S. M. C ). G-l; Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Preston Brown. Chief of Staff; Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune. Col. James C. Rhea. G-3; Lt Col. G. A. Herbst til Aug. 18. 1918. On July 25. ’e this announcement: “I have - and the skill, endurance and -ame commanding general of the ters. Marbache subsector. Aug. II. w * .V and prisoners captured ittom After leaving the Marbache sector Aug Tg 1918 X Fourth B r) ““T f ° r a " ene "Y ra,d wl ’' ch successfully repuls, headquarters bemg est;' ,,ed at Favieres. Intensive training for the impend ina S, Mi I ff ■ & rlgade 7‘ oved to , area about 20 kilometers southeast of To, Co. m training near 1 la, uville Aug. 23, 1918. The Signal Corps ca p to aL 1 ' A ter bempT Id"^ “ nderta ^ n here ' The photograph shows elements of the 76 snipers have gone forward.. “'Bombers and riflemen are starting them flank movement ' ^ 8 H ^ UP by machme gun fire ' automatic riflemen, rifle grenadiers at A* 290 wmm Brig. Gen. Wendell. C. Neville and staff of the Fourth Brigade of Marines at Dieulouard, Aug. II, 1918. On Aug. 7. 191^, information was received of the promotion of Col. Neville to the grade of brigadier general to date from July I, 1918. Sitting. Brig. Gen. Neville. Stand- ing, I . to r. : Lt. Hart, Lt. C. R. Dietrich, Lt. Col. Earl H. Ellis, Lt. W. A. Eddy, fct. Claggett Wilson, Quartermaster Clerk Thomas Dorney. V * .v I— Front lines at Limey. Limey was in the western part of the Marine Sector at the time of the jump-off in the St. Mihiel Offensive, Sept. 12 1918. 2 Company E, 2d Ammunition Traftv, Second Division watering horses near Limey, Sept. 13, 1918. 3— Post of Command of Col. Harry Lee, 6th Regt. of Marines, Sept. 12, 1918. 292 The burning of Thiaucourt on the afternoon of Sept. 12. 1918. Thiaucourt was one of the principal towns in the St Mihiel salient. It was occupied by the Marine brigade during the reduction of the salient. "The reduction of the St. Mihiel salient." says General Pershing in his final report, "was important, as it would prevent the enemy from interrupting traffic on the Paris-Nancy railroad by artillery fire and would free the railroad leading north through St. Mihiel to Verdun. It would also provide us with an advantageous base of departure for an attack against the Metz-Sedan railroad system which was vital to the German armies west of Verdun and against the Eriey Iron Basin which was necessary for the production of German armament and munitions ” Street scene in Jaulny. St. Mihiel sector, captured by the Second Division. Sept. 13. 1918 The casualties of the Second Division in the operations for the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient were about 1 ,000. of which I 34 were killed. Of these about half were Marines. The captures in which the Marines participated were 80 German officers. 3,200 men, 90 field pieces and vast stores. Referring to the St. Mihiel operations. Maj. Gen. Lejeune in General Orders, No. 34. Sept. 17, 1918, said: “ I desire to express to the officers and men my profound appreciation of their brilliant and successful attack in the recent engagement. Our division maintained the prestige and honor of the country proudly and swept the enemy from the field.” i THE BATTLE OF BLANC MONT RIDGE Second Division, Including United States Marines Corps, Attacks Magnificently and Seizes Blanc Mont Ridge, Keystone of Arch Constituting Enemy’s Main Position in the Champagne. Victory Frees Rheims and Forces Entire German Army Between that City and Argonne Forest to Retreat to the Aisne, a Distance of 30 Kilometres. “To Be Able to Say, ‘I Belonged to Second Division; I Fought with It at Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge,’ Will Be the Highest Honor that Can Come to Any Man.” BY MAJOR EDWIN N. McCLELLAN, OFFICER IN CHARGE, HISTORICAL DIVISION, U. S. M. C. M ARSHAL FOCH, having asked for an American division to assist in breaking through the powerful German defenses in the Champagne, the Second Division, in- cluding the Marine Brigade, was temporarily placed at the disposal of the Fourth French Army under Gen. Gouraud from September 27, 1918, to October 10, 1918. At first it was directly subject to the orders of Marshal Petain, but before the actual fighting began it was placed directly under the orders of Gen. Gouraud. On Spetember 28, 1918, the Fourth Brigade moved by bus and marching to the Souain-Suippes area, with brigade head- quarters at Suippes. On October 1, 1918, in an order of the Second Division, the commanding general of the Second Division encouraged his division with the following words: I. The greatest battles in the world’s history are now being fought. The Allies are attacking successfully on all fronts. The valiant Belgian Army has surprised and defeated the enemy in Handers: the English, who have been attacking the enemy without ceasing since August 8. have advanced beyond the Hindenburg Line, between Cambrai and St. Quentin, capturing thousands of prisoners and hundreds of cannon; the heroic Allied Army of the Orient has decisively defeated the Bulgars; the British have captured over 50.000 prisoners in Palestine and have inflicted a mortal blow on the Turk; and our own First Army and the Fourth French Army have already gained much success in the preliminary stages of their attack between the Meuse and Suippe Rivers. 