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March 31, 1918 - Easter in midst of the war, and reporting the interview with Secretary Baker

Don Martin diary entry for Sunday, March 31, 1918, Easter: Easter and nothing but suggestions of war everywhere. American troops moving through Neufchateau in the rain and mud all day and most of the night. They are relieving the French in quiet sectors so the French can go up to help in the big fight. Indications are that the French have checked the advance of the Germans but the situation is still serious. It is all up to the French again. The British didn’t last. Gen. Foch, Frenchman, made commander in chief.
I stayed in Neufchateau all day. Wrote some mail stuff – also letter to Dorothy. Sat around the club till 11 with Floyd Gibbons and some Hearst men.

Weather rainy except for two hours of sunshine.
          Don Martin was not permitted by General Pershing to write up the interview on March 30, so he wrote up and cabled an optimistic report of his interview with Secretary Baker. It was published in the New York Herald on Sunday, March 31, 1918.
TROOPS SPLENDID, SECRETARY BAKER TELLS THE HERALD
Greets Reporter at the Front as He Leaves Field Hospital
CAME UNDER FIRE IN FRONT TRENCHES
Germans Became Active as Soon as Secretary Arrived and Maintained Ceaseless Bombardment
By DON MARTIN
[Special Cable to the Herald]
AMERICAN FRONT in France, Tuesday (delayed)
     Covered with mud from the front line trenches and glowing with enthusiasm for the splendid examples of devotion and valor he had seen on the American front, Secretary Baker said to a reporter to the HERALD:--
     “I am glad to say to a paper of such wide influence both in Europe and America as the HERALD that I have continued my trip along the front with increasing interest. I find the boys from everywhere in splendid condition and splendid spirit.”
     The Secretary greeted the HERALD reporter as he left the hospital where he gave permission to a wounded American soldier to wear the Cross of War granted by the French government. The men under the officer touchingly thanked the Secretary for this tribute to the officer, whom they love and revere for his heroism.
On “Frontier of Freedom”
     Earlier in the day the Secretary uttered a phrase which thrilled the soldiers standing near by and which will live. He said as he surveyed the Boche front from the parapet of the front line trenches:--
     “I have been from factory and farm to the front line trenches. Now I am on the frontier of freedom.”
     A shell burst one hundred and twenty feet from the Secretary and caused excitement among the officers who had undertaken a safe conduct for the head of the War Department. But that did not worry Mr. Baker, who merely asked the size of the shell and whether anyone had been hurt.
Secretary Under Fire
     Other shells burst near by and the Germans became active as soon as the Secretary arrived at the front. They maintained ceaseless bombardment of the American batteries, so the Secretary was unable to see them at close range.
     The Secretary’s trip to the front trenches amazed the soldiers, none of whom knew of his approach. Many recognized him and many did not. One sentry demanded his pass, but condescended to overlook it when a general said the visitor was the Secretary of War.
     Mr. Baker wore a trench coat, helmet, gas mask and other paraphernalia and talked familiarly with men from a dozen States. He complimented them on their fine spirit in coming as far as five thousand mile3s from home to help win the war against the worst autocracy in the history of the world.
     In the trenches a soldier said he had the grip, and the Secretary asked:--“Have you got a grip on the Germans, too?” The soldier replied, “You bet we have.”
Shoot Better Than Germans
     The Secretary asked, “Can you shoot better than the Germans?” The reply of the soldier was, “We certainly can.”
     The spirit of the men overjoyed the Secretary. He is filled with pride at the bearing and determination of the men and at the achievement already to their credit. He is also gratified to find the boys from forty-eight States fighting with vim and fire shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers of France and Britain.
National Archives Photo No. 165-WW-439A-42 4/11/1918

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