Skip to main content

February 13, 1918 - Visit to Stratford-on-Avon and a song about America


Don Martin diary entry for Wednesday, February 13, 1918: 
Visited Shakespeare’s birthplace

Saw the place I have always wanted to see – Shakespeare’s birthplace etc. at Stratford on Avon. Spent two hours in the old house which looks older than I thought. The old lady, Mary Rose, who tells tourists all about it seemed to be determined to convince us that Shakespeare really lived there, although I had taken it for granted. Saw the church where he is buried and everything else to be seen in the beautiful old town. 
William Shakespeare's Birthplace
Bought serving spoon for Mother and a pin for Dorothy. Also addressed about 30 postal cards. Altogether it was the most interesting day I have ever had. Left at 10:30 with Judd Welliver and got back at 11:15 p.m. Went to office for an hour. Then to hotel. Had pleasant weather. Was amused at fact that everyone spotted Judd and me for Americans. Practically no one visits Stratford now with the war on.
Pleasant day.

    In that hour at the office, Don Martin wrote about the increasing appreciation for America following Wilson’s Fourteen Points speech. It was published in the New York Herald on Thursday, February 14, 1918.
‘GOODBY, RUSSIA; HELLO, AMERICA,’ IS LONDON’S SONG
Wilson Address Puts United States in Ascendancy in England
[Special Despatch to the Herald via Commercial Cable Company’s System]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Wednesday
     America is in the ascendancy throughout England, and following the ringing cheers with which President Wilson’s reply to Count von Hertling and Count Czernin was greeted in the House of Commons yesterday this is America’s day in London.
     “Goodby, Russia, Hello, America,” is being sung by crowds as the people realize now, more than ever before, the existence of democracy and of civilization itself depends upon the power which the United States exerts in the war.
     All London, forgetting the perfidy and treachery of the Russians, is commenting to-day on the splendid demonstration in the House of Commons which greeted the display of America’s spirit, idealism and might as again exemplified in President Wilson’s speech.
     Although Premier Lloyd George said the situation is more menacing than ever, that Germany has built a gigantic railroad system back of its lines to enable it to strike a blow with unprecedented force anywhere, the Allies are prepared, and the Teuton attitude is as impossible to England as to President Wilson.
     Lord Curzon, government leader in the House of Lords, said in a debate to-day that the recent speeches by Count van Hertling and Count Czernin were a collusive performance intended to drive a wedge between the Allies rather than to effect peace.

    “The most critical times that have ever confronted this country are before us,” said Lord Curzon, “but I do not think the position is at all dangerous, and our military advisers do not think it is. At the same time, we will have to put every ounce of effort into the common cause. If we do that I am confidant we will win, and thus save civilization.”
     The German view of Wilson's Fourteen Points is shown by this medal by artist Karl Goetz, which lampoons President Wilson and his peace plan as Moses displaying the ten commandments.

Karl Goetz, America’s Peace Terms, 1918, Copper alloy (cast), Diam. 2-1/4 in., Collection of Dr. Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher.  "World War I and the Visual Arts"   The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Fall 2017 (link)
       A headline in the New York Herald on February 13, 1918 was:

BRITISH WILL CARRY AIR WAR TO GERMAN CITIES; LONDON BOMBED AGAIN

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 14, 1918: Don Martin’s funeral service in Paris

        A funeral service for Don Martin was held in Paris on Sunday, October 13, 1918, at the American Church, rue de Berri. The New York Herald published this report on Monday, October 14, 1918. MANY FRIENDS AT CHURCH SERVICE FOR DON MARTIN Simplicity and Sincerity of Character of “Herald” Writer, Theme of Dr. Goodrich’s Sermon                     Funeral services for Don Martin were held yesterday afternoon in the American Church in the rue de Berri. They were simple and impressive. Before the pulpit rested the coffin, over which was spread the American flag. Floral offerings were arranged around it. Flat against the wall behind the pulpit were two American flags and the tricolor, and on either side were standards of these two emblems. Uniforms of the United States army predominated in the gathering of 200 persons composed of friends Mr. Martin had known for years at home and friends he had made in France. The depth and beauty of character which drew these old and new
2 comments
Read more

Welcome to Don Martin blog on Armistice Centennial Day

Welcome to the World War I Centennial Don Martin daily blog, on Armistice Centennial day, November 11, 2018. Don Martin was a noted war correspondent reporting on the American Expeditionary Forces in France in 1918. Regrettably he died of Spanish influenza in Paris on October 7,1918, while covering the Argonne Forest offensive. He missed the joy of the Armistice by a month. Beginning on December 7, 2017, this blog has chronicled each day what Don Martin wrote one hundred years earlier – in his diary, in his letters home, and in his multitude of dispatches published in the Herald newspaper, both the New York and the European (Paris) editions. The blog, for the several days following his death, recounts the many tributes published, his funeral in Paris and his trip back to his final resting place at his home in Silver Creek, New York. To access the daily blogs, click on the three red lines at top right, then in the fold-down menu, click on Archive. There are 316 blogs from D
1 comment
Read more

October 17, 2018: Final Salute to Don Martin, Soldier of the Pen

          We have reached the end of the Don Martin World War I centennial memorial blog. Starting on December 7, 2017, this daily blog has chronicled, in 315 postings, the remarkable story of my grandfather’s contribution to the Great War.               This blog was possible because of the availability of my grandfather Don Martin’s diaries and his letters to my mother, and his published writings in the New York and Paris Herald.             We have followed him from leading political reporter of the New York Herald at the end of 1917, to head of its London office in January-March 1918, and then to France as accredited war correspondent covering the American Expeditionary Forces, based first in Neufchateau, then in Meaux, Nancy and finally for a few days in Bar le Duc. And then, his final return to his hometown in Silver Creek, New York. Don Martin has given us a full and insightful, if grim, picture of the Great War, as witnessed by the American war correspondents. We have seen
1 comment
Read more