2. Owing to its world- wide reputation for skill and valor, the Second Divi- sion was selected by the commander in chief of the Allied Armies as his special reserve, and has been held in readiness to strike a swift and powerful blow at the vital point of the enemy's line. The hour to move forward has now come, and 1 am confident that our division will pierce the enemy’s line, and once more gloriously defeat the Hun. The Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge was one of the most power- ful and effective blows struck under the direction of Marshal Foch against the retreating Germans, and its brilliantly success- ful conclusion was due in a great degree to the military genius of Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune of the Marines. On September 27, 1918, Maj. Gen. John A. Lej eune called on Gen. Gouraud at the headquarters of the Fourth French Army, who explained the situation at the front to him. Facing a large relief map of the battlefield, Gen. Gouraud placed his hand on the Blanc Mont Ridge and said: “General, this position is the key of all the German defenses of this sector including the whole Rheims Massif. If this ridge can be taken the Germans will be obliged to retreat along the whole front 30 kilometers to the river Aisne. Do you think your division could effect its capture?” Maj. Gen. Lejeune responded that he felt certain the Second Division could take the stronghold pointed out, whereupon he was informed that he would be ordered to make the attack within a few days and was directed to prepare a plan for the assault. At this time the Second Division was directly subject to the orders of Marshal Petain, but later in the day Gen. Gouraud informed Maj. Gen. Lejeune that after an explanation of the circumstances Marshal Petain had assigned the division to the Fourth French Army. The general plan provided for an attack by the whole Fourth French Army between the Argonne and the Suippe River. On October I, 1918, the brigade with the rest of the Second Division marched to the front line near Somme-Py on the night of October 1-2, 1918, and relieved elements of a French division. The brigade headquarters was located in the trenches about lYi kilometers south of Somme-Py. The relief was effected before daylight without incident. The Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge was fought and won by the Second Division, as a unit of the Fourth French Army, between October 3 and 9, 1918, over the desolated white chalky ground of the Champagne, which was scarred and shell pocked by years of artillery fire, marked with huge mine craters, gridironed with an intricate maze of deep trenches and concrete fortifications, and covered with tangled masses of wire. The overwhelming success and the far-reaching effect of the Second Division's part in these operations, the cleaning up of the Essen Hook, the capture of Blanc Mont Ridge, and the capture of St. Etienne, are well described in general terms in the following excerpts from official publications. Under date of October II, 1918, Maj. Gen. Lejeune addressed this letter to his command: OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE SECOND DIVISION: It is beyond my power of expression to describe fitly my admiration for your heroism. You attacked magnificently and you seized Blanc Mont Ridge, the keystone of the arch constituting the enemy’s main position. You advanced beyond the ridge, breaking the enemy’s lines, and you held the ground gained with a tenacity which is unsurpassed in the annals of war. As a direct result of your victory, the German armies east and west of Rheims are in full retreat, and by drawing on yourselves several German di- visions from other parts of the front you greatly assisted the victorious ad- vance of the allied armies between Cambrai and St. Quentin. Your heroism and the heroism of our comrades who died on the battlefield will live in history forever, and will be emulated by the young men of our country for generations to come. To be able to say when this war is finished, “ I belonged to the Second Division; I fought with it at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge,” will be the highest honor that can come to any man. JOHN A. LEJEUNE. Major General, United States Marine Corps, Commanding. That the plan was as brilliantly executed as it was daringly conceived is shown by this extract from an order of the Second Division, dated October II, 1918, reading in part as follows: In the Champagne district, October 2 to 10. it fought beside the Fourth French Army. On October 3 it seized Blanc Mont Ridge, the keystone of the arch of the main German position, advanced beyond the ridge and. al- though both flanks were unsupported, it held all its gains with the utmost tenacity, inflicting tremendous losses on the enemy. This victory freed Rheims and forced the entire German Army between that city and the Argonne Forest to retreat to the Aisne, a distance of 30 kilometers. The amazing success of the attack and the vital effect of the capture of Blanc Mont Ridge and St. Etienne is described in the words of Gen. Gouraud himself in a letter to Marshal Foch, reading in part as follows: Because of the brilliant part played by this “Grand Unit” in the offensive of the Fourth Army during the autumn of 1918, I propose the Second Ameri- can Division for a citation in “The Order of the Army” upon the following specific grounds: The Second Infantry Division, United States, brilliantly commanded by Gen. Lejeune * * * played