June 6, 1918 - Don Martin in Paris writes of heroism at Chateau Thierry

Don Martin diary entry for Thursday, June 6, 1918: 

Stayed around the Hotel Crillon [in Paris] all day with a sore throat. [Floyd] Gibbons went out to cover the story for me. Went to the office in the evening and wrote a long cable story for New York and a story for Paris. Air raid tonight.

          Don Martin wrote a triumphant dispatch dated June 6 for the Paris Herald that was featured with his byline on Friday, June 7. 

MARINES IN GREAT CHARGE

OVERTHROW CRACK FOE FORCES

Americans Advance Two to Four Kilometres North-West of Château-Thierry, Driving Back Powerful Crown Prince

Division —Awkward Bulge in Line Is Straightened

Out and Position Strengthened.

By Don Martin

(SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE HERALD)

AMERICAN FRONT, Thursday

          In a spectacular charge with rifles and hand-grenades against one of the most powerful German divisions north-west of Château-Thierry, the United States Marines last night and to-day drove the Germans back from two to four kilomètres and took two hundred prisoners. The fighting was brisk from daylight till dark and was going on in milder fashion when dusk settled.

          The German prisoners, all Saxons, in first-class condition, expressed amazement at the stone-wall resistance of the Americans to all counter-attacks and the spirit and dash with which they made their attacks.

          French officers who witnessed part of the battle described the charge as magnificent. Before to-day's engagement, the American lines lay approximately through

Les Mares Farm, north of the village of Lucy-Le Bocage, on through the outskirts of a triangle. Our lines now run through strong positions in the Bussiares Woods and along the edge of the Bois do Belleau.

Salient Wiped Out.

          In forcing the line back thus far the Americans have accomplished one of the most successful counter-attacks since the renewed German offensive started and have straightened out their line so that the American position has been greatly strengthened.

        The attack was made in the open without a barrage to prepare the way, as is the custom in trench warfare. With a yell, the Americans started straight for the German lines. The Germans, who proved to be one of the best divisions of Saxons, put up but a weak resistance at first, evidently being somewhat disconcerted by the boldness of the move. Those Saxons who faced the Marines were killed quickly.

     As they advanced further, the Marines were confronted with a row of machine- guns. With hand-grenades they charged directly upon the machine-guns, suffering rather severe casualties, but inflicting terrific losses on the Germans. The machine-guns were silenced and the crews either captured or killed.

         The success of the operation was greater even than the officers of this crack American unit had expected. The German prisoners expressed amazement at the way the Americans fight. Some of them said they had been told by their officers that the present German offensive was certain to result in a crushing defeat of the French army and a complete victory in every way for Germany.

Allies' Resistance Amazes Enemy.

          The Germans, the prisoners added, had been surprised at the iron resistance of the Allied armies. The German soldiers had been told that no human wall could possibly withstand the assaults which the German army was prepared to make.

          The charge of yesterday draws attention for the third or fourth time to the Marines. They have been in the line for nearly three months and have stood their ground under every assault made upon them and have carried out every operation they have undertaken. They are one of the prize units in the American army and always have been. Of them it was said that when the time came for fighting in the open they would wipe out the illusion that the American soldier cannot fight because he has not been brought up to be a soldier.      

         The new development was the opening of the American offensive at Belleau Wood. French General Jean Degoutte and General Omar Bradley, commander of the American 2nd Division, decided to go in and take Belleau Wood and the town of Bouresches that lay behind it. At 3:45 a.m. on June 6 the Marines attacked Hill 142, fronting the northwestern side of Belleau Wood. That day, Don Martin reported further on the battle that had taken place earlier at Château-Thierry. It was published in the New York Herald on Friday, June 7, 1918. 

HOW AMERICANS STOPPED THE HUNS AT A VITAL POINT

Bold Rush Across the Marne at Chateau-Thierry Completely Stopped

AMERICANS IN STREETS AT THE RIVER EDGE

Portion of Town North of Stream 
is Now a Deserted No Man’s Land

By DON MARTIN

[Special cable to the Herald]

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Thursday

                 The beautiful city of Château-Thierry, marking the vital point where the Huns failed to cross the Marne, is now No Man’s Land. At this place I saw the captured Germans who were stopped in the bold rush across the river by the American machine gunners, who thus had their first taste of actual battle.

                 The heroic stand of these men is the subject of glowing tributes by the French. That they are entirely justified I can attest, for I saw them standing at the foot of the streets, all of which lead to the Marne, firm in their determination to stop the maddened march of the Hun hordes, outnumbering the defenders four to one, or to die to a man. 

                They waited propitiously, then turned loose a tornado of lead, leaving the streets strewn with German dead and wounded. Like Jaulgonne and also at Neuilly their action is sure to be an inspiration in years to come.

                One experiences strange emotions at beautiful Château-Thierry. A week ago it was filled with people, now it is deserted. Not a living soul is there. Only dead bodies fill the streets. The Germans have large forces two miles back. Americans and French are guarding the river edge of the town.

                The Americans are proving a vital factor in stemming the tide of Germans, who, prisoners say, felt confident that their gigantic assault could break any human line, capture Paris and dictate terms of peace. 

                Prisoners say the army was stunned to find Americans everywhere in line and also at the ability of the Americans to fight. While I am not permitted to reveal military information, I can say that Americans are at a score of points waiting to show the Huns what their “contemptible army’ can do. 

                The Huns are now forty-three miles from Paris. The city is not excited and the people are confident the army will hold the Huns in check. 

                Everywhere I hear splendid tributes to the Americans. The Paris newspapers feature the exploits of the Americans at Jaulgonne, Château-Thierry and Neuilly. The infantry say that, with Germany ready to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of men, the Allies needed America, who is making good in every respect.
          The following article, which appeared in the New York Herald on June 8 dated Thursday (delayed), seems to be the one that Floyd Gibbons covered and reported to him.

MARINES BLOT OUT MACHINE GUN NEST WITH A WILD WEST YELL, BOLD DASH STAGGERING HUNS

Prussians Stunned by Audacity That Wins Praise From French Officers, Who Declare Fearlessness of Americans and Daring in Open Warfare Makes Them Equal of Any Troops.

By DON MARTIN.

Special Correspondent of the Herald with the American Army in France.

[Special Cable to the Herald.]

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Thursday (delayed).[Jun 6]

                  America should tip its hat to the marines after their spectacular and successful exploit to-day. As I write they are still engaged with a division of Prussians, one of the strongest units in the German army. In driving them back nearly four kilometres they scored one of the biggest successes of the Allies since the renewed German offensive started.

                French officers who witnessed their part in the conflict describe the conduct of the marines as magnificent and gallant. They showed they have no fear of anything and proved that American troops in open warfare are just as good soldiers as any one. The marines, who are the pride of the folks at home, are likewise the pride of all Americans in Europe, especially on the firing line. They have proved that the American can fight, even if he wasn't "brought up to be a soldier."

               The boys in the attack started with a yell, suggestive of the plainsmen of the West, and swept easily over the outposts. They left the ground strewn with German dead as they advanced. Armed with rifles and grenades, they ran into a nest of machine guns. They never even paused but pounced on them, killing the crews and surrounding a large contingent, numbering two hundred, who were made prisoners.

                 The American position is greatly strengthened. The Huns were staggered by the dash and boldness of the American's. The Prussians are all in fine condition. The marines have been on the front line for nearly three months and have stood their ground against all assaults and carried out all the operations they have begun.