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 42nd division which is relieving the 26th. 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 2nd Division in the
evening. James got the French communiqué at 10 o’clock; got quite excited over
it. Indicates French making important advance.
The New York Herald published in its July 27 edition the following photo of an anti-aircraft battalion.
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.
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