March 25, 1918 - The great German offensive has begun

The massive German offensive, begun on March 21, against the French and British lines had initial success. Between March 21 and March 26 the British Expeditionary Forces suffered around 75,000 casualties [Peter Hart, The Great War, p.425].

Don Martin diary entry for Monday, March 25, 1918:

Was awakened long before daylight by thundering of motor trucks past the hotel – the Agriculture. Reinforcement of French on way to help out British who are falling back under terrific assault of Germans. Left at 10 a.m. with Nales of International News for Toul. Went to Ansourible, close to the line. Heard firing nearby and also cannonading at Verdun where new German attack is to be made. Went to various headquarters near line, read communiqués from Berlin saying Germans winning great victory. Local developments subordinated to great offensive which is apparently the great feature of the war. Great gloom among Americans and French. On all the roads guns and men being rushed north. Looks like the vital stage of the war. Returned to Neufchateau at 6 p.m.

Weather ideal but cool late in the day.

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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 Fr...

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...

August 31, 1918: Don Martin reports Juvigny victory, role of French tanks

Don Martin diary entry for Saturday, August 31, 1918: With Smith [Chicago Tribune] and [Edwin] James [New York Times] went to the 32 nd headquarters. There was not much of a story. The Americans advanced and took the village of Juvigny. I stopped at the hospital and talked with some of the men who had been in the Juvigny fight. They are all from northern Wisconsin and Michigan. Wrote about 900 words cable. Published in the New York Herald on Sept 1. Americans Advance on Germans to Northwest of Soissons in Face of Vicious Fire of Many Machine Guns FRENCH SHOCK TROOPS AID IN GREAT ATTACK Aim of General Pershing in New Terrific Assault Is to Demoralize the Enemy HUNS MAKE FIRM STAND Many Americans of German Descent Show Loyalty in Desperate Fighting By DON MARTIN Special Correspondent of the Herald with the American Armies in France [Special to the Herald] WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN FRANCE, Saturday ...

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