December 13 (Thursday). Doc Sturgill blew in today, coming to duty in the Adjutant General Office. Col Willcox is staying at the hotel.
December 17 (Monday). A notice came around today that six of the Air Service, one of them were detailed to attend services at 1030 at the St Jean-Baptiste Church. It was very impressive. Gen Pershing with his staff, several departments chiefs, and representatives of all departments, many French officers – De la Vaulx chaperoned the Aîr Service representatives. This church is a very old one – they say îts building extended over 4 centuries. The bishop was present. First came high mass which lasted three-quarters of an hour, then the Bishop delivered a half-hour sermon on the soldiers who had been killed in the war – both French and allied. The services were in their honor. I have joined the ‘gas class’. At 1645 daily we report to the gas service to be told of the deadly effect of gas clouds and gas shells, to have gas masks issued and fitted, and to learn how to breathe with a pair of pinchers on your nose and a rubber hose in your mouth.
December 19 (Wednesday). Took Pulsifer and left for Neufchateau, talked to Col Mcindoe about Vadenay buildings, then on to lunch at Amanty with the 1st Aero Squadron. Royce away – saw McNarney. They are flying every day on Air Reconnaissance and work with the 1st Division. To Gondrecourt – met Col Lyon, în command of the 1st Corps Schools, Maj Lister, the Executive Officer, showed me around. Then out to a burned chateau on the other side of town to HQs of the Artillery School. Two or three rooms still have roofs, so are occupied by the Corps Officers (Pelham Glassford) and serve as HQs. G was not there so we went out to the artillery firing ground where we found him and Cubbison; they are working hard and had a class of 60 student officers.
(Amanty was the site of the I Corps Observation Training Center. The 1st Aero Squadron was the first Air Service squadron to reach France on September 13, 1917, and the only American air combat unit in France in 1917; it was commanded by Maj Ralph Royce. After training at French schools, the squadron received French planes and underwent further training as did other US air units which arrived in France during the fall and the winter; it made its first combat flight (observation) on April 11, 1918)
(The 1st Division was the first US Infantry Division to arrive in France, its Headquarters having arrived on June 27, 1917. Its training area was at Gondrecourt. It suffered the second-greatest number of casualties among the AEF’s 8 Regular Army Divisions and 35 National Guard Divisions).
December 21 (Friday). Today was the last session of the ‘gas class’. We all donned our British-type masks and put the rubber tubes in our mouths and the clips on our noses. Then started on a hike. It was funny to see the effect on different ones. One man sounded as tho’ he was snoring. Maj Bacon, the ex-ambassador, took his off when we had gone less than a mile. Finally, we were marched up a little hill. I got out of breath somewhat, due probably to a combination of the mask and the climb. We changed to the French mask toward the end. It is much pleasanter to wear – tho’ somewhat warmer. In summer it must be very hot. Wood left today to join Gen Atterbury in Paris.
December 23 (Sunday). Left with Dr. Wadhams for Vadenay. Very cold. The trouble with the engine, so it looked as tho’ we would have to turn back – finally discovered that ît was water in the carburetor (sic). By draining it three times, we finally reached Chalons at 1700 – got to the bridal chamber at the Hotel de la Haute Mère Dieu. Saw the medical authorities of the Army and arranged for the care of our sick at a field hospital just across the road from the US Balloon School site at Cuperly. We accepted the proposal of the landlady to have a fire in our room and lighted it after dinner. The straw and kindling burned beautifully but the wood was so green that the fire simply gnawed a little dent in the side and made it sizzle. Wadhams had already gone to bed with a good part of his clothes still on – and I had to follow suit.
(The School was actually established on January 9, 1918. On January 23, 1918, the first ascent in France by a US military balloon took place at the school).
December 24 (Monday). After a cold ride, we reached the school site at 0830. Passed troops and transport on the road – all 1ooking very cold – horses all covered with frost and ice. Capt Menard met us, Capt Mondin was away. The road is completed, the water system is about 50% done, and the poles for the power line în the ground and frame up for the transformer station. Just as we were leaving, an American in a French uniform came up and asked for a ride to Chalons. It proved to be Marr of the Lafayette Squadron, which was located about 1.5 miles away, so we ran over to see them. They are just getting into winter quarters. Lufbery, Soubiran, Peterson, and a couple of others were there. In to
December 25, Christmas (Tuesday). We had a happy hour untying our presents, beginning with the children. A fine big turkey made it seem like Christmas Dinner, and I believe everyone at the party was particularly pleased to be there. Outside of the regular family were Col Fiebeger, Woody, Huntington, Harter, John Black, and Emmons who had just been commissioned in the artillery, and a brother of Mary Gans’ roommate at Vassar. It was a particularly congenial party and everyone enjoyed Christmas as much as he could so far from home.
December 26 (Wednesday). At the office with Chandler in the morning, more conferences with Chandler in the afternoon – Yon came în. The 40 forerunners of the extra balloon officers came in today – they look like a good lot on the whole. The French Balloon Companies in which they are to receive their preliminary instruction have already been designated, so they will go to the front as soon as their orders are issued.
December 27 (Thursday). Met Col Fiebeger at the 8 o’clock train. A beautiful winter day, the ground perfectly white with snow. I arrived at Chaumont at 1230. Col Fiebeger on to Langres. Chaumont is several degrees colder than Paris.
December 28 (Friday). Col. Fiebeger visited his friends at the HQs, went out to see Col Stuart în the hospital and I saw him off on the 1730 train. Word came today that the four balloon companies have arrived at
(These were Balloon Companies Able, Baker, Charlie, and Dog of the 2nd Balloon Squadron. In June 1918, they became the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Balloon
Companies. They arrived in France under command of Maj John Paegelow).
December 29 (Saturday). I got up, dressed, and ate my breakfast at a temperature of 50°F. But the men in the trenches are the ones to feel it – not those of us living in steam-heated rooms.
January 1 (Tuesday). A Happy New Year, perhaps, tho’ I have found no one today who could see why. I slept till 0800 to celebrate the occasion, then went to work as usual, like all the others. Took lunch with Mitchell, Flake, and Fumat at Hi11 402 (Airdrome GHQ AEF 2 miles from Chaumont), and had a 20-minute flight with Fumat afterward in a dual control 23 meter, 9 cyl. Rhone-motored Nieuport. I had no difficulty whatever with the stick control – any Deperdussin pilot should be able to use it. The Nieuport handled easily, but as the ground was covered with snow, Fumat did not trust me to try a landing – in fact, he had a little difficulty himself getting it on the ground. A word from Chandler today that Fleischmann is on the way with another balloon squadron.
January 3 (Thursday). The report about another squadron is incorrect. Fleischmann came with the 2nd Balloon Company (Baker) and is to go back to the States after accumulating information. Had a short spin of 20 minutes with Fumat today – a little cold and bumpy.
January 4 (Friday). Left at 1100 taking Brashear, the construction man, with me. Reached Chalons 1600, pretty well frozen in spite of my flying suit and sheep-skinned (sic) lined boots. Hotel de la Haute Mère Dieu had no heat of any kind, so we found rooms at the Hotel de l’Angleterre which was crowded with officers, but pretty well heated. Looked up Forgeau barracks and saw where Charlie Balloon Company] was to be quartered. We finally met the Company at the station in 2030. They had been two days en route from Le Havre and were pretty cold and dirty – several with bad colds approaching grippe. Lt Clark in command, Lt Martin, Lt Connell, Lt Lentz, and Lt Durkee. The last is the Omaha boy Ï remembers very well. Took the Company into the American Red Cross Y.M.C.A. hut în the station and saw they each got a cup of hot coffee, then while Brashear showed them the way to their barracks, I got the officers 1ocated in their billets. To bed at midnight.
January 5 (Saturday). Took Clark and Brashear and started for Vadenay – but held up by feed pipe freezing up – finally reached there at 1100 -met Capt Menard and went with him to the 48th French Balloon Company and met Capt Jacques Verné – speaks very good English. With his Company are lieutenants all extra officers of our Balloon Service, who have just come. They were most enthusiastic over the Company Commander and thought they were being treated royally. Work on School at CuperlyChalons called on Maj Néant and Maj Bourget but they were out. Left about 1400 and reached the Heavy Artillery Observation Training Center at Mailly before 1600.
