April 13, 1918 - Don Martin spends another day waiting in Paris

Don Martin continued to struggle with how to get to the front of the ‘big battle’ and whether to accept an assignment with a regiment, where he would have to remain for a time. In a letter he wrote to daughter Dorothy on April 13 from the Hotel de Crillon in Paris, he told her he would to do that, but as the following diary entry shows, he was still uncertain.

Dorothy,

Tomorrow morning I expect I shall go to a town at a point not a great way from here to join the Americans who are already participating in the big battle. I shall have considerable difficulty getting around because of my inability to speak French fluently [His Mother spoke French, but apparently not around her children.]... if I manage to get to the point I am aiming at tomorrow I shall be attached to the staff of an artillery regiment and may see one of the vital phases of the big battle which may decide the war.

I must present an amusing picture Dorothy – a typewriter, a big portmanteau and a helmet, French and British gas masks over my shoulder. Quite a job carrying all this junk and there are no porters during wartime.

Don Martin diary entry for Saturday, April 13, 1918:

Hung around the hotel most of the day. Undecided whether to go with 1st division or to return to Neufchateau. Think I will do the latter. Met [Burn] Price at the hotel at 3 p.m. He interpreted during an interesting conversation I had with a French woman named Chaperon whom Bryan introduced me to. Had dinner with Price at the Beef a la Mode. On way back with Price met Orr of International News. Walked in rain with him and Price up Champs Elysee but returned to hotel at 9:30. Called up Martin Green at the Hotel Lotti. He thinks he may go with the 1^st division tomorrow and if he does I may go with him. Went to bed early.

Commodore very ill yet. Apparently has relapse.

Germans fired shells into Paris from big gun. [The start of the Germans shelling Paris with this big gun was recorded by Don Martin on March 24.]

Weather unpleasant. Rain at night.

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