a glorious part in the operations of the Fourth Army in the Champagne in October, 1918. On the 3d of October this divi- sion drove forward and seized in a single assault the strongly entrenched German positions between Blanc Mont and Medeah Ferme, and again press- ing forward to the outskirts of Saint Etienne-a- Arnes it made in the course of the day an advance of about 6 kilometers. It captured several thousand prisoners, many cannon and machine guns, and a large quantity of other military material. This attack, combined with that of the French divisions on its left and right, resulted in the evacuation by the enemy of his positions on both sides of the river Suippe and his with- drawal from the Massif de Notre-Dame-des-Champs. The further opinion of the French as to the results and effect of the Second Division’s operations in Champagne is set forth in the following-quoted extract from Information Bulletin No. 12 of the Fourth French Army dated October 7, 1918: Up to October 4, at which date the present bulletin is written, the Fourth Army has pushed its advance up to objectives of the very highest importance. A splendid American division, full of dash and ardor, the Second Division, United States, placed at the disposition of the Twenty-first Corps on October 3, made itself master of Massif du Blanc Mont, which dominates the valley of the Arnes and gives us excellent outlook on the valley of the Suippe in rear of the region of Monts. This conquest rapidly brought about the down- fall of Notre-Dame-des-Champs and the Grand Bois de Saint Souplet. The American commander in chief in his first report describes the Battle of Blanc Mont in the following words: The Second Division conquered the complicated defense works on their front against a persistent defense worthy of the grimmest period of trench 295 warfare and attacked the strongly Jbeld wooded hill of Blanc Mont, which they captured in a second assault, sweeping over it with consummate dash and skill. This division then repulsed strong counterattacks before the village and cemetery of St. Etienne and took the town, forcing the Germans to fall back from before Rheims and yield positions they had held since September, 1914. In his final report the American commander in chief remarked as follows: \ A The Second Division completed its advance on this front by the assault of the wooded heights of Mont Blanc, the key point of the German position, which was captured with consummate dash and skill. The division here repulsed violent counterattacks and then carried cur lines into the village of St. Etienne, thus forcing the Germans to fall back before Rheims and yield positions which they had held since September. 1914. The citation of the Fifth Regiment of Marines (the citation of the Sixth Regiment being identical) reads as follows: Apres approbation du general commandant en chef des forces expcdition- naires Americaines en France, le marechal de France, commandant en chef des armees francaises de l est, cite a l’Ordre de l’Armee: “Le 5eme Regiment de Marine Americain, sous les ordres du Colonel Logan Feland: "A pris une part glorieuse aux operations engagees par la 4eme Armee en Champagne, en Octobre 1918. Le 3 Octobre 1918, a participe a 1’attaque des positions allemandes fortement retranchees entre le Blanc-Mont et»la Ferme Medeah, et. poussant de l’avant jusqu’aux abords de Saint-Etienne a Arnes, a realise une avance de 6 kilometres. A fait plusieurs milliers de prisonniers, capture des canons, des mitrailleuses et un important materiel de guerre. Cette attaque, combinee avec celle des Divisions Francaises, a eu pour consequence l’evacuation des deux rives de la Suippe et du Massif de Notre-Dame-des-Champs.” Au Grand Quartier General, le 21 Mars 1919. Le Marechal, Commandant en Chef des Armees Francaises de 1’Est. Signe: PETAIN (Ordre No. 14.712 “D.”) On October 10, 1918, having been relieved from the line in the Blanc Mont sector, the brigade took station in the Suippes- Somme Suippes-Nantivet area and the adjacent camps with headquarters at Suippes, being assigned as Fourth French Army reserve. The brigade remained in this area resting and refitting until October 14, 1918, when, in accordance with orders, it marched to the Vadenay-Bouy-la-Veuve-Dampierre area, north of Chalons-sur-Marne, with headquarters at Bouy. While here orders were received placing the Fourth Brigade provisionally at the disposal of the Ninth French Army Corps to hold a sector in the region Attigny-Voncq-Aisne River. Accordingly on October 20, 1918, the brigade was temporarily detached from the Second Division and marched to- the' area Suippes-Nantivet-Somme-Suippes, with headquarters at Suippes. On October 21, 1918, in obedience to orders, the Marines hiked to the vicinity of Leffincourt, where brigade headquarters was established. While about to take over the assigned sector, the Fourth Brigade received orders to reioin the Second Division, which was preparing to enter the Meuse-Argonne offensive. After a hard march these orders were obeyed and brigade head- quarters established at Mont Pelier on October 23, 1918. 296 BLANC MONT RIDGE "The Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge was fought and won bv the Second Division, as a unit of the Fourth French Army, between Oct. 3 and 9. 