June 9, 1918 - Don Martin continues to report achievements of Americans

Don Martin diary entry for Sunday, June 9, 1918:

Went to Montreuil, 2d division headquarters, with [Lincoln]Eyre [New York World] and [Edwin] James [New York Times]. Got a good story. Returned to Paris at 6 p.m. Wrote 400 words for New York and 700 words for Paris. At 9 p.m. at the censor’s office attended a protest meeting of the correspondents who are disturbed about being ordered to go to Meaux as a headquarters. I also got a notice that I was criticized because of my attempted cable censure of the censors. We certainly are under iron rule. James is worse off than I am. My stories in Paris seem to be attracting much attention. They are widely commented on and copied in the French press. Got letter from [daughter] Dorothy. We are figuring on moving to Meaux tomorrow.

          Don Martin filled in more on the Marines success at Bouresches in an article dated June 9 and published in the Paris Herald on June 10.

HOW LIEUTANANT LEONARD

DID HIS BIT AT BOURESCHES

Wiped Out Machine-Guns Spitting Deadly Fire

from House Tops on Americans

(By DON MARTIN.)

(SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE HERALD.)

WITH THE AMERICAN FORCES, Sunday. [June 9]

               The Germans in the neighborhood of Bouresches, the village stormed and captured by the Americans on Thursday, last night made three rather feeble efforts to capture Hill 204, which the enemy apparently regards as an important wedge for an opening through the American lines. These attempts were easily repulsed.

            There is no indication that the enemy expects to make any immediate attempt to wrest from the Americans and French the few kilometres captured by them in the fighting of the last four days. As the roar of the artillery in the Montdidier-Noyon sector announced the outset of the renewed German offensive, the big guns on the line where the Americans are thickest remained quiet.

         I talked to-day with one of the heroes of the Bouresches fight which is perhaps the most important affair in which the Americans up to that time had been involved. He is Lieutenant W. M. Leonard, of Newton, Mass. He looks anything but the broad-shouldered American pictured in the "movies," but he has all the pluck, the energy, the stick-to-itiveness of his ancestors who came from the Bay State.

                   Lieutenant Leonard was a publisher of books in Boston when America entered the war, and though a man of wealth decided to ''do his bit." He went to an officers' training camp and a few months ago arrived in France. He had never had any military training before and he wondered often how he would act when the time came for the great test.

Stormed Machine-Gun Nests.

                   It came during the fight at Bouresches. Leonard went into that fight with a platoon of forty-three men. He came out with four and himself. He went in to do a specific thing and did it. He was sent to help Lieutenant Robertson, who was holding out heroically with a steadily diminishing company, in a battle with German machine-gunners mounted on buildings and behind barricades.

               Things looked gloomy for Lieutenant Robertson, who had scoffed at a dozen suggestions from the enemy that he surrender, when Lieutenant Leonard, of the Marines, appeared with his small group of men and rushed into a shower of shot, and the lieutenant saw a dozen of his men fall in ten minutes. He charged one gun and captured it, or, rather, he destroyed it. He swept up the stairway of a building with three other men and bayoneted the crew of a gun which had been playing its leaden stream like a garden hose upon the Americans.

              Three other machine-guns were smashed and no prisoners were made, though the guns were sputtering their tragic monotone at the moment the storming party reached them. When Leonard and his gallant companions had finished their task, there were but five Americans of the Leonard unit left, but the machine guns were quiet and the only sound was the boom of the artillery away back, which was beginning its part of the battle in destroying the retreating Germans.

Why Germans Are Beaten.

               Leonard tells the story very briefly. An officer who stood near by as he talked said:—"You got a citation to-day. Tell the correspondent about it."

               "I don’t know much about it except that I was told I had been cited for bravery. That's very fine. It will please my wife. She didn't think I'd make much of a soldier, and as a matter of fact I had some doubts myself, but" -- the lieutenant warmed up for a moment—"these Germans are no good when you've got them going.

               "If I knew an American who couldn't lick a German in a square fight any time, any place, I'd have the American locked up. The Hun is a queer breed. They’re all alike. We have them in Massachusetts and we're sorry for it. When things are going their way and they have a great unbroken organization they are all right, but leave them to their own resources, with an ebb tide, and they turn tail because they're cowards.

               "Maybe once in a while there's one who isn't so bad, but I suppose also there are such things as house broken snakes. Anyhow the Germans are licked. Their only chance of doing anything is to keep their organization stuck together. Break into their ranks and they are finished. That's where they differ from the Americans and the British, too. An American can fight best when he is being licked. So can a Briton. A Frenchman can fight any time. We can all learn a devil of a lot from the French—and we are doing so, by the way."

Other Bouresches Heroes.

