January 15, 1918 - Worst weather Don Martin ever saw

Don Martin diary entry for Tuesday, January 15, 1918: Called on Mr. Blumenfeld, owner of the London Express and presented letter from Mr. Bennett. Blumenfeld was very pleasant. We visited for an hour and he assured me he will be very glad to do everything he can for me. Visited Col. [John] Buchan [Director of Information] with the other correspondents. He says America will not have much of a fighting force before the latter part of the year and that he thinks the English and French can hold the line till U.S. is ready. Looks to me like studied pessimism. Dinner at Simpson’s again. Rained all day. The very worst day I ever saw. Dictated to Baird a couple of stories for N.Y. and letters to London hotels about news we ought to get from them.

Rain – rain – rain – Not cold though.

Don Martin handwrote a short note to Dorothy that night, including news about James Gordon Bennett and the Herald London office.

... I have had several letters from Mr. Bennett and he wants me to reorganize the London bureau from top to bottom. It needs it too. So I guess the old Commodore is not so crazy as most people think. Everyone does things in an old fashioned way in London and I have rather startled the old fogies in the office here by the programme I have outlined to them.

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