July 27, 1918: Don Martin reports on continuing German retreat

Don Martin diary entry for Saturday, July 27, 1918: 

Took train from Paris at 11 o’clock. Arrived in Meaux at half past twelve. Left at two for the front. With [Edwin] James [New York Times] went to headquarters of the 42^nd division which is relieving the 26^th. Got back to Meaux at 7. Wrote story for Paris and a cable of 600 words for New York. Had visit with Major Drouillard of the 2^nd Division in the evening. James got the French communiqué at 10 o’clock; got quite excited over it. Indicates French making important advance.

     Don Martin's report on the German retreat from the Marne, dated July 27, was published in the Paris Herald on Sunday, July 28.

FOE TREKS TOWARD FERE-EN-TARDENOIS UNDER HEAVY FIRE

Expected to Make Stand Along the Ourcq After Hurried Withdrawal from Marne Positions—Americans Aiding in Making Rearguard Action Costly to Germans

(OFFICIAL TELEGRAM TO THE HERALD)

By DON MARTIN

With the American Armies, Saturday

Pelted unremittingly with shrapnel and high explosives and slain or captured wherever rear-guards were left to stay the advance of the Americans, the Germans last night and to-day continued their trek northward from the Marne region.

It seems a fair deduction from their speed and from statements made by prisoners that they intend to retreat as far as the Ourcq, where presumably they will make a more resolute stand than they have in their withdrawal from the Marne.

Beside a road the Americans found a 210 German gun in good condition. It was apparently being drawn away when it sank into the soft bottom of a shell-swept highway. There are evidences everywhere along the line of advance that the Germans were preparing for a very powerful offensive in the Marne region. Tons and tons of supplies and piles of shells in woods, in caves and along the roads are to be seen. Most of the big guns have been taken away.

WITHDRAWAL FROM MARNE HURRIED

While admitting that the Germans, without question, intend soon to strike a powerful blow somewhere and that they have a large force with which to do it, it is nevertheless a fact that their withdrawal from the Marne has been hurried. Where it will end no one but Hindenburg and his round-table associates can tell, but it is reasonably certain they will go as far as the Ourcq.

To have forced them to go even half of this distance, in view of their gigantic programme for an offensive of their own, is a splendid victory for the Allies and should be a difficult thing for the Germans, even with their skill at explaining, to explain to the people of Germany.

Prisoners captured by the Americans in the vicinity of Forêt de Fere say that they had orders to retreat from two to four kilometres a day. They do not say what the destination is.

The prisoners are worried about the situation. They say the intention of the German high command was to advance steadily to Châlons and then to make preparations for a big attack toward Paris. It is very apparent from the statements and manner of the prisoners that they regard victory now as a forlorn hope.

FERE-EN-TARDENOIS IN RANGE

Fere-en-Tardenois is now within easy range of the Allied guns. These weapons yesterday were pouring shells into the place. With the line advancing steadily toward this place it is probable that the Germans will evacuate it.

In the daybreak battle for a farm in the line of the American advance there was a splendid demonstration of coolness on the part of the newest fighters among the Allies. The place was defended by machine guns, which played continuously on positions occupied by the Americans. To make sure of capturing the place the Americans dashed across a wide road swept with machine guns and surrounded the group of buildings. Then they disposed of such Germans as they found in the buildings and engaged with their rifles and bayonets about forty Germans who had taken a stand in the courtyard.

The fighting here lasted a half-hour,, and there were no Germans left when it was over. Later German reinforcements appeared and drove the Americans out. Two hours later the Americans returned and captured the farm which remains in our possession. 

         The New York Herald published in its July 27 edition the following photo of an anti-aircraft battalion.