1918, over the desolate, white, chalky ground of the Champagne, which was scarred and shell pocked bv years of artillery fire, marked by huge mine craters, gridironed with an intricate maze of deep trenches and concrete fortifica- tions. and covered with tangled masses of wire." Maj. Edwin N. McClellan. U. S. M. C. The Second Division conquered the complicated defense works on their front against a persistent defense worthy of the grimmest period of trench warfare and attacked the strongly held wooded hill of Blanc Mont which they captured in a second assault, sweeping over it with consummate dash and skill This division then repulsed strong counter-attacks before the village and cemetery of St. Etienne and took the town, forcing the Germans to fall back from before Rheims and yield positions they had held since September. 1914." First Report of General John | Pershing to Secretary of War In a General Order, dated Oct. II. 1918. Mai. Gen. Lejeune. Commanding General Second Division wrote TO BE ABLE TO SAY. WHEN THIS WAR IS FINISHED. I BELONGED TO THE SECOND DIVISION: I FOUGHT WITH IT AT THE BATTLF OF BLANC MONT RIDGF WILL BE THE HIGHEST HONOR THAT CAN COME TO ANY MAN " ' 297 Look-out used for four years by Germans on top of Blanc Mont Ridge and commanding view of the entire surrounding country. Graves of 13 Marines killed in the fighting near St. Etienne Navarin Farm — that was — in the Champagne. Church at Somme-Py in the Champagne. 298 THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE In Final Phase of America’s Greatest Battle, Second Division Destroys Last Stronghold on Hindenburg Line, Capturing the Freya Stellung and Advancing 9 Kilometres on First Day. “Results Must Be Attributed to Great Dash and Speed of Troops and to Irresistible Force with Which They Struck and Overcame Enemy.” The Night March to Beaumont. Under Terrific Fire Marines Span the Meuse and Win Heights of Right Bank. “This Feat will Stand Among Most Memorable of Campaign.” BY MAJOR EDWIN N. McCLELLAN, U. S. M. C. O N October 25, 1918, the brigade moved to the Les Islettes area with brigade headquarters at Camp Cabaud. On the evening of October 26, 1918, it arrived in the area south of Excrmont and bivouacked in the woods there that night with brigade headquarters at Exermont. The brigade remained in b vouac in this area until the night of October 30-31, 1918, when it moved forward into line to participate in the immense Mcusc-Argonne offensive which had started on September 26, 1918, the Second Division being assigned as a unit of the Fifth Corps. Relieving elements of the Forty-Second Division, just south of Landres-et-St. Georges, the Marine Brigade, early on the morning of November I, 1918, jumped-off, following a terrific barrage, for its final operation of the war, the conclusion of which at I 1 o’clock on the morning of November II, 1918. found the Marifies firmly established on the heights of the far bank of the Meuse River, after an advance of 30 kilometres. The splendid work of the Second Division, including the Marines, is described in official reports, and excerpts from some are given below. In recommending that the Second Division be cited in General Headquarters Orders for its excellent work in the attack of November 1-11, 1918, the commanding general. First Army, wrote on January 16, 1919, in part, as follows: 4. In the First Army attack of November I, 1918. the Second Division was selected and so placed in the battle line that its known ability might be used to overcome the critical part of the enemy’s defense. The salient feature of the plan of attack was to drive a wedge through Landres-et-St. Georges to the vicinity of Fosse. It was realized that if the foregoing could be accom- plished the backbone of the hostile resistance west of the Meuse would be broken and the enemy would have to retreat to the east of the Meuse. Success in this plan would immediately loosen the flanks of the First Army. The Second Division was selected to carry out this main blow. 5. The Second Division accomplished the results desired in every particular on the first day of the attack, not only clearing the hostile defenses of Landres- et-St. Georges and the Bois de Hazios but continuing its advance to the vi- cinity of Fosse, i. e., about 9 kilometres. This decisive blew broke the enemy’s defense and opened the way for the rapid advance of the Army. With reference to the first day’s attack, the commanding general. Fifth Army Corps, wrote officially on November 2, 1918, in part as follows: The division’s brilliant advance of more than 9 kilometres, destroying the last stronghold on the Hindenburg Line, capturing the Freya Stellung. and going more than 9 kilometres against not only the permanent but the relieving forces in their front, may justly be regarded as one of the most remarkable achievements made by any troops in this war. For the first time, perhaps, in our experience the losses inflicted by your division upon the enemy in the offensive greatly exceeded the casualties of the division. The reports indicate moreover that in a single day the division has captured more artillery and machine guns than usually falls to the lot of a command during several days of hard fighting. These results must be attributed to the great dash and speed of the troops, and to the irresistible force with which they struck and overcame the enemy. The following citation in Fifth Army Corps General Orders No. 26, dated November 20, 1918, gives a further description of these operations: The Second Division, in line at the launching of the attack, broke