------------------------------+---------+--------- Grade. | Jan. 1, | June 30, | 1917. | 1918. ------------------------------+---------+--------- Commissioned officers | 4 | 9 Warrant officers | .. | 12 Special assistant | .. | 1 Technical engineer | .. | 1 Clerical force: | | Civilians | 10 | 8 Enlisted (regular) | 43 | 53 Enrolled (reservists) | .. | 111 +---------+--------- Total | 57 | 195 ------------------------------+---------+--------- ADDITIONAL STOREHOUSES AND COOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. Due to changes in the method of purchasing rations, caused by existing conditions, it became necessary to establish commissary storehouses at San Francisco, Charleston, and Baltimore, at which to maintain reserve supply stores. The Baltimore storehouse was later moved to Philadelphia. At the beginning of the war the Marine Corps had in its depots at Philadelphia, Pa., and San Francisco, Calif., a small surplus stock, which had been accumulated from the regular appropriations, sufficient to outfit 8,500 men; consequently when the war was declared against Germany and the corps was increased, first to 1,323 officers and 30,000 men (act May 22, 1917), and secondly to 3,341 officers and 75,500 men (act July 1, 1918), it was necessary to provide simultaneously clothing, equipage, food, and shelter for these men. The question of shelter is discussed in the following pages. In connection with the purchase of these supplies it must be remembered that the Army, Navy, and Allies were in the market for similar articles, and in order to determine supply and allocate demands the President first appointed a Council of National Defense, which was later superseded by the War Industries Board. The quartermaster’s department had representatives in daily attendance at the various meetings of the committees of the Council of National Defense, and later the War Industries Board. All of the above-mentioned supplies, as far as practicable, were purchased in the usual manner, by the bid and tender plan, only those articles on which no bids were received or those controlled by the War Industries Board being allocated.