Don Martin diary entry for Tuesday, April 30, 1918:  Boucq today with [Bert] Ford [International News Service] , who seems to be a very decent chap. Went to American aviation field near Toul and got good story about two American fliers bringing down a German plane. Some of the correspondents who hurried to the other front with the 1 st division are returning. Americans there have done nothing yet and correspondents were unable to send anything. Bought a wrist watch in Nancy for 320 francs [~$75 then] – will give it to Dorothy when I return home. French make slight gains against Germans. Germans drive has temporarily at least been checked. Weather threatening and rainy.          Don Martin’s dispatch dated Tuesday was published in New York Herald on Wednesday, May 1. First Draft Men in France Eager for Final Touches to Get at Grips with Enemy Allies and French Villagers Elated at Stalwart Appearance and ...

Don Martin diary entry for Monday, April 29, 1918:   Went to Chaumont and another place 25 miles from there to see first of the draft men to arrive in France. Got much good material for story. Cabled 600 words to New York. Also heard for first time that soldiers are calling themselves Buddies. Cabled short story about it and sent longer story to Paris. I drew this story out of some of the privates and Gregg [St. Louis World] and [F. J.] Taylor [United Press] jumped at it of course. Maybe this is the name by which American soldiers are to be known. They don’t like “Sammies” or “Amexes.” Got back at 5 p.m. Dinner at club.       Don Martin's story (below) about  calling Americans 'Buddies' seems to have been instrumental in its general adoption. Germans meeting set backs in big offensive. Looks as if French have stopped them. If Germans fail now their defeat is inevitable. Weather clear part of the day – then rain      ...

Don Martin diary entry for Sunday, April 28, 1918:   Almost within sight of German lines and within hearing of guns, I saw on a plateau overlooking Boucq and a wide valley, a French General decorate the 104 Regiment (Massachusetts) and give Croix de Guerre to 117 members of the regiment for gallantry at Apremont on April 10, 11 and 12. It was a splendid spectacle. Cabled short story to N.Y.; sent long story to Paris. First American regiment to be thus decorated. Had about a two mile uphill walk to scene but it was worth it. Went over with Gregg [St. Louis World] and [F. J.] Taylor [United Press] . German Picardy offensive lessening in intensity. Weather warm but wet.         Don Martin, using his personal interactions with soldiers, depicted their exasperation with 'patient warfare', in  an extended dispatch dated Sunday, April 28. It was published in the New York Herald on Monday, April 29, 1918. “TEXAS RED” SYMBOLIZES DESIRE ...