April 2, 1918 - Don Martin reports on American troops under attack and about German prisoners

Don Martin diary entry for Tuesday, April 2, 1918: 

Stayed around Neufchateau to do some little things. Attended to my income tax affidavit; wrote to McEwen, the Herald cashier, enclosing affidavit; and sent a couple more stories to Paris. Also wired the Commodore that I must be accredited. Had dinner at the club and sat around there and read till 11 p.m.

Fighting around near British front stopped temporarily. Looks as if both sides are preparing for a new and bigger battle.

Weather rainy all day. Mud terrible.

    Don Martin wrote about the eagerness of American troops to “get in the fight’, about severe gas attacks on Americans, and information obtained from German prisoners, probably finishing after midnight on April 1 and so dating it Tuesday, April 2. The story was published in the New York Herald on Wednesday, April 3, 1918.

GERMANS FEAR AMERICANS AID IN GREAT BATTLE AND LATTER ARE EAGER TO GET IN FIGHT

Herald Correspondent with General Pershing’s Army Tells of Heavy Bombardment Which Failed to Worry the Soldiers and of Bad Weather and Seas of Mud Which Had No Depressing Effect

AMERICAN SOLDIER BEATEN TO PULP, HEAD TIED IN SACK, FOUND IN NO MAN’S LAND

One Prisoner Was Barkeeper in Brooklyn and Had Been Forced to Return by Threat That His Family, Remaining in Germany, Otherwise Would Suffer

By DON MARTIN

[Special Cable to the Herald]

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Tuesday

          German fear of full co-operation of the Americans in the vital battle in the north is indicated in many ways. There has been a heavy bombardment of part of the American sector. Four thousand shells, four-fifths gas shells, were thrown during the night into the American lines, but the preparation for gas was complete, and the effective return of the shelling brought a cessation of the attack before any damage was done.

         The bombardment was one of the most thunderous that has been directed at the Americans, but they were not worried or disconcerted. To-day I saw the Americans in such fine spirit that, despite the fact that they were soaked in mud, they were singing “Over There” and “Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag” and hoping soon to be in the fight.

Eager for Action

         Reports saying that this or that part of the army might be sent to the big front caused only regret that other parts could not go. The bad weather here has been enough to dampen the spirits of veterans, but there has been no depressing effect on the Americans, who are eager to get in the scrap.

         I saw men from every State, many of them clerks, many the sons of millions, sitting by the roadside, drenched in mud, but smiling and singing. It looks now as if they will get a chance to do something to help the French for many kindnesses and for their wonderful stand against great odds.

         Gas attacks against the Americans have been very severe in one section, but the men were able to take care of themselves. With the men shifting from place to place many interesting stories not told before were heard. One American soldier was found after one brush in No Man’s Land with his head tied in a sack and beaten to a pulp. He had fought the Boches who captured him. The men’s hatred is deeply stirred by the brutality, which was absolutely wanton. Incidents of a similar character make the Americans keen to get in actual battle.

Long Reach of Mailed Fist

           Another incident is that of a German captain, captured in a raid, who talked perfectly good English when confronted with a former friend, a captain in the regiment whose men captured him. There was an unusual scene when the men met. The Boche prisoner, who was one of four taken in a raid, was a bartender in a Brooklyn saloon when the war started.

          He talked freely to the Americans, particularly to the captain whom he had known in Brooklyn. He said word had reached him from Germany that unless he returned to fight for the Fatherland his family, who were in Germany, would suffer. Similar tactics were used to force other German aliens in Brooklyn and New York into the German service, he said. He declared the Boches think they can win, but are worried about the future force of Americans.

(National Archives photo no. 111-SC-10351, Menil-la-Tour, March 29, 1918)

         Still another incident was that of an aviator knocked down by a  French flyer within half a mile of an observation balloon. He said he had orders to burn the observation balloon, which the Germans thought responsible for American familiarity with German movements. The Boche flyer was armed with inflammable cartridges when he intended to fire into the balloon. He said the Germans were eager to learn everything that was being done by the Americans.

(National Archives photo no. 111-SC-10378, St. Nazaire, April 2, 1918)

(National Archives photo no. 111-SC-10380, St. Nazaire, April 2, 1918)