through the strong enemy resistance, and. leading the advance, drove forward in a fast and determined pursuit of the enemy, who. despite new divisions hastily thrown in. was driven back everywhere on its front. This division drove the enemy across the Meuse, and under heavy fire and against stubborn resistance, built bridges and established itself on the heights. The cessation of hostilities found this division holding strong positions across the Meuse and ready for a continuation of the advance. An order of the Second Division, dated November 5, 1918, reading in part as follows, tells what occurred subsequent to the first day’s attack: During the night of November 2-3 the Second Division moved forward overcoming the resistance of the enemy’s advanced elements, and at 6 a. m it attacked and seized the enemy’s line of defense on the ridge southeast of Vaux-en-Dieulet. Late in the afternoon, the enemy, having reorganized his line on the border of Belval Forest, was again attacked and defeated. After nightfall and in a heavy rain, the advanced elements of the division pressed forward through the forest, and occupied a position on the heights south of Beaumont, 8 kilometres in advance of the divisions on our right and left. During the night of November 4-5, the division again pressed forward, occupied Beaumont and Letanne and threw the enemy on its front across the Meuse. An order of the Second Division, dated November 12, 1918, describing the historic crossing of the Meuse River on the night before the armistice became operative, reads as follows: 1. On the night of November 10. heroic deeds were done by heroic men. In the face of a heavy artillery and withering machine gun fire, the Second Engineers threw two foot bridges across the Meuse and the first and second battalions of the Fifth Marines crossed resolutely and unflinchingly to the east bank and carried out their mission. 2. In the last battle of the war, as in all others in which this division has participated, it enforced its will on the enemy. The commanding general of the Fifth Army Corps has this to say about the crossing of the Meuse by the Marines, who were assisted by the Artillery, Engineers, and other troops of the Second Division: Especially I desire to commend the division for the crowning feat of its advance in crossing the Meuse River in face of heavy concentrated enemy machine gun fire, in driving the enemy’s troops before it. and in firmly estab- lishing itself upon the heights covering the desired bridgehead. This feat will stand among the most memorable of the campaign. With reference to the crossing of the Meuse River the Ameri- can commander in chief reported as follows: On the night of November 10. the Fifth Corps forced a crossing of the Meuse against heavy enemy resistance between Mouzon and Pouilly, and advanced to the Inor-Mouzon road with two battalions holding the high ground northwest of I nor. The general success achieved by the Second Division in the Argonne-Meuse offensive is well described by the words of the order citing Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, of the Marines, for an Army distinguished service medal, reading in part as follows: In the Meuse-Argonne offensive his division was directed with such sound military judgment and ability that it broke and held, by the vigor and rapidity of execution of its attack, enemy lines which had hitherto been considered impregnable. 299 During this fighting the headquarters of the Fourth Brigade was successively established at Exermont, one-half kilometre north o Exermont, Sommerance, Bayonville-et-Chennery, Fosse, Belval-Bois-des-Dames, and Beaumont. The following self-explanatory memorandum was sent out by the Commanding General of the Fourth Brigade: Headquarters 4th Brigade, Marines. American E. F., I Ith November ’18 — 8:40 a. m. Peace Memorandum No. I. The following telephone message received from Surprise 1 at 8:35 a. m. this morning forwarded for compliance. 8:40 a. m. message from 5th Corps; Armistice signed and takes effect at I I this morning. Accurate map showing locations of front line elements, in- cluding patrols and detachments, will be sent to these Headquarters without delay. On “ the eleventh hour, the eleventh day of the eleventh month, of the year 1918,” Brig. Gen. Wendell C. Neville, com- manding general of the Fourth Brigade of Marines, published the following tribute to the officers and men of the Fourth Brigade: Upon this, the most momentous hour in the history of the World War. the undersigned wishes to express to his command his sincere appreciation of their unfailing devotion to duty and their heroic and courageous action during the recent operations. The time, when the results of our efforts during the past year are shown, is here. The hour has arrived when the convulsion which has shaken the foundations of the civilized world has ceased. The enemy is defeated and the principles of freedom and democracy have triumphed over barbarism and autocracy. We may all feel justly proud of the extent of our participation which has forced the enemy to a ceassation of hostilities. It is fitting, at this time, to think of those of our comrades who have fallen on the field of honor and rejoice in the fact that t,hey did not give their lives in vain. Your display of fortitude, determination, courage, and your ability to fight has upon more than one occasion been a determining factor in making