July 19, 1918: Don Martin describes "Greatest War Drama in History"

Don Martin diary entry for Friday, July 19, 1918: 

Went to 1^st division headquarters. Saw British Scots Canadians on way to Soissons front. Visited hospitals. Saw hundreds of Americans who had been waiting hours for treatment. All good natured. No complaints from any. Am amazed at the spirit of the Americans. I thought I knew them but I didn’t. Wrote 1,000 words for Paris; 1,500 for New York.
        Here is a permission for Don Martin to travel within the area occupied by the British Army between July 19 and October 19. It is not clear if he used it.

      Don Martin cabled a dramatic 2000 word dispatch, dated Saturday but written Friday night, July 19, which was published in the New York Herald Sunday, July 21, edition with a major banner headline:

DON MARTIN DESCRIBES THE GREATEST WAR DRAMA IN HISTORY

Americans in Battle Likened Unto Demons

Don Martin Describes Fighting Hundred Times

More Savage Than Civil War

MODE OF ATTACK DAZZLES GERMANS

Pershing Men Advance so Fast It Is Necessary to Reorganize Plans of Attack

 By DON MARTIN

Special Correspondent of the Herald with the American Armies in France

[Special Cable to the Herald]

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMIES IN FRANCE, Saturday

          Within the shadow of Paris is being enacted one of the most important military dramas of the world’s history, and Americans, thousands of miles from home with the banner of the idealism of world freedom, are bearing a goodly part in the conflict, plunged in the seething maelstrom of flying steel, gas and bullets, a hundred times more savage than the civil war, showing to Europe that youths from a peaceful home country can be transformed, if necessary, into demons on the fields of battle. They have been in the midst of madness for days, have lost many, but still are as plucky as ever, slaying the Huns by wholesale whenever they are able to meet them man to man.

             The whole battle is so far open warfare, spectacular in the extreme. French cavalrymen, decked with paraphernalia putting the knight’s of old to shame, are dashing into the fields, straight to the ranks of the Germans, who are trampled, speared and slain with their swords.

              I saw the cavalry start on a spectacular gallop through the fields, take the road at a canter for a mile, then cross lots in a mad swoop, where they expected to crush the infantry seeking to advance in the face of the French troops.

               This is one of several features giving a picturesque touch to the hideousness of modern warfare that is extending the line from Fontenoy to Chateau-Thierry in a gigantic battle, putting the Germans on the defensive, who were carrying on an offensive of their own from Chateau-Thierry to Rheims. It makes an interesting situation of the highest military importance and may bring about a crisis quickly.

General Foch’s Master Move

               The feeling is that it is [General] Foch’s master move, which is the first comprehensive step on a large scale attempted by the Allies since the Allied control came into being. As I write the situation is highly satisfactory to the Allies, who expect fierce counter attacks, but are not worried about the result.

               French and Americans have advanced far ahead of their tentative objectives, in some places as much as five kilometres. This is advisable in view of the Germans terror at being attacked savagely with artillery. They have surrendered by wholesale and have been slaughtered in large numbers.

               The French and Americans reorganized their campaign in the midst of the battle and decided to advance their objectives, which were all reached on schedule time, and all of which they are holding now. The enemy is hurriedly bringing up the shock troops which he was holding for another offensive, presumably against the British.

               The attempt to push the enemy back is applauded everywhere, for it puts a new aspect on the whole situation. Hitherto the Germans have always been picking the time and place for attack and have been able to make their own programme. It is different if the Allies are able to continue their offensive or hold part of the terrain captured in their whirlwind advance.

               Developments to date prove that the Germans are good fighters only when backed by artillery and when the whole machine is operating. When meeting an enemy hand-to-hand in open warfare they are no match for the French, Americans or British.

German Morale Lowered

               Furthermore, their conduct in all the most recent fighting, except the Prussians, Bavarians and Saxons, indicates that their morale is lowering rapidly. Even the Bavarians and Saxons are showing signs of becoming disgruntled at the slowness with which victory comes.

               The Allies’ advance on Thursday was dazzling to the Germans, who were amazed at the boldness of the attack. The Americans advanced 300 feet every three minutes to three objectives, resting an hour at each objective. The artillery hammered the Germans just ahead of the advancing troops, leaving few for the Americans to kill or capture. The artillery fire was vicious, worse than anything the Germans had done.

               Officers, regiments and brigades advanced commensurately. The “seventy fives,” which cause deadly havoc, were hurriedly dragged forward to new positions and trained on the retreating Germans. The whole thing was one of the most remarkable accomplishments of the war, done entirely under management of the French, who, the Americans feel, are masters of war and leave nothing undone.

               They progress with precision. A clock in brigade headquarters in a cave on the side of a road two kilometres from the line marked three o’clock in the afternoon. At ten in the forenoon the place had been occupied by Germans, who left trinkets in their hasty departure. At two o’clock regimental headquarters was in a dugout closer to the line, where they almost could see the hand-to-hand fighting. The headquarters a few hours before had been that of a German officer and his staff. Maps were still hanging on the wall. Division headquarters was moving rapidly all day. The soldiers said they must be good runners to keep up with this battle.

France at Her Best

               I motored back of the line by daylight and saw France at her best. Trucks in an endless stream were going in both directions. Soldiers were marching north and south. I wondered how many French soldiers there were. Their lines seemed never ending. The Americans had nothing much to eat for twelve hours. They were happy, though only out of the line a short time expecting to rest.

