Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/10

Rh Quantico rifle range had begun and was completed toward the middle of October. This afforded ample opportunity for practice firing over the regulation distances, not only with rifles but with the Lewis gun also. Companies and platoons learned the modern combat formations as specified in confidential pamphlets issued by the War Department, and in the British and French manuals. Drills were held in these formations and instructions given in their tactical uses. Companies and platoons attacked the model trench system, which had been finally completed, in the new wave formation, while small detachments were instructed in the art of mopping-up the trenches after the attacking wave had passed over. On one occasion the 3rd Battalion attacked the trenches, using live ammunition. The attack order was issued and zero hour specified; the attacking waves went over the top with others in close support. The crack of the rifles and the sputter of machine guns afforded an idea, somewhat vague, of the conditions of battle which were to be met in France. Vague, because there was no friendly artillery to help nor hostile artillery to hinder the advance upon the assigned objective.

On the morning of October 24th, 1917, the 3rd Battalion, having received orders the day before, entrained for League Island, Philadelphia. As the two long trains bearing this the 3rd contingent of the 6th Regiment to say good-bye to its birth place, Quantico, Virginia, pulled out of the station, the entire 2nd Battalion in line along the platform of the depot warehouse presented arms and the post band played the Star Spanned Banner. The battalion reached the Navy Yard, League Island, at six o'clock P.M. and boarded the U.S.S. Von Steuben which was anchored out in the Delaware River. Officers and men awoke on the morning of the 25th to find the ship steaming down the river. On the following morning the Von Steuben dropped anchor in New York harbor and remained there for five days. Absolute secrecy was maintained as to the time set for departure and destination. No one could go ashore. The remaining ships of the convey, three transports, one armoured cruiser, the North Carolina, and two destroyers gathered, and on the night of October 31, 1917, the convoy began its journey to France. All went well until the evening of November 9th, when due to a misunderstanding of orders the Agamemnon and the Van Steuben collided in mid-ocean. A large hole was torn in the bow of the Von Steuben. This occurred in the edge of the submarine zone and the ships of the convey were ordered to separate and meet the following day. At noon November 10 the Von Steuben took her place in line, temporarily repaired, and was able to make a speed of fifteen knots. Later in the day ten destroyers from the American fleet in European waters joined the convey and the North Carolina turned back for the United States. The journey through the submarine zone was without further incident. Early on November 12th the hills of Bretony were sighted and at noon the convey anchored in the Harbor at Brest, France.