Don Martin diary entry for Wednesday, January 23, 1918:
Had breakfast in Lyon’s Corner House – scones, marmalade and coffee - 1 shilling [equivalent to $8 in Oct 2017]. Very good too. Then went to Fleet St. Dictated some letters to Baird, to Carson and Duchess of Marlborough relative to interviews. Walked down and back with Lingwood who pointed out the Rothschild’s bank. Also walked out on London Bridge. Went to hotel at 5:30 and wrote a 2 column story on my visit to Doris Keane the actress. Dinner at Simpson’s. Then went to Fleet St. Have my office looking pretty good. Got long, fine letter from Dorothy telling all about Christmas. She writes exactly the kind of letters I have always wanted to get.
Weather nice but rain at night
Don Martin posted eight articles dated January 23. The February 3 Sunday edition of the New York Herald dedicated a full page in Part Three of Section 1 to these articles, headlined “BUCKLING DOWN TO MEET THE ADVERTISED BIG SPRING DRIVE”. His diary doesn’t reflect all that writing that day, but the scope of the articles shows that Don Martin had fully established himself as reporter and commentator on the war situation as seen from London. Here is the main article.
BRITAIN SUBJECTING HERSELF TO INDUSTRIAL CONVULSION TO RAISE MEN TO DEFEAT GERMAN DRIVE
“Combing Out” of 450,000 Additional Recruits is Gigantic Task in View of Size of Army Already in Service—American Force Would Number 12,500,000 if This Nation Did as Much in Proportion
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
Great Britain is buckling down to bring victory out of a war which has tried her vitality more desperately than any contest of a century.
Her latest step is the combing out process to raise 450,000 new men for the army. She will soon have them. Her war lords say she must have them, for with them she can stem the tide of the German hordes until America’s fresh soldierly is ready to give battle in France.
Following the recent demand of Sir Auckland Geddes for an additional force the so-called “unessential” industries are being stripped of their men so the munitions factories may be kept in full operation, despite the withdrawal of many munition workers for the front.
To meet the new onslaught which Great Britain expects Germany soon to make, this great trade nation is subjecting itself to an industrial convulsion. Factories which produced luxuries are likely to be closed altogether. No new retail shops are permitted to start. No business is to be expanded in such a way as to require additional clerks or other employees. Every man who is able will soon be either at the forge or at the front.
Why Action is Necessary
And this is why:--
First—The Central Powers are getting ready for the biggest offensive of the entire war, an offensive which they have told their people at home will bring victory for the German people.
Second—Germany has been able to transfer 38 divisions from east to west, which means at least 950,000 soldiers facing the Allies in France and Belgium.
Third—Austria-Hungary is preparing to throw a vast force against Italy as soon as spring thaws the mountain fastnesses.
Fourth—Roughly speaking, the Allies must face 1,600,000 new soldiers early this spring.
The stories which were given out in November about a threatened German offensive are now known to have been camouflage, but the stories now told of German preparations are based on actual knowledge. The military ring in Germany is staking everything on its proposed drive. Information coming here through secret channels indicates that the military clique of Germany, now in full control, actually believes it can drive through the allied line and possible capture either Paris or Calais.
No Chances of German Victory
It may be stated on the very highest authority that the War Lords of England know such a thing is not within the possibilities. As has been told in the Herald’s London despatches the Allies expect the greatest shock of the war this spring. They look for it to start in February. They do not know whether it will come in the vicinity of Verdun, as is strongly intimated from despatches emanating from Amsterdam, or at the junction of the French and English lines. They know it will come somewhere and that the foe will have a mass of new heavy artillery.
In the view of military experts writing in the various English newspapers the spring drive may result in a final defeat for Germany, but can result in no sense in a victory for her. They declare that, if through sheer force of numbers, she should bend the Allied line, or even pierce it at one or two points, she would be unable to proceed very far, and could be held in check until America’s soldiers are ready to fall in with the Allies. On the other hand, these experts assert if Germany fails to dent the line, and has to retreat, or remain stationary, she has lost the war, because the German people, who are known to be restless, will ask, “Where are the great victories that were promised?”
