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March 26, 1918 - Report on Archie Roosevelt, as French combat German offensive

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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