Don Martin diary entry for Thursday, February 28, 1918: Began the day at noon with an interview on the labor situation with Arthur Henderson, union leader. He was annoyed at directness of questions I had prepared but finally agreed to think them over and answer them. They are certainly very pointed. Spent an hour in Westminster Abbey. Saw Admiral [Sir William Reginald] Hall [Director of Naval Intelligence] . He says food situation will get worse. Had dinner at Cheshire Cheese. All the evening at the office. Sent a long labor interview Baird got with my questions with Wilson of the Seamen’s Union. Cabled 200 words to N.Y. Wrote several business letters. Also got a letter from Dorothy. She is unquestionably a humorist. Was making a snow woman because she can’t make legs. Sunshine, fog, snow, drizzle, clear, freeze – some day.        

Don Martin diary entry for Wednesday, February 27, 1918: Finished the day helping “Save the King” in the grill room downstairs. Was with Brownell who is more or less a “nut” and a Miss Simmons of Shanghai. Was at the office part of the afternoon and evening. Wrote a long story about King George and his hobbies for mailing to N.Y. Met Parkinson of the A.P. in the afternoon and went with him to the Press Bureau to see how it works. The newspaper gathering business here is much the same as in the U.S.   Had dinner at the Savoy. Got letter from Jennings in N.Y. saying the London news is the best he has ever read. Sounds good but guess he had a brainstorm. Submarine report shows 14 big ships sunk this last week. Weather pleasant but showery.

Don Martin diary entry for Tuesday, February 26, 1918:   Read the papers (New York too). Wrote to Newton, Oliver and the Commodore about Hearst getting permission to get English news, and that is about all, except to see Colonel Buchan at 5 p.m. Was at the office most of the evening. Wrote a long story on the war situation to date – an analysis of the developments etc. England is by no means sure of being able to lick Germany as she hoped to lick her. America seems to be the only optimist. Russia’s elimination has rather staggered the Allies. Weather sharp but pleasant.       The following summary of the war situation was dated Thursday and published in the New York Herald on Friday, March 1, 1918. However, it reads like the analysis of war developments to date written on Tuesday, February 26, as he recorded in his diary above.   Germany’s Only Chance for Victory in the West Is Some New Invention Object of Enemy Raids Along Entir...

Don Martin diary entry for Monday, February 25, 1918:   Rather a dull day. Did some work at the office. Had sort of a grouch for no apparent reason and “jumped on” the fogies at the office for not being “on their jobs.” Had dinner at Simpson’s with Judge Neal of Chicago and at 7:30 walked over the Waterloo Bridge to see the women and children lining up to get into the subway in case of an air raid. Saw but few. Good night for an air raid but none given up to midnight (The hour now). Went to the office, got the Morning Telegraph proofs and came to the hotel. Weather sharp but pleasant.       Don Martin wrote up his second interview with Arthur Eliot Sproul about his tour in Russia and cabled it to New York. It was published in New York Herald on Tuesday, February 26, 1918. CALLS  ON ALLIES TO BREAK HUNS’ GRIP ON RUSSIA American Business Man in London explains the Seriousness of Greatest Tragedy [Special Despatch to the Herald via Commercial Cable Com...

Don Martin diary entry for Sunday, February 24, 1918:   Went to J. W. Grigg’s (N.Y. World man) home in Liddrake Grove [fontea]. Had a pleasant visit. He has been on the Italian and French fronts. Went to the office in the evening. Read Heralds up to February 3. Find they run a lot of my matter in the Sunday paper but don’t sign it. Can’t say I like the way it is handled; nor do I like the idea of using the mail instead of cable. However, I don’t care one way or another. I went to be in this new world atmosphere for a while. Then I shall kick and return unless I get to the front . Seemed like good night for an air raid but there has not been one yet and it is now 1 a.m. Will write a letter to Dorothy. Weather fine. Don Martin hand wrote a long letter to Dorothy on February 24, telling her about the food card, his new suit and air raids.Here are excerpts. Dorothy, ... On my desk I have what is called a food card. I got it today. Tomorrow and thereafter no one can get meat ...