On April 6, 1917, Congress declared “that a state of war exists between the United States and the Imperial German Government” and one and one-half months later, on May 22, 1917, temporarily increased the authorized strength to 1,197 commissioned officers, 126 warrant officers, and 30,000 enlisted men. Finally, the act of July 1, 1918, temporarily increased the Marine Corps to 3,017 commissioned officers, 324 warrant officers, and 75,500 enlisted men, which is the maximum strength ever authorized for the Marine Corps. Of this number 17,400 were permanent and 57,650 temporary. In addition to the above, the act of August 29, 1916, which established the Marine Corps Reserve, permits the enrollment of reserves without limit as to number, and on April 6, 1917, there were enrolled, subject to call to active duty, three Reserve commissioned officers, 24 National Naval Volunteer officers, 36 Reserve enlisted men, and 928 enlisted National Naval Volunteers. There were also available for recall to active duty 65 regular retired commissioned officers, one regular retired warrant officer, and 210 regular retired enlisted men. ACTUAL STRENGTH OF THE MARINE CORPS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE WAR. On April 6, 1917, the strength of the Marine Corps on active duty was as follows: Regular commissioned officers: Major General Commandant 1 Brigadier generals 7 Colonels 13 Lieutenant-colonels 27 Majors 59 Captains 119 First lieutenants 87 Second lieutenants 106 ------ Total regular officers 419 ====== Regular commissioned retired officers: On active duty 43 ====== Regular warrant officers: Marine gunners 20 Quartermaster clerks 20 Pay clerks 9 ------ Total warrant officers 49 ====== Total regular officers 511 Total regular enlisted men 13,214 Total strength on active duty 13,725 On November 11, 1918, the strength of the Marine Corps on active duty was as follows: