Don Martin diary entry for Sunday, September 22, 1918:
Went to Menil la Tour with [Edwin] James [New
York Times], also to Seizerais. Wrote short cable. Little going on on our
front. [Ray] Carroll [Philadelphia Pubic Ledger] has sent cable to his paper
saying that most of the correspondents are of draft age. Had dinner at
Angleterre with the widow who is a very fine woman with homes in many places.
No raid alert.
Don Martin reported on September 22 to Paris that action was starting up again on his front. It was published in the Paris Herald on Monday,
September 23.
FOE PLACES GUNS AND
STIFFENS LINE TO
RESIST YANKS
American Back Areas Heavily
Shelled—
Enemy Evidently Means To Fight Stubbornly
(Special Telegram to the Herald)
By Don Martin
With The American Armies, Sunday
There has
been considerable activity in a small way on the American front in the vicinity
of Haumont. Three raids in force were made by the Americans, who netted in all
thirty-one prisoners. Two of the raids were near Haumont; the other one was near Charey. Forty wounded Germans were
counted. The prisoners belonged to a Jaeger regiment.
For the last
twenty-four hours the Germans have been pouring a harassing fire of shrapnel
and high explosives upon the American back areas and bombing the roads and
ravines at night. Apparently they have recovered their breath after the hurried
withdrawal from the Saint-Mihiel salient and now they have their guns placed
they intend to fight fiercely every foot of terrain. There are indications that
they have new strong troops in line.
We made a
raid at one point last night and took six prisoners. Patrols killed one German
who was found to be a member of a new German unit.
It will
interest the Germans to know that within twelve hours after they had abandoned
the territory American engineers connected our narrow gauge railways with the
Germans; thus giving the Americans a splendid railway system through out the
entire salient.
I have just
heard of the remarkable case of a young American, who is applying for a place
outside the lines, as he says he stammers too much to make a good soldier. He
says that he was recently held up by a sentry, who asked for the password. He
tried to give it, but was so slow in his speech that the sentry shot at him,
but fortunately missed him. By that time the stammering private had recovered
this speech and explained matters.
Great story reported about airman Lt. Frank Luke, dated September 22 and published in the Paris Herald on Monday,
September 23.
Lieut. F. Luke, New Ace,
Has Got Six
Since Sept. 2
(Special Telegram to the Herald)
By Don Martin
With The American Armies, Sunday.
Although there is no
verification yet for some of his victories, it is believed that Lieutenant
Frank Luke, of Phoenix, Ariz., is the latest American “ace.” Six times since
September 2 he has brought down either a plane or a balloon in flames, and
altogether he has brought down eleven or twelve “sausages” and three or four
planes. He is one of the most daring of
our aviators. He attacks balloons while they are close to the ground, and also
shoots them in their beds, that is, while they are on the ground.
Recently he came back saying he had shot down two balloons.
Some of his companions were skeptical, so Luke said: “Well, come and see. We’ll
get some more.” He and a companion flew toward the German line. It was
twilight. Three German balloons were in sight, but they all started down as the
Americans approached. Luke, with the coolest nerve, swooped past the three and
sent two to the ground and then returned to the aerodrome. His companion simply
remarked: “He’s no dreamer this boy; he gets them,”
Lieutenant Eddie Rickenbacker is believed to be second with
eight official victories, and Lieutenant Edgar Y. Tobin, of San Antonio, Tex.,
is thought to be next with seven.
The work of American observation
squadrons is winning praise from everyone. They have recently flown over Metz
at low altitudes, getting splendid pictures despite the savagery of the German
anti-aircraft attacks. Our fliers show a fine spirit of sportsmanship and
bravery, when a dangerous task is to be done; they volunteer, frequently flying
without escorts.
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