Don Martin diary entry for Monday, September 16, 1918:
Had interesting trip. Went to Essey; then to
Nonsard and on through Heudicourt to Saint Mihiel. Talked to several persons
who lived in villages during German occupation of four years. Saw German
cemetery in Saint Mihiel – fully 6,000 Germans buried there. Monuments
elaborate as anything in Europe. German efficiency has a counterpart in German
effrontery. Americans here about cleaned out the salient. Germans never stopped
to give a fight. Our casualties are very small, but we have about 20,000
prisoners. Met Jack Wheeler tonight. Another air raid alert.
 |
| St.-Mihiel salient battle map From Paris Herald, September 17, 1918 |
Don Martin's daily report for Paris on September 16 was on a French political topic, recalling that politics was close to his heart. It was published in the Paris Herald on Tuesday, Sept 17.
French Premier Gives Thanks
to General Pershing
(Special Telegram to the Herald)
By DON MARTIN
With The American Armies, Monday.
M. Clemenceau
visited the American Headquarters yesterday afternoon and talked with General
Pershing, whom he complimented on the work done by his men. He said: “The
Americans are deserving of much praise.” Afterwards the Premier visited some of
the interesting points near the front.
M. Clemenceau
left Paris to visit the new Voivre front on Saturday morning. He was
accompanied by M. René Renoult, president of the Army Committee of the Chamber
of Deputies, and General Mordacq.
After
congratulating General Pershing and the other American generals commanding the
victorious forces from the United States, M. Clemenceau made a tour of
inspection through the reconquered territory, visiting Thiaucourt and
Vigneulles and passing a considerable time in a front-line observation post
near Hattonchatel. He also went to Saint-Mihiel, where he assured the municipal
authorities of the grateful solicitude of the Government and presented
congratulations to General de D---, the commander of the first metropolitan
division that entered the reconquered Lorraine town.
In its Sunday edition on September 15, 1918, the New York Herald featured the following two series of photos taken by Don Martin and mailed to New York.
In its Sunday edition on September 15, 1918, the New York Herald featured the following two series of photos taken by Don Martin and mailed to New York.
Banner headline at top of
page:
DON MARTIN’S THRILLING TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN SOLDIER
7 Photos by DON MARTIN
No. 1—Shell-shattered buildings in
Fere-en-Tardenois. The sign is German.
No. 2—A glance westward on the principal street in
Vaux, which was taken by the Americans after one of the most violent
bombardments of the war.
No. 3—A public market in Fere-en-Tardenois which
the Germans, during their six weeks’ occupation of the city, used as a
hospital. American soldiers who cleaned up the city are having their mess at
noon time.
No. 4—This is a close range photograph of a shell
hole made by one of the French heavy guns. The hole is about eight feet in
depth and about thirty feet in diameter.
No. 5—Wrecked building in village of Essomes on the
Marne. Shells fell in great numbers here.
No. 6—Here is what an aerial bomb did to a two
story building in Fere-en-Tardenois.
No. 7—This picture gives a good idea of the force
of a high explosive shell.
Banner headline at top of
page:
HOW A BIG BATTLE IS FOUGHT,
AS DESCRIBED BY DON MARTIN
6 Photos
by Don Martin
No. 1---These two
Frenchmen are moving back to their wrecked home. They left it in June and it
was badly damaged by shells.
No. 2---A movement toward
the front.
No. 3---A village street
on the outskirts of Fere-en-Tardenois.
No, 4---An aerial bomb
struck this house. On June 1 it was a fine new dwelling owned by a wealthy
manufacturer of Chateau-Thierry.
No. 5---Typical grave of a
German lieutenant, holder of the Iron Cross/
No. 6—In the village of
Beuvardes, recaptured by the Americans and French, the French cemetery has been
despoiled by the Germans. There are twenty German markers, some of which are
shown in the photograph over spots where French citizens of Beuvardes, dead
many years, had been buried.
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