GEORGE S. PATTON DIARIES Annotated transcripts Jan.-Mar. 1918 BOX 2 FOLDER 5 (Diary) G. S. Patton Jr. Capt. of Cav. Director Army Tank School Langres, France 2 Rue Pierre Durand House built end of 1200 A.D. Tuesday Jan. 1, 1918 Went to Paris on the 5:30 P.M. Train got in at 10 P.M. went to Meurice and to bed. (Diary 1918) Sunday Jan.6 Saw Anne Boyd and had lunch with her read book. Went to Casino de Paris and saw Gaby des Lys [Lies]. excellent show. Gabies shape much better than when I last saw her in 1911. (Diary 1918) Tuesday Jan. 8 Rocky and I worked on organization all day and till 10 at night be approved my plans but we had to change the names to make them fit Tank Program. Bishop Brent and an English Bish. were at the Gen. House. Gen. P and Boyd went to Paris. I saw 10 Lts C.A.C. and sent them to Langres with Braine 5 to m.G. school 5 to 37m. (Diary 1918) Friday Jan. 11 Had talk with Gen. McAndrew very satisfactory. Looked over new ground. (Diary 1918) Saturday Jan. 12 Wrote renewed request for Land. (