             Other lieutenants who played a spectacular and courageous part in the battle of Bouresches were J. C. Cooper, of Fayetteville, N.C.; V. H. Hampton, of Charleroi, Mich., and J. M. Bass, of Mississippi. They are all to be sent to America at once to picture to the people of America some of the sterner things connected with the war and to impress upon the tens of millions in the East, West, North and South what a gigantic task and duty rests upon the United States.

              There was lessened activity on the American sectors in the region northwest of Château-Thierry. The infantry, which has distinguished itself no less than the marines—all being members of the same unit—had a quiet day and night for the first time since it entered the first line.

        Don Martin followed up on Sunday, June 9, with the following upbeat article about how the Americans were being recognized in Europe, published in the New York Herald on June 10.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF AMERICANS AROUSE EUROPE TO FACT THEY ARE NOW IN WAR TO FIGHT TO END

Paris and London Newspapers Pay High Tribute to Marines and Other Units for Their Heroism in Driving Back the Huns in First Serious Encounters—
Send Correspondents to Front for Special Stories.

MEN FROM UNITED STATES BEST IN PHYSIQUE

AND SPIRIT OF ANY SOLDIERS IN GREAT BATTLE

French and British Soldiers, Although Friendly Enough at First, Are Now Enthusiastic in Praise 
of the New Forces from Across the Seas.

By DON MARTIN.

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

[Special Cable to the Herald.]

Herald Bureau, No. 49 Avenue de l’Opera, Paris Sunday. [Jun 9]

             All enlightened Europe is talking of the gallant exploits of the Americans at various points along the big battle line, such as Jaulgonne, Neuilly Wood, Château Thierry and Bouresches. The latest achievement of the Marines on Saturday in repelling the savage attacks of the Huns, who sought to recapture Bouresches and also other points there and around Thiolet, have brought tributes from the newspapers of Paris and also the London newspapers reaching here.

             It was no surprise to Americans, who knew the prowess and pluck of these men and the supporting infantry, just as good, that they wrote some of the finest chapters of the week in the biggest battle of all time. The net gain of prisoners by the Americans during the week was five hundred, and the number of dead Germans was overwhelming. The marines' losses were heavy, but they lost not one single prisoner, which itself is a glorious testimonial of the character of the men who are entering the battle with "No surrender!" on their lips.

Open the Eyes of All Europe.

                The Paris newspapers in all editions all the week featured the news of the Americans. Special correspondents of London newspapers are hurrying to the American front to get special articles about their achievements. Their exploits have opened the eyes of Europe to the fact that the veins of the Americans are filled with the same virile blood as were those of their ancestors.

             The Americans excel all other soldiers in the battle, allied or German, in physique. Their spirit is unquenchable, their capacity limitless; they sleep in the rain, march in the dusty or muddy roads by day, eat the best, jump into battle at a moment's notice, start with a yell and fight to the finish.

             They are setting a swift pace even for the tried warriors of France and Britain, which is admitted by officers and also military experts, who are lamenting now after having seen the wonderful work of the Americans, that there are not a million like them in the front line, which would insure the steady, rapid retirement of the Hun from the country he has ravaged. The attitude of both the French and British toward the Americans, although already friendly, has changed to enthusiasm since the communiqués have given the bulk of their space to the brilliant attacks and resistance of the Americans. The men from home have made good, just as their friends knew they would, and it is safe to say also that they have just started.

Show Splendid Home Training

                 As is known, the Americans are scattered around in regiments, brigades and battalions with the French and British and seem thoroughly contented to fight alongside their allies. During the next two weeks the Americans are likely to be heard from at many points, and there is no doubt what the story will be.

            Their condition on arrival here shows the splendid effect of their home training. The intensive work with the French puts a remarkable finish on them, so when Americans enter battle they are regular demons, with no fear of death, but only hatred for the Hun, love for France and freedom and determination to win.

                  The situation is remarkable when considering that only a few months ago all Europe was saying, “America can be a factor when the big offensive comes. If the French and Britains hold until next year America will be able to do something.” Now behold the situation.

            The Americans everywhere are on their toes eager for battle, slaughtering five Germans to every man they lose, giving no prisoners, holding to date every inch of ground taken and losing not a foot from their original stand.

            Through the kindness of the French I have been permitted to inspect the line practically from Soissons to Château-Thierry. I have seen Americans in gas masks waiting for an attack; hidden in the woods with machine guns ready to splash the Huns. I have seen them asleep beside the roads and in wheat fields or munching breakfast while tramping briskly to the front. I have seen them start out to drive German machine guns from their nests.

