May 20, 1918 - Don Martin writes that American forces make France "impregnable"

Don Martin diary entry for Monday, May 20, 1918: 

Went to the Gare d’Lyon at 8:30 to meet body Mr. Bennett. It arrived on time. [Cohick] (looking like an undertaker) and Price there also. Met Percy Mitchell, Bennett’s secretary for first time. Spent couple hours reading Herald’s for April. The office certainly is “keeping me up.”

Weather terribly hot.

      The New York Herald on Monday, May 20, 1918, advertised its Big Three Special War Correspondents.

The Big Three—Don Martin, Percival Phillips and Herman Bernstein—are cabling to the HERALD, daily and Sunday, all the news of Pershing’s forces, Haig’s armies and the Russian tangle.

      Don Martin blew the trumpet for America's impact on the war in this article dated Monday (probably written Sunday night) and published in the New York Herald on Tuesday, May 21, 1918.

AMERICAN AID MAKES FRANCE IMPREGNABLE

Presence of United States Army as Front Heartens Nation

PRISONERS ADMIT HOPES ARE SLIGHT

Spirit of Americans Is Wonderful and Prospect of Heavy Casualties Causes No Worry

By DON MARTIN

[Special cable to the Herald]

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Monday

          France now is supremely confident and happy at the presence of so many Americans at the real front, where death is certain to take a big toll from them, but where Germany will suffer even more heavily. The Germans will be fought in Picardy and Flanders to a ghastly awakening. France again is impregnable and at the threshold of seeming victory, this time aided substantially by what the Huns sneeringly and hypocritically called a “contemptible army.”

           Americans have been for weeks in the reserve line, with shells falling in their midst constantly, but they are keen to take their place with the French, and also the British, to help give the Huns a crushing blow now that the Huns surely are preparing their greatest attack and are ready to sacrifice more lives in a month than America has soldiers in France.

Germans Cannot Win

          The Germans may gain territory but they cannot win. Even penetrating the allied line would mean only a temporary advance.

           From information from good sources, the Hun expects a stupendous sacrifice to drive through the allied line and then, with the effrontery of a highwayman, with his pockets filled with the loot of victims momentarily at bay, to say:--“How much can I keep?”

           A year ago an advance such as the Germans have made might have been serious, but this is not the case now with America in and France revivified. France, from all I learn in talks with soldiers and from civilians’ statements, is willing and also determined to go to the limit. The French want America to have an opportunity to show her prowess in the field of battle, and the French are confident the steady stream of khaki pouring from the transports will furnish the force needed to give the Huns the ultimate smash.

           The announcement on Friday that America had an army with the British caused no surprise. It had been known that the Americans were undergoing intensive training immediately on arrival, to help provide an insurmountable wall when the Boche hurls his storm troops against the Allies in the forlorn hope that he can convince the people of Germany and pacifists everywhere that Germany can force her will on the world.

Germans Nearing Breaking Point

           It is evident from the German newspapers seen here and also from the news from Switzerland and Holland that Germany is nearing the breaking point unless her army in the present crisis can deal a staggering blow.

           Prisoners echo the discontent in Germany and say the feeling there is that with America putting her whole heart and vigor into the war and also with France reinvigorated by the American’s participation, it is impossible to beat the Allies, and she seeks only to frighten them by the impending assault. The same source is authority for the information that Germany is only whistling to keep up courage and hope when talking of an indemnity.

        To Americans a splendid feature of the situation is that Uncle Sam is ready months ahead of expectations, with a virile army, and is piling men in the reserve line to relieve the French and British when the German attack is about reaching its climax. I have been on the various fronts and have talked to the American soldiers and to the soldiers of other allies. Their spirit is wonderful.

Americans Are Confident

             “It’s dangerous business, to be sure,” said one American, “but what do we care? Take it from me, the Americans are going into the big fight to do their best and to give the Hun the right kind of a licking. He has been swaggering around, insulting and browbeating the world long enough.”

              The Americans realize that their entry into the big battle means a big casualty list, but that is the least of their worries. Losses from time to time serve only to stiffen the courage of the Americans.

             Now that new arrivals from the United States are brigaded with the British as well as with the French on the eve of the vital struggle, Americans representing all elements of the nation’s citizenship are likely to play an important part in the battle.