August 21, 1918: Don Martin reports from Meaux

Don Martin diary entry for Wednesday, August 21, 191:

Stayed in again. Little bowel trouble so did not get up (to stay) till noon. Hung around the hotel all day. Front very quiet. Most of the correspondents either having a holiday or loafing.

Don Martin recorded that war correspondents considered the front was “very quiet,” but, as he reported in his brief daily dispatch for Paris, up at Belleau Wood the 7^th infantry was being hit by heavy fire and making no progress. His dispatch was published in the Paris Herald on Thursday, August 22.

STEADILY POURING STREAM

OF SHELLS UPON THE HUNS

Heavy American Artillery Answers Enemy’s

Night Bombing of Woods and Roads

(Special Telegram to the Herald)

By Don Martin

With The American Armies, Wednesday

Quiet continues along the American front in the region of Vesle. A German patrol clashed with an American patrol last night, with the result that the Americans took one prisoner. He was illiterate. He apparently knew nothing of the plans of the Germans and could not even tell the location of their front line.

The Germans continue to direct heavy artillery fire on our back areas and to bomb woods and roads at night. Heavy American guns are pouring a steady stream of explosives on the Huns.

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