On behalf of Secretary Daniels, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the officers and men of that organization, I wish to thank you for the sentiments expressed in your letter and convey to you our appreciation of the heroism of the officers and men of the Army who with the Marines made the Second Division one of the greatest fighting organizations the world has ever known. It is very gratifying in our pride over the achievements of the Marines, to know that that pride is shared by the War Department and your warm approbation of their conduct as a part of the Army will be treasured by the Corps as well as by the individuals. Sincerely, yours, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, _Acting Secretary of the Navy_. Chapter XXV. OFFICE OF THE MAJOR GENERAL COMMANDANT—ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR’S DEPARTMENT. Maj. Gen. Commandant George Barnett was the Major General Commandant of the United States Marine Corps during the entire period of the World War. Originally appointed on February 25, 1914, he was reappointed on February 25, 1918, for a second term of four years. On September 29, 1918, Maj. Gen. Commandant George Barnett, accompanied by Brig. Gen. Charles L. McCawley, sailed from New York on board the _Leviathan_, arriving at Brest, France, October 7, 1918. The object of the visit of the Major General Commandant to France was an inspection of all the Marines serving with the American Expeditionary Forces, but he fell a victim to the influenza epidemic which prevented him from carrying out his plans. He departed from Paris, December 7, 1918, sailed from Brest, December 9, 1918, on board the _Leviathan_, and arrived in the United States, December 16, 1918. Brig. Gen. John A. Lejeune was the Assistant to the Major General Commandant from December 14, 1914 to September 26, 1917, when he was transferred to Quantico, Va., to command the Marine barracks. Brig. Gen. Charles G. Long relieved Brig. Gen. Lejeune and has acted as Assistant to the Major General Commandant from that date to the present. Activities directly under the office of the Major General Commandant such as personnel, target practice, and aviation, were carried on efficiently during the war. The Planning Section was established on December 24, 1918. Brig. Gen. Charles H. Lauchheimer was the Adjutant and Inspector of the United States Marine Corps, with station at Headquarters, during the World War. He became seriously ill, was admitted to the hospital on July 10, 1919, where he died on January 14, 1920. Col. Henry C. Haines assumed the duties of Acting Adjutant and Inspector on August 3, 1919, and upon the death of Brigadier General Lauchheimer was appointed the Adjutant and Inspector. A great amount of additional work was caused by the large increases and by the war, but the personnel of the Adjutant and Inspector’s Department performed their duties with efficient satisfaction. Chapter XXVI.