history, and your work has had a direct bearing upon the remarkable chain of events which have this day culminated in such a satisfactory manner. Along the fronts of Verdun, the Marne, the Aisne, Lorraine, Champagne, and the Ar- gonne, the units of the Fourth Brigade Marines have fought valiantly, bravely, and decisively. They have nobly sustained the sacred traditions, and have added glorious pages to the already illustrious history of the United States Marine Corps. It is a record of which you may all be proud. I Vertical panorama of Landres-et-St. Georges. The Second Division cleared the hostile defenses of Landres-et-St. Georges. Nov. 1 . continuing its advance to Fosse. It proceeded 9 kilometres altogether on that day. "This decisive blow,” wrote the Commanding General. First Army, "broke the enemy’s defense and opened the way for the rapid advance of the Army.” 2 — On the evening of Oct. 26. 1918. the Fourth Brigade of Marines arrived in the area south of Exermont and bivouacked in the woods there that night with brigade headquarters at Exermont. The photograph shows German prisoners at Exermont guarded by 2d Div. Military Police. 3 — Ambu- lances of 2d Div at Beaumont. 301 THE NIGHT MARCH TO BEAUMONT T I IE Second Division on the left of the 89th accomplished one of the most remarkable feats of the war. On the night of November 3d. after the Marine Brigade had broken through the enemy’s positions, the 9th and 23d Inf. regiments composing the Third Brigade, commanded by Col. James C. Rhea, were formed in column on the road leading north to Beaumont. The 9th Infantry led the column with the usual advance guard and flank patrols. Beyond this protection there was nothing to prevent the entire brigade from being cut off. It marched all night long straight through the enemy lines for a distance of about eight kilometres, through the Bois de Relval. the Bois du Four and the Bois du Fort Gerache. The enemy was taken completely by surprise. A few machine guns opened up on the column but they were soon silenced by details sent out for this purpose. Other machine gunners were found asleep at their guns and captured. Many details of enemy troops passing up and down the road were captured and sent to the rear while at La Tuilerie Farm the advance guards found the place occupied by German officers sitting around tables with lights burning. They w$re thrown into dismay by the appearance of American troops who they thought were many many kilometres to the south. The German artillery in the meantime on both sides of the road continued firing to the rear but the advancing infantry paid no attention to it. This rapid advance of the 9th and 23d Inf. succeeded so well that the troops on both flanks which had been help up were able to move forward. The line was completely broken through and the enemy soon was everywhere in rapid retreat. -Cap/. Arthur E. Hartzcll. The daring feat described by Capt. Hartzell recalls the extraordinary heroism of Col. Rhea near St. Etienne when he was Chief of Staff of the 2d Div. To quote his citation for the D. S. C.: “On Oct. 9. 1918, Col. Rhea, with Lieut. LePelletier de Woillemont, French Army, voluntarily undertook an important reconnaissance under hazardous circumstances during the Massif Blanc Mont operations at a time when accurate information concern- ing our advanced positions was greatly needed and could not be obtained from other sources. In an automobile, whose conspicuous appearance drew the concentrated fire of enemy artillery and machine guns, they proceeded one mile across open ground to the town of St. Etienne, where our troops were in contact with the enemy. Under fire these two officers reconnoitered the front lines, locating the position of the enemy as well as that of the French units on the flank, and returned across the open with complete, reliable, and timely information of the highest military value in subsequent operations.” The picture shows Col. James C. Rhea (center) who commanded the Third Brigade. Second Division, on its night march to Beaumont in the last phase of the Meuse- Argonne operations. Co!. Rhea had bcen'Chief of Staff of the Second Division. He is seen receiving the Croix de Guerre wiih palm at the hands of Lt. Gen. Rcquichot of the F-rench Army at Tours, Feb. 19. 1919. At the right is First Lieutenant Morgan R. Mills. U. S. M. C.. who was also decorated with the Croix de Guerre with palm. He "controlled two platoons at a critical moment and l>eat back a determined enemy counter- attack on night of June 2. 1918." Sgt. P. G. Knowles, U. S. M. C.. received the C roix de Guerre with star on this occasion. His citation was for courage in driving an automobile under heavy shell fire at Belleau Wood. Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord was present at the bestowal of the decorations. Letanne from Ferme de la Wame. During the night of Nov. 4-5, the Second Division pressed forward, occupied Beaumont and Letanne and threw the enemy on its front across the Meuse. 