               One of the units of Americans was in the fighting five minutes after it reached its position. Most amazing tales are told of their valor. I learn they startled their Allied comrades by the alacrity of their advance. On Thursday night they occupied a position overlooking Soissons, their patrols a rifle shot distant from the city. At this point they were sixteen kilometres from their starting point. They were able to go further, but it was not advisable.

               Indications are that the Allies will force the Germans to evacuate Soissons. The situation last night indicated a temporary demoralization of the Germans opposite the attacking line, but this is too optimistic a view to take. The soldiers here are experienced Germans, who also have many reserve divisions for use whenever a blow comes.

German Programme Upset

               However, it is certain General Foch’s move has upset their programme and perhaps started the backward tide to Germany. I am able to state that the Allies can carry out their plans on an enormous scale. This is possible largely because of the Americans, who are showing marvelous fighting power. The number of men available is growing swiftly.

               The effect of the Franco-American offence is perhaps far reaching. Chateau-Thierry may fall into the hands of the French if the present offensive progresses. I saw the roads from Chateau-Thierry crowded with vehicles going northward, hundreds of horses dragging the guns. Chateau-Thierry is the southernmost point reached by the Germans in their last offensive. The Americans helped to check them there.

(Published in New York Herald, July 21, 1918)

               Hillsides clear one evening bristly with guns at dawn, which pour death into the enemy. The next dawn they are gone to another hillside. They move like the will of the wisp. The Germans batter points where they are missing. I saw a battery of French big guns at work this afternoon. The men fired automatically. Each has his part learned. Most of the men were smoking cigarettes or nonchalantly playing checkers. I passed a wood which is of enormous extent. There was no indication of life there. I passed the firing zone and saw what seemed to be a million men. They were Frenchmen in reserve, waiting. In another wood I saw the remnants of a breakfast at a hundred rough tables. The men were breakfasting hurriedly, as they had been called to the fighting then. American soldiers were everywhere.

               An interesting story is told of Americans, who, when told they were to start an advance at daybreak and must be silent for fear of giving warning to the Germans a few hundred yards away, remained awake. One of them said to me:

              “I watched for the first ray of light and said little, for I knew the first streak of light meant over the top. Some of the men never came back.

              “Lightning and storm lit the whole landscape. Strange to say, some of the men were afraid of being struck. The thunder scared them worse than shells. You see, we were different when the action finally began. We heard the clank of the tanks, which were preceding us, then saw the flare of the German line, warning of the attack and of new trouble. Then the sky glowed, the word came and we gave them hell.” The youth quoted is from the Berkshires. He was shot in the leg by shrapnel during the fighting.

               By day airplanes are as thick as swallows in the sky. Fights are frequent. Airplanes fall in flames, which can plainly be seen. There are evidences everywhere of the gigantic battle. It is splendid to know that in the midst of it all Americans are fighting with a brilliancy to be proud of.

               France already is echoing to the praise of the continued valor of the Americans, who are showing that a battle raging is just as good an offensive as a defensive, which was the only warfare known till now. North of the region of Soissons troops swept past at points, their faces set. When they saw the Germans, running for the first time, able to take a long leap ahead instead of merely holding a line, their action was tremendously effective. They kept up a creeping barrage. Well ahead were the advancing Americans, who mowed down the Germans left alive and able to fight. Bayonets were used. The Americans showed great effectiveness. It is impossible to estimate the number of Germans dead. The ground is strewn with their bodies. They made little resistance. Many, terrified by the artillery and at the sudden appearance of the Americans, who were not expected to make an attack anywhere, surrendered. The word “kamerad” echoed in chorus along the line, but it is impossible to stop them. Here are evidences of the method of the Americans. I quote a few messages received at the post command where I waited the first one:

               “Everything is well under way.”

              An hour after the start: - “Passed through Torey, sent up a rocket, saying ‘objective reached.’”

         Another dated two hours after the start: - “Prisoners coming.”

              Another report from Civry: - “Met resistance.”

              Another said: - “Vigorous resistance; will keep connection at all cost.”

              Another: - “More objectives reached.”

              Another: - “Courchamps taken.”

           Another: - “Met the boche; sharp fight; they turned tail back of Civry and ran up the hill like hell, pursued by our troops. Hope for more prisoners.”

              Here is the best: - “I have to inform you our men chased the boches up hill, but were recalled because it was out of our sector.”

              American participation of the businesslike men was the bravest possible. The Germans began an hour after the attack to hurl savage artillery and heavy explosives. The men advanced steadily, never slacking except now and then to pause to exterminate a few companies of Germans or capture prisoners. These, coming back from all quarters, said they were startled at the suddenness of the attack. As I write I understand the Germans are rushing reserves from the back areas. This means stiff fighting. There will be astonishment if the line moves back, but its splendid purpose has served to a degree, for the Germans were known to be counting on a gigantic shove for Chalons soon.

               I saw an American in a hospital, his face cut with shrapnel and in pain. He said: - “Wait till we get well again. I will be back myself tomorrow.” This is an example of the conduct of all.

              A German lieutenant who was captured said the soldiers are fearing the offensive of the Americans, who, they understand, are devils in arms. They did not expect them before late autumn and had hoped to win the war before that.