Minor Defeats Probable
The Russian collapse has changed completely the aspect of the war. Had Russia remained in the field, preventing the diversion of the German army from east to west, the Allies would have been able to strike a decisive blow on the French front this year. But with Russia out of it the Central Powers, according to Sir Auckland Geddes, have a slightly superior force on the western front and may be expected to achieve some minor victories here and there. From the statements made by Sir Auckland, Winston Churchill and war lords one might form a rather pessimistic opinion regarding the outlook, but such an opinion is not justified.
When the Germans start their February attack they will find confronting them the finest army and the most remarkable force of artillery they have ever encountered. Both the English and the French, with full knowledge of the Central Powers’ programme, have been making preparations on a gigantic sale. One of the English war masters told me recently that there is no more chance of crushing the allied line than there is of destroying Heligoland with a hand grenade.
By all the writers on military topics, and by the officials as well, it is conceded that America must furnish the “punch” to win the war. There are all kinds of speculations regarding how large a force the United States now has in France. My information is that it is sufficiently large to be a very important factor by early summer, and that it is an army which will open the eyes of the Hindenburgs and the Ludendorffs, as well as the Haigs and the Pétains.
U-Boat Peril Causes Worry
The Allies have no fear that there can be a war decision against them on the western front, or anywhere on land. It would be untrue, however, to say that the Allies are not concerned by the submarine situation, which has by no means improved from the Allies’ point of view. The reports of eighteen ships sunk in the week ending December 29 and the same number for the week ending January 5 and of eight for the week ending January 12 rather dismayed the people of England, although the statements were accompanied by the assurance from the Admiralty that the number of submarines sunk had at last approximated the submarines constructed each week by Germany.
The English newspapers in their editorials frankly say that the submarine situation is very grave, and that, while the armies are holding their own, or better, in France, the naval genius of England and the United Stats must find a way to exterminate these pests of the sea. The shipyards of England are busier than ever in their history and a vast number of new tonnage will be available during the coming summer. Whatever the United States does in the way of ship construction will be a net gain, because the English authorities are not counting on it.
Few American Ships Expected
The British give America credit for the best of intentions but think, in the words of the Yankee, that she has “bitten off more than she can chew.” On this subject, Archibald Hurd, writing in the London Daily Telegraph, says:-- “It would therefore be foolish to ‘bank’ on a phenomenal output of American tonnage in the immediate future, because it will not be forthcoming. The position of steel shipbuilding in the United States does not encourage the belief that anything nearly approaching 6,000,000 tons—the figure frequently employed—will be turned out this year. There is reason to hope that with the vessels ordered a year or more ago by us and the Allies the American yards may in the present year complete and send to sea from 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 new tons. If the higher output is attained, all concerned will have done well, for an expansion equal to ten times that of 1913 will be an exceedingly fine one.”
It is a most inspiring drama—this heroic preparation of Great Britain. Those who suspect she had been niggardly in her drafts of men need only to study the figures to show what she has done. England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales combined have raised 5,600,000 men. This is out of a population of 45,500,000. If the United States were to raise an army of 12,500,000 she would have accomplished a task just equal to that of Great Britain.
New Effort is Great
Figures just given out by the English authorities show that England has raised 4,530,000, Scotland 620,000, Wales 280,000 and Ireland, 170,000.
And on top of this Great Britain is now in the midst of a campaign to raise approximately half a million more soldiers, on the theory that everything depends on Great Britain in the month which must elapse before America can advance with full stride. The new army will be raised from young men in civil life, mostly workers in munition factories. Their places are being taken by men wounded, but now able to be about, and by women. Some expert munition workers will be withdrawn from the front, but where one is taken two will be sent.
There is just one discordant note in the whole English situation. Some of the young men make threat s of striking rather than go to the front.
Strike Threat Causes Anger
This phase of the situation was covered by Sir Auckland Geddes when he said:-- “These young men are now threatening to take what they call drastic action—in plain language, to hold up the output of ships and aeroplanes in order to force the government to send out wounded men again and again, to drag out the fathers and stop the leave of the men at the front. I believe that is they do they will meet with such a blast of hatred and contempt as will surprise them.
“Think of the monstrosity of the claim—young, fit men to stay and draw good wages—old men, wounded men, and men from some other union to go and fight and the men that are fighting to have their leave stopped.”
Various government officials say that workers who now make threats against the government will get short shrift, for Great Britain has her mind made up.
A second main January 23 article was "Sidelights," a collection of brief stories of interest to American readers.
