Diary, August 24, 1918

Aug 24. Sat- been traveling all day in Box car. went thru St. Denis and Paris; at 230 PM went into Chateau Theirry. traveled on railroad running along The Marne. And one can well see what must have taken place earlier. Was rather unexpected to get to travel thru such historical places- as the second offensive from Germany over the Marne. they crossed the Marne from Chateau Theirry, Mezy, Jaulgonne, Dormas and almost to Epernay. Railroad embankment full of dugouts. All the bridges over the Marne for this space have been bombed and wrecked pontoons wrecked are all along the banks of the river. River not wide but deep. Every Village in sight along railroad is completely wrecked- such desolation! and the most beautiful valley of the Marne! The highland to the north with with villages almost linking to each other all nestled so secure in the vallies - But the Germans did not see the beauty - so the desolation. Thru here railroad is almost all new. as there was not much left on the retreat as many graves