Don Martin diary entry for Tuesday, March
26, 1918:
Everyone in Neufchateau waiting, almost breathless, to hear from front
where Germans attacking. Solid line of trucks loaded with supplies – airplanes,
machine guns, etc. – passing through Neufchateau all day. 1200 trucks thundered
by between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Now at 6 p.m., great guns, hundreds in number,
going through on motor trucks. Americans marveling at capacity and organization
of French and deploring American inability to help out the Allies in this vital
crisis of the war. People gobbling up papers to get latest news. French confident
they will be able to repel advance of the Boche. U.S. a rather pitiable
spectacle, hanging around here where nothing is going on. My own opinion is the
war will be won or lost in coming 6 days and I believe the French and British
will turn the Germans back and make victory in another year assured.
Weather very cold and
snappy. Slight snow flurries.
With the German offensive underway,the war correspondents probably were restricted in what they could send. But news of the Roosevelt family was sought after information. Don Martin wrote and cabled this dispatch about Archie, which was published in the New York Herald on
Wednesday, March 27, 1918.
ARCHIE ROOSEVELT
SCORNS PUBLICITY; BARS REPORTERS
Refuses Interviews, Putting Himself on Same Basis as
Other Wounded
HAPPY IN HOSPITAL; HEARS BOOM OF GUNS
Nurse praises Courageous Spirit He Shows During
Dressing of His Wounds
By DON MARTIN
[Special Cable
to the Herald]
AMERICAN FRONT in France, Tuesday
Captain Archie Roosevelt doesn’t believe
in publicity. Every newspaper correspondent at the American front has tried to
get an interview with him, but all have been turned away. “Roosevelt won’t see
you newspaper reporters,” says his nurse. “He sees no reason why attention
should be paid to him any more than to others who, he says, are far more
deserving of attention and honor than he.”
“But isn’t there some word he’d like to
send back to the people of America who worship the name of Roosevelt?” I asked.
“No: the people at home must be content
with the same news concerning him as they get of all other soldiers in France.
He is very happy here in the hospital and getting along splendidly. He feels in
good spirits and is just one of many patients and wants to be treated like
every one else. He won’t accept favoritism of any kind.”
Captain Roosevelt is in a hospital not a
great way from one American headquarters. The sound of guns easily is heard by
him as he lies on a cot in the officers’ section of the hospital. His injury is
painful, but will leave no permanent effects. He is very courageous, showing
much of the elder Roosevelt’s spirit during the dressing of his wounds, which
cause severe pain. He grins, but makes no complaint.
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