Found John B. Murphy, Chief of Staff to Gen Coe. Saw the latter, Col Chamberlaine, Col Hatch, Tex Hesterveit, and Rhoads up from Valdahon. Gen Headiam, a British General came in – dinner at the Cercle sat between two French officers, one a banker who thought Germany and France were bound to go to war and had made his preparations before it came. Slept in a nice warm room with Rhoads in one of the permanent stone buildings that were part of the large establishment here before the War. There are numerous permanent buildings – supplemented with large numbers of temporary buildings. There are some 36 of our heavy batteries here, besides a lot of French heavy artillery.
January 6 (Sunday). Montepreux, where Capt Isaac is located on the 54th French Company in an old chateau – he has six of our extra Lieutenants with him – but is having difficulty getting started. Has his balloon bed all cut, but has not inflated his balloon as yet, so is not ready to observe the fire today. The large flying camp near the firing ground has about 18 hangars, all nicely bunched for the Boche bombers when they come. A number of machines were in the aîr observing the fire of our railroad artillery. Stopped a minute at the 23rd French Company, which has its balloon camped along the main Sommesous – Vitry-1e-François road. Back to Chaumont. Transport and troops all aïong the road and ‘au repos’ (at ease) as far south as Joinville. In spite of the cold, they all seemed to be out – some blacks of an African (sic) regiment were huddled around a fire they had built beside the road. They must suffer a great deal. Around Vitry-le-François, all the white soldiers had their girls out for a walk.
January 12 (Saturday). This has been a week of heavy snow, rain, slush, then cold again, more snow, and ice – Chandler and Fleischman came in today. Now Chandler wants me to go back to Washington to straighten out the tangle in the Balloon Service. I don’t enthuse much over having the job of straightening out the muddle that I fear he left, but in some respects would be glad to get back there to straighten out some other matters. Certainly, the Balloon Service does need a little reviewing. Chandler went back to Paris after conferences with the General Staff on Organization and Training. Thee
Paris HQs of Air Service are all to go to Tours in a couple of days.
(Headquarters, Air Service AEF moved on January 15, as did Office, Chief of Balloon Section, now under Chandler. Also at Tours were Headquarters of Service of Supply, AEF, and an Aîr Service Observation Training Center).
January 14 (Monday). Gurney came in yesterday. Today is a beautiful bright clear day – the first in a long time. The ground is a glare of ice covered with water.
January 15 (Tuesday). Lt Clark came in a sidecar today from Chalons, looking for muster rolls, etc. The 3 barracks and six huts have arrived at Vadenay fortunately. Last night we dropped into the new Inter-Allied Club. It is a nicely lighted and – much more to the poînt – a well-heated club with a reading room and three or four card rooms and lounging rooms. This will be a great boon for the American officers. Practically all of them are living in poorly heated billets, and while everyone works all day seven days a week, there will be times in the evening occasions, when officers wi11 be glad to go to the ‘Cercle’ instead of going to bed to get warm.
January 17 (Thursday). Left Chaumont, taking Fleischman and Gurney with me – roads wet and muddy so it took a little over four hours to reach Chalons. After lunch, we ran out to the School. Building coming along slowly – one barrack up, one near 50. Little more work had been done on the water system. Took the three – Fleïschman, Gurney, and Clark over to see Capt Mondin at the French School. All his staff is away on permission (leave), between two ‘stages’. He is to have a new class of 35 observers and 31 officers de maneuver (tactical officers). Lt Martin with us.
January 18 (Friday). We called French Air HQs this morning, found Commandant Boucher and Commandant Néant, and Visited the 53rd Company, Capt André. Four of our extra officers were in this Company for training. Officers and men are all quartered in dug-outs or ‘abris’, about half underground. They were remarkably comfortable. Most of them had built brick fireplaces, and with their wood fires, they looked very cheerful and homelike. From here we went to Suippes, the remains of what was once a pretty little town. No inhabitants now except the troops, and as this is bombarded occasionally, most of them are în bomb proofs. Just outside we found the 56th French Company – nicely installed and everything looked very well, in spite of the rain which has kept up all day.