Tributes to Soberness of American Men in England Follow Clergyman’s Attack
Trade Union Secretary Calls Soldiers Fine Specimens of Humanity---Great Britain Loses Only 2,000 at Sea of 11,000,000 Total Transported
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
The recent statement by Fort Newton, an American clergyman who preaches in London, that Americans had done too much drinking in England, has stirred up a tempest of discussion. Mr. Newton was belabored from most unlooked for quarters.
The American soldiers do not misbehave in London. Their American relatives may feel proud of them in every particular. I have seen thousands of them in Liverpool, London and other parts of the empire and I have never yet seen any of them conduct himself except as a gentleman should. And England knows it and admits it. In fact, England rather boasts of it.
I am inclined to think the Britishers are somewhat surprised, as they have had many queer ideas about their brethren across the sea. A tribute to the Americans was given this week by W. A. Appleton, secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unions. Writing in the federation organ he says:--
“I notice almost everywhere samples of the American armies which we are expecting will enable the Allies to clear France of the Germans. Most of the men are fine specimens of humanity, and those with whom I have spoken showed no signs of the braggadocio which is so frequently associated with America. They were quiet, well spoken, fully alive to the seriousness of the task they have undertaken, and apparently have but one regret—that they did not come sooner into the world conflict.”
I have heard similar tributes from many British officers. The reserve and modesty of the Americans, coupled with their freshness of physical appearance and their determination to learn how to do everything connected with modern warfare, have somewhat amazed and disarmed the Britishers.
- - -
Here is a story of interest the Americans who on various excuses seek exception from army service:--
George A. Samuels, eighteen years old, was called to colors. He is a working boy in London. He asked for three months exemption so that his parents might have an opportunity to “turn around” to look after themselves. Three of the boy’s brothers have been killed in the war; one other is now in France at the front, and a sixth is waiting to be sent overseas to take his place in the trenches. The Bermondsey tribunal complimented the youth for the sacrifices his family had already made and granted the three months’ exemption.
It is difficult to find a family in England which has not at least one representative at the front, and it is not uncommon to find a family with has already lost two and three members in the war. Yet England is not complaining.
- - -
England’s loss of soldiers through the torpedoing of transports has been insignificant considering the large number of soldiers who have been transported since the war began. I was told by a high official of the Admiralty the other day that 11,000,000 soldiers have been transported on vessels by England alone, and that only 2,000 have been lost by submarine attacks or mine explosions. There are many times when the British government has a quarter of a million troops at sea at one time, and this number never falls below 50,000.
- - -
While everyone in England concedes that the sinking of British ships is serious business, the experts say that the submarine raids must be greatly intensified to bring the British Empire anywhere near capitulation. It is stated by the Duke of Buccleuch that the losses now are insignificant compared with those of the period from 1761 to 1765. During that time, he asserts, 3,300 British vessels were sunk, the loss representing thirty-five tons per year for every thousand persons in the British Isles. Therefore, he says, England should not be too pessimistic.
- - -
Harry Watts, a well known jockey—known to many Americans, as well as to all British turf followers—has been killed at the front in France. A shell struck him. He was formerly attached to the late Mr. Leopold de Rothschild’s stable. He began riding in 1906. Like his father, Jack Watts, he rode for the late King Edward. A brother of the deceased jockey is serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
Here are the headlines of Don Martin's other January 23 articles.
Germans Are Starving Yet Smiling to Kaiser’s Will
Holland Man, After Returning from Interior of Teutonic Empire, Declares Hunger Prevails but People Are Determined to Die for Ruler
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
FISHERWOMEN OF BRITAIN BECOME HEROINES IN WAR
Telephone Operators, Too, Get Medals For Bravery Displayed
While Plants are Destroyed
While Plants are Destroyed
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
Meat Authority Asserts England Will Get Supply
Ships for Transportation Now Only Problem, Declares B. B. Russell
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
CLUB IN LONDON FOR UNCLE SAM’S ARMY OFFICERS
Sir H. H. Raphael Turns Over Mansion To Be Conducted by Y. M. C. A.
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
Charlie Chaplin Is Found in a German Captured Trench
Dozens of Him, on Paper and in Wood, Discovered, Labeled “America’s National Hero”
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
British Approve Action by American Commerce Body
Warning to German Trade Interests Reflects the Feeling of English Business Men
[Special to the Herald]
Herald Bureau, No. 130 Fleet Street, London, Jan. 23.
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