August 10, 1918: Don Martin visits Quentin Roosevelt's grave

Don Martin diary entry for Saturday, August 10, 1918:

Went out with Ruhl of Colliers. Took pictures etc. Went to Fère-en-Tardenois by way of Lizy, Coincy etc. Talked with some of the lumbermen and Indians in the 32^nd division. They did some wonderful fighting. Cabled about 300 words.

         Don Martin wrote another dispatch about his interviews with German prisoners, dated Saturday  August 10. It was published in the Paris Herald on Sunday, August 11.

“ON TO PARIS” TALK 

CEASES AMONG GERMANS

Escaped Frenchman Tells “Herald” Correspondent Enemy Is in Demoralized State

(Special Telegram to the Herald)

By Don Martin

With The American Armies, Saturday.

              Germans counter-attacked three times last night and to-day along the Vesle in the vicinity of Fismes. The Americans repulsed them each time. In the last attack the Germans were not only driven back, but were completely outfought, the results being that the Americans took eighty prisoners. The Americans at various points made frequent raids into the enemy lines, but did not attempt to advance the American line north of the Vesle.

             The Germans are very evidently preparing to make a vigorous resistance from the Vesle north, but the impression prevails nevertheless that the Germans are figuring on withdrawing from the Vesle when the pressure from the French and Americans becomes acute.

              The German prisoners were mostly Grenadiers, and were in first-class condition. Most of them are young and stalwart and very evidently are of the best German troops. Ten of the Germans were injured, one of them seriously. All were treated at an American station, after which they were taken to a hospital.

              I asked one of the prisoners—a dealer in electrical supplies when there is no war—if it is true that the German soldiers actually believe the Americans are so bloodthirsty that they never take prisoners. He said German officers try to instill this belief into the minds of the soldiers, but that few believe it, although, he added, with a shake of his head, “American soldiers fight pretty hard.” Some of the prisoners said they had been in the line only a few hours when they were taken. Others said that if they were sure the Americans would not kill, thousands of the Germans would give themselves up, because they are sick of the war.

Not Sure of Winning Now

              Asked if the Germans expect they can win the war, the most intelligent of the prisoners with whom I talked said:--

              “We don’t know. We thought the war would be over this year, but now it won’t. We don’t know what is going on except where we are. I know of the retreat from the Marne, because I was in the army that retreated.”

              One prisoner had a diary. On a day soon after the Franco-American offensive was well under way, he wrote a lament over things in general, and concluded with the phrase, “Good-bye, Rheims.”

              Two French soldiers who were captured by the Germans on May 27 escaped and entered the American lines yesterday. They tell interesting stories of the treatment accorded them and of the situation generally among the Germans, so far as they were able to observe it. The Frenchmen are Henri G----. a metal worker, of Saint-Nazaire, and Alfred M----, of Paris. They, with several others, cut the wire around their prison five nights ago and started for their own lines. Some of the French were overtaken. G---- and M---- walked when it was dark, hiding when it was daylight, and about two o’clock this morning, in the Fismes region, started across the Vesle. They attracted the attention of an American, who, instead of firing at them, gave chase. The French soldiers stopped, and convinced him that they were friendly. They were astounded to learn that Allied soldiers had reached the Vesle.

How They Treat Captives

              I talked with the Frenchmen this afternoon at an American headquarters. They say the Germans treated them very badly, compelling then to work till they were too weary to stand; that the Germans gave them hardly enough food to keep body and soul together; that one or two prisoners die each day in prison from weakness caused by lack of proper food; that 250 grammes of bread, some weak beetroot soup and a teaspoonful of marmalade was their daily allowance; that the German keepers strike prisoners with sticks for the most common and trifling offences, and that the rations of the German soldiers have been cut down in order that food may be sent to Austria, where there are, they declared, according to reports, sinister mumblings from a discontented people.

              G---- said that the German losses since the big German offensive started on July 14 have been exceedingly heavy. He saw five or six hospital trains pass each day through the village of Laorin. Cattle cars were being used, he said, to haul the wounded.

              Before the Franco-American offensive started the Germans talked haughtily of their oncoming march to Paris, but since then he states that the Germans where he was seemed to be in a demoralized state and were silent regarding the “On to Paris!” advance.

              G---- says he saw one prisoner killed by German guards. He was guilty only of a mild breach of discipline. G---- says also that the Germans boasted that they had burned French crops in many sections.

          Don Martin reported that he visited the grave of Quentin Roosevelt, dated Saturday  August 10. The dispatch was published in the Paris Herald on Monday, August 12:           

Amexes Carefully Tend the Grave of Quentin Roosevelt

(Special Telegram to the Paris Herald)

By Don Martin 

With The American Armies, Saturday.

                 It is now confirmed in official records that Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt, son of America’s distinguished citizen and former President, is buried about a quarter of a mile north of the village of Chamery. I saw the grave today. It is within a few yards of the charred remains of the machine in which he was flying when he was attacked by Boche aviators.

                   The crude marker which the Germans had placed upon his resting place has been removed and in its place is a decent marker, delicately inscribed: --

                 “First Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt, Air Service U.S.A., killed in action July, 1918.”

              The German epitaph read: “Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt, buried by the Germans, July 14, 1918.”

                  At the head of the grave is a bouquet of wax roses to which is attached a card reading: “Miss Evangeline Booth, Commander Salvation Army, 120 West Forty-fourth street, New York City.”

               There is no doubt, officers say, that the body reposing in the grave on a little eminence which is part of a magnificent panorama, which but a short time ago was the scene of bloody fighting between the Americans and the Huns, is that of Lieutenant Roosevelt. When they were convinced of it Americans, acting under the direction of Lieutenant A. J. Lytle, suitably laid out the spot, encircled it with wire and placed thereon a proper marker. A sentry was then stationed at the grave. A diagram and sketch was made showing the exact location of the spot and the place where the young Lieutenant fell. It has been sent to Theodore Roosevelt at Oyster Bay.