Wounded Men Show Their Pluck

                I could not help being thrilled at the appearance and spirit of all of them. After the fighting in Neuilly Wood I saw many taken to the hospital. There were no complaints. One youngster from Texas, whose arm was badly hurt, had a book of postals in his pocket already addressed and asked me to mail them to his mother. He said he couldn’t stop on the way to the front. Another young man from Norfolk, Va., said he would rather kill Germans than snakes.

               “They are cowards, the whole outfit,” he said. “Any American can lick five of them in a fair fight.”

              An incident of the typical conduct of the Americans occurred in Saturday’s attempt by the Germans to recapture Bouresches. Captain James O. Green, stationed near Thiolet, advanced on the German lines and soon found himself and his small company surrounded by machine guns. They faced apparent certain death or surrender. They decided to fight, and Captain Green and five of this company got through the ring. The other five were reported in the hands of the enemy, but later showed up. All had escaped the ring of machine guns, leaving the ten Germans killed or seriously wounded.

             Many men among the marines are also supporting the infantry companies, for they have written glorious chapters in American military history and done their fair share in teaching the Germans that crossing the Marne is a tremendous task.

             What the Boche intends doing in the next week or ten days is unknown. He is certain to resume the offensive, but every day he is retarded means an advantage to the Allies.

             Paris is calm, although the enemy is not far away. The frequent booming of shells from the great gun causes no excitement.

             The French are ready for any move the Huns may make. The British are ready also, and the Americans are sprinkled at vital points. The Hun has no chance of capturing Paris, and it is more likely that he will attack in the north in an effort to smash the British. The developments of the week are likely to be very important. Germany is facing a brick wall and knows it.

       In another article written Sunday, June 9, Don Martin told about four American heroes. It too was published in the New York Herald on June 10.

4 AMERICAN HEROES OF MARNE BATTLE RETURNING HERE

Men from Fight at Bouresches 
To Tell Stern Facts About War.

ONE MADE CLEAN JOB OF THE"KAMERADS"

Went Into Battle with Forty-Three Men, Came Out with Four—Calls Germans Cowards.

By DON MARTIN.

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

[Special Cable to the Herald.]

Herald Bureau, No. 49 Avenue de l’Opera, Paris Sunday. [Jun 9]

              I saw to-day four American lieutenants, heroes of the Bouresches battle, who are returning to America to tell folks the stern facts about the war and the duty America has to perform. The men faced a withering machine gun fire and refused to surrender when death was the only apparent alternative.

             The names of the men are W. M. Leonard, of Newton, Mass.; J. C. Cooper, of North Carolina; V. H. Hampton, of Michigan, and J. M. Rass, of Mississippi. All are young men taken from civil life, with courage to the tips of their toes. They faced death a dozen times in two days.

               Leonard was cited with French distinction and the others probably will be later. Leonard is small and wiry and looks anything but a soldier. He was a Boston publisher when he took to training for an officer's position at the outset of the war.

The Fight at  Bouresches.

               When the Americans were driving the Huns from the village of Bouresches and Lieutenant Robertson with his company had been practically annihilated, Leonard appeared with a platoon of forty-three men and fought the machine gunners with rifles and bayonets. From bushes, roofs and houses they smashed the Huns to death with the butts of their rifles. There were bayonet fights on all sides and the Americans won every one. Finally, with another platoon, backed by companies commanded by the lieutenants mentioned, he made a clean job. Of the forty-three men, Leonard came out with four.

              “I’m a publisher, not a fighter," said Leonard to me this afternoon. "I never did fighting before. Still, when I have got a job to do I do it. That's the American principle and also a good one. I didn't think I'd come out of Bouresches. The Huns outnumbered us on all sides, but we had them licked from the start.

              “The Huns are the same the world over. They can fight winning, but are cowards when alone or when the tide is turning against them. The best thing they do is to wait until the enemy is a few yards away, then shout 'kamerad’ and then pull a string of grenades, killing by treachery. The Americans have got their number. 'Kamerad' is like waving a red flag to a bull.”

            Back of Hill 204, which is half American and half German, in the neighborhood of Bouresches, the Fifth German Guard division, known as the Brandenburgs, appeared yesterday. Evidently the Huns are making a strong hostile concentration at this point, preparatory to an attack on the Americans and French. During the night the Huns launched several small attacks, with the evident determination of getting the hill, but all failed.

               The marines and infantry regiments are of the same division which has shown the same magnificent courage. The marines, waiting, repulsed all advances with no effort. The German troops at this point, which is in the vicinity of the Aisne, are changing rapidly now. Some of the strongest divisions of the Hun armies are there.

             The German line is ten kilometres (6¼ miles) from the Marne at St. Aulde and less than that from the Ourcq, north of Lizy. Thus it will be seen this is a vital section of the line.