303 lop— Point near Leta„ne at which the Marine, created the Meuac. Plana had been made to effect a crcaa.ng ol the Meuse with the view ot commana.ng me ne.gn., on tne eaar »» h, ■German, darkness had set in Nov 10 two bridges were to be thrown across the river by the Second Engmeers. one north of Mouzon and the other near Letanne. At the first intonation of a cross, ng the eerimin, laid dcvfn a vitdent counter artillery and machine gun barrage along the entire nver front. Thei, fire immediately blotto! out all attempts to throw bridge, across the river »“* «mng!h continued efforts were made by the Engineers throughout the night, the bridges could not be placed ,n position. The Letanne force was more fortunate, as the d,d until preparations were nearly completed. In spite of the heavy fire two battalions of the 5 th Regt. of Marines crossed the river by I 1 :30p. m. and advanc J d ,nt ° thJdiTilhts ^mmandlmj outposts en route. Here they met with strong resistance and were forced to wait until daylight in order to continue By 10 o clock on the morning of Nov. I I the objective the ^ e 'S h \ s ^ om ^ and , ^ the valley of the Meuse, had been reached and the Marines were digging in. The Armistice went into effect at I I o clock. Bottom— The Meuse at Mouzon viewed from the American side. Here the town was divided, the Americans occupying this side and the Germans the other. 304 In March. 1918, the Marine Hying field, Miami. Fla:, was established and on La. On July 13, the first Marine aviation force, consisting of Squad at N , eVV r X°|; k S ty for ^"ce, J u| y , 18 - l918 ' Thi , s organization consisted of 1 07 officers and 654 enlisted men and. when Squad sisted of 140 officers and 842 enlisted men. The photograph to the left is an oblique air view of the Marine flying field at Miami right depict scenes at Miami flying field March l918 ’ theFirst Aviation Squadron was transferred to that field from Lake Charles, rons A. B, C and Headquarters Company, left Miami and embarked on board the “De Kalb ron D joined in October, 1918, it con Fla. The three photographs at the 305 2d Lt. Walter S. Poague, U. S. M. C. aviator, killed at Azores. Nov. 5. 1918. 2d Lt. Ralph Talbot. U. S. M. C.. Navy Medal of Honor Aviator, killed in France, Oct. 4, 1918. while fighting off twelve enemy planes. His observer. Gunnery Sergeant R. G. Robinson, was also awarded Navy M. H 2d Lt. Harvey C. Norman. U. S. M. C. aviator, shot down in action near Bruges Canal. Belgium Oct. 22. 1918 306 T Marine Corps flight returning to Le Fresnes, France, from bombing raid to Zeebrugge. Besides 14 independent raids. Marine Corps aviators participated in 43 raids with the French and British. The total number of bombs dropped by Marine flyers was 32.000. 2 — Capt. Robert Lytle, U. S. M. C., awarded Distinguished Service Medal for air work in France. 3— Marine Corps airdrome at Le Fresnes, France. 4 — Mess hall of Marine Corps aviators at Bois-en-Ardres, France. 307 On Nov. 17, 1918, the 2d Div. commenced its march to the Rhine, passing through Belgium and Luxembourg. The photographs show the Fifth and Sixth Regi- ments of Marines. Second Division, passing through Madernach, Luxembourg, Nov. 23. 1918. The German frontier was reached Nov. 25. 1918, and was crossed Dec. I. 1918. The Marines reached the Rhine, Dec. 10, 1918, and crossed it Dec, 13, 1918. A Rhine river patrol having been established by the Army of Occupation, it was manned and commanded by Marines, fortress of Ehrenbreitstein occupied by the 17th F. A., 2d Div. Machine guns were mounted on all patrol boats. In the picture on the left may be seen the 308 I Prince of Wied s Palace. Neu Wied. 2 — Col. H. C. Snyder and Lt Col E. H. Ellis of 5th Marines leaving Prince of Wied s Palace. 3 — Brig. Gen. Logan Feland at Neu Wied. 4 — Privates W. Thoming and E. M. Smeltz, 6th Marines on watch on the Rhine at Leutesdorf, Germany. Jan 9. 1919. 5 — Maj. Gen. Lejeune and staff at I Ieddesdorf. Germany. Dec. 22, 1918. 6 -Men of the 6th Marines on guard on the Rhine at Leutesdorf, Germany. Jan. 9, 1919. 7 — Maj. Gen. Lejeune and Mrs Josephus Daniels at Coblenz. 8 - A Marine pilot on the Rhine 9 A Second Division soldier on guard at the Castle of Altwied, Feb. 13. 1918. General Pershing (conversing with Maj. Gen. Lejeune) visited the 2nd Div., Dec. 22, 1918. Photographed at Hed desdorf. Gen. Pershing is introduced to officers of the 2nd Div. at Heddesdorf by Maj. Gen. Lejeune. Maj. Gen. Lejeune decorating Pvt. E. C. McCormack of the Fourth Brigade of Marines at Leutesdorf, Jan. 4, 1919. Brig. Gen. Neville decorating Maj. Gen. Lejeune with the Croix de Guerre at Leutesdorf, Jan. 4. 1919. Brig. Gen. W. C. Neville reviewing 5th Marines at Hausen, •many, Jan. 7, 1919. Trooping colors of the 5th Marines after they were decorated by Brig. Gen. Neville. Hausen, Germany, Jan. 7, 1919. Brig. Gen. Neville decorating colors of 6th Marines at Hausen, Germany. The Second Division Horse Show 31 For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action, the Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded to five members of the United States Marine Corps. The citations of three are as follows, the others appearing elsewhere: SERGEANT MATEJ KOCAK. U. S M C. Deceased. Company C. 5th Regiment. U. S. M C. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Soissons, France, July 18. 1918. When the advance of his battalion was checked by a hidden machine gun nest, he went forward alone, unprotected by covering fire from his own men and worked in between the German posi- tions in the face of fire from an enemy covering detachment. Locating the machine gun nest, he rushed it. and with his bayonet drove off the crew. Shortly after this, he organized 25 French colonial soldiers, who had become separated from their command and led them in attacking another machine gun which was also put out of action FIRST LIEUTENANT LOUIS CUKELA, U. S. M. C. Fifth Regiment, U. S. M. C. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Villers-Cotterets, France. July 18. 1918. When his company, advancing through a wood, met with strong resistance from an enemy strong point. Lieut. Cukela (then a sergeant) crawled out from the Hank and made his way toward the German lines in the face of heavy fire, disre- garding the warnings of his comrades. He suc- ceeded in getting behind the enemy position and rushed a machine gun emplacement, killing or driving off the crew with his bayonet. With German hand grenades he then bombed out the remaining portion of the strong point, capturing four men and two damaged machine guns CORPORAL. JOHN H. PRUITT. U. S. M. C Deceased. 78th Company, 6th Regiment. U. S. M. C. For conspicuous gallantry and intrep- idity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France. October 3. 1918. Corp. Pruitt, single- handed. attacked two machine guns, capturing them and killing two of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dug-out nearby. This gallant soldier was killed soon afterward by shell fire while he was sniping at the enemy. 312 !, , Joh " K ,' n , y ,- 78,h Company bixth Regiment of Marines, receive, ihe Congressional Medal ol Honor at the hands ol the Commander in Chief. American Expeditionary Forces This was one ol .he most remarkable scenes witnessed in the Army of Occupation, for he, e was a private soldier being decorated with ,he most precious token it is possible to bestow u^n an American fighting m^n whi', awaiting their turn to receive a junior medal, were the Commanding General of the Army ol Occupation, Ma,. Gen. J. T. Dickm.n; Maj. Cen. C. H. Muir. Fourth Corps. M.j. Gen. W. C IfLl S^nlh Cor,,, and Ma,. Gen J L. Hmes. Thud Corps. Cen. Hines ,s not visible. Private Kelly s cita.ion or the Medal of Honor was: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the cab ol duty in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge. France. October i. 1918 Private Kelly ran through our own barrage 100 yards ,n advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machine gun ; the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returned through the barrage with eight prisoners.” It is belit J * L - l - * ^ - . ? n > also received the Medal of Honor. . killing I been decorated is Lt. Louis Cukela cd that the Marine Corps officer who ha The Secretary of the Navy reviewed the Second Division at Vallendar, Germany, in April, 1919, and later addressed its members. Maj. Gen. Lejeune may be seen on the platform at the left. Photo by Schutz, Washington, D. C. On Aug. 12, 1919, the Fourth Brigade of Marines was reviewed by the President of the United States in a parade at Washington, D. C. Brig. Wendell C. Neville was in command. The parade started from the Peace Monument and proceeded up Pennsylvania Avenue, past the White House. InUTnational Film Conijstny THE, CONQUERORS. The Fourth Brigade presented a magnificent spectacle as it marched up Pennsylvania Avenue which, on other historic occasions, had resounded with the tread of victorious armies. The roadway is strewn with flowers. 318 ^ ^ SCHLELSW I G- HOLSTEIN BATTALION With the return to the United States of the Fourth and Fifth Brigades. U. S. M. C., and the Composite Regi- ment. all Marines were out of Europe except the Fifteenth Separate Battalion. Maj. Charles F. B. Price commanding, which was retained for duty in France for possible - operations in connect on with the Schleswig-Holstein plebescite. The battalion rendered honors to General Pershing upon his departure from France Sept. I 1919, and on the same day it was inspected by Marshal Foch who commended the organization on its splendid appearance. On Dec. 30. 1919, the battalion arrived at Quan- tico. Va “Our flag's unfurled to every breeze From dawn to setting sun; We have fought in every clime or place Where we could take a gun; In the snow of far-off Northern lands And in sunny tropic scenes. You will find us alwavs on the job — THE UNITED STATES MARINES. United States Marines aboard the U. S. S. “Texas.” Inset: Col. John T. Myers. Atlantic Fleet Marine Officer and Aide to Admiral Henry T. Mayo. Commander-in- Chief. Atlantic Fleet. / i„>cr„ai,Zrii™ Ct,„,a»y 320 A cknowledgment For invaluable aid and co-operation in the compilation of this book grateful acknowledgment is made to — Mr. Edwin Denby, Secretary of the Navy. Rear Admiral William S. Sims. U. S. N. Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune, U. S. IV! . C. Captain Joseph K. Taussig. (J. S. N. Captain W. D. MacDougall, U. S. N. Commander H. D. Cooke, U. S. N. Major Edwin N. McClellan, U. S. M. C Lieutenant Commander Henry Reuterdahl, U. S. N. The painting reproduced on the cover of the volume is from the brush of Lieutenant Commander Henry Reuterdahl. The Authors. ERRATA Page 47 — In first line of caption after "Thirty-six Baldwin” the word "locomotives” should be inserted. Page 133 — In last line of caption after the words "He replied, ‘Boat No. 4’ ” read "The man in the boat rejoined” instead of "He replied.” Page 165 — In last line of caption read ‘.‘officer” instead of "officers.” Page 196 — The photograph is that of the Chapel and not Bancroft Hall. In the edifice are buried the remains of John Paul Jones. Page 198 — In the upper right hand picture the men are midshipmen and not reserves. Page 204 — Insert “Admiral” before "Henry T. Mayo.”