Three four very likely looking balloon officers, Patterson, Taylor, Bryan, and Likens are with this Company. Maj Néant presented the Croix de Guerre, with palms, and a very patriotic speech to a very young sergeant observer who was attacked in the air by a Boche plane 3 or 4 days ago. The sergeant emptied his carbine at the Boche as the latter came on firing his incendiary bullets. The balloon was set on fire, so the observer dropped his carbine and jumped with his parachute in time to clear the burning balloon as it fel1. He had his nerve – no doubt about ît. The same day he was up again as soon as a new balloon was inflated. We went out forward a couple of kilometers to see the underground main exchange and ascension point.
January 19 (Saturday). In Chaumont in 4 hours.
January 20 (Sunday). Took Dr. Lyster for a 5-mile rapid walk to Hill 402. Found a new Squadron of ours there.
January 21 (Monday). Jim Shannon dined with me at the hotel tonight. A good man, and probably the best fit in the Army for his job. He is in charge of personnel, and recommendations for promotion. No one could be squarer or less biased than he is.
January 22 (Tuesday). Moved into my billet today, 47 Avenue Fort Lambert, just a few doors from headquarters. Steam heat and electricity – a very nice room on the first floor, front, with a good big closet, clothes press, good French bed, Mme. îs the typical thrifty, well-to-do French type, probably well off and has a house above the average, but appears very bourgeoise, dressed very plainly. Her daughter and a little grandson live with her. The son-in-law is a captain of infantry at the front. A single maid of all work – has a brother who has been a prisoner in Germany since 1914.
January 23 (Wednesday). I gave a little farewell dinner at the hotel tonight to Frank Page who leaves in a day or two for construction duty. Billy Mitchell, Harmon, Boyrévin, Capt Hall, Kenney, Page, and myself.
January 24 (Thursday). This has been a perfect day at the end of a series of nearly perfect days. I had a fine ride in a 23 Nieuport with Fumat. We were up for over an hour and went up far enough to see Joinville. This evening I went to dinner at the Chateau. Gen Kennedy and Gen Kuhn, Col William Mitchell, Col Lincoln, Col Corky Davis, and Col Milling, – also Page, Capt Hall, Harmon, Capt Kuhn, Kenney, Maj Armengaud, Capt Yon. Lots of hot air and a royal good time.
January 25 (Friday). Went to Paris.
January 26 (Saturday). Confab with Chandler at Jouett’s office. Shopping – found a good sleeping bag and trench coat in Old England. More confab in the afternoon, more shopping.
January 27 (Sunday). Still talking with Chandler, Jouett, and Pleiss. In the evening Féline came in. He is very violent in his denunciation of the man who had him retired some 9 months ago, from the remount service. He practices pistol dueling and fencing every day and expects to challenge his ‘friend’. The only trouble is, dueling is forbidden during the war. Word came today that Cousin Nill Upson has arrived on the ‘Espagne’ – as a Red Cross canteen inspector.
January 28 (Monday). Foggy when I started for the train for Chaumont but later cleared up and is a beautiful bright, clear, and very crisp winter day.
January 29 (Tuesday). Ran up to Neufchateau (Headquarter Air Service, I Corps, Billy Mitchell, in addition to being HQ AEF, Zone of Advance) with Fumat in the 23-meter dual control Nieuport to see Col McIndoe about additional buildings for the Balloon School in Cuperly. 30 minutes up. We landed on the French airdrome. This is a bombing group – the C0 was away on a bombing expedition across the line with several of his machines. It took us only 25 minutes to return, about 55 kilometers (35 miles) in a perfectly straight line.
January 30 (Wednesday). Ran onto Smith, W.D., and Grunert at the Comsy this morning, both have just joined the Administrative Section, General Staff. I had a very good lesson with Fumat on the 23 Nieuport today.
January 31 (Thursday). Capt Wrenn came in today – seemed to be a very nice youngster, tho’ says he is 28. Has just gone to Mailly to assist Capt Isaac is in the training of six of our extra officers. Jens Bugge has just come over to join the general staff.
