Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/8

Rh training to produce the co-ordination and efficiency which formed the basis of the morale and fighting stamina later displayed in battle.

By September 1st the training was well under way. The month of August had been in a general way the period of organization. Regular drills and exercises were held by each company after it had been completely organized; battalion parades were undertaken but it was not until the end of the month that each battalion had its full quota of companies and each company its full quota of officers. A regular routine of training was carried out, including close and extended order drill and the manual of arms, which were intended to develop self-confidence in the men and precision in each separate unit The men were given actual instruction in constructing trenches of various types and erecting barbed wire entanglements. Each battalion had one day's trench construction out of three. The other two days were used for drills and for instruction in throwing hand grenades and the latest bayonet exercises. Practice marches and simple maneuvers were held. The rolling, woody country around Quantico was ideal for these maneuvers. On September 5th the Preparedness Parade was held in Washington, D. C., in which this regiment was represented. President Wilson reviewed this parade. In the meantime light machine guns of the Lewis type had been issued and instruction was given daily in their operation by Major Edward B. Cole and his assistants. A temporary range was constructed for this purpose and practical demonstrations were made. Each infantry platoon was equipped with two of these Lewis guns.

Early on the morning of Sunday, September 16, 1917, the entire 1st Battalion, under Major John A. Hughes, left Quantico by train for League Island, Philadelphia, where it was to board a transport for France. The day was dark and it was raining as the men climbed aboard the two long trains. The post band played and as the cars drew away from the station the departing men were given rousing cheers by the members of their regiment who were being left behind. On the night of the 16th the battalion embarked on the U. S. S. Henderson and on the following morning the transport got under way for New York. It arrived there on the morning of September 18, where it remains for five days, and put to sea at 10:30 P. M. September 23rd. The trip across the Atlantic was uneventful, the men, the majority of whom had never been out of sight of land before, soon accustomed themselves to the new life and routine aboard ship. Experienced men were assigned to man the two batteries of four 5-inch guns each. The entire guard and all submarine lookouts and watches were furnished by the battalion. Officers of the battalion were assigned to duty as spotters and battery officers. In fact the only work left to the sailors was scrubbing the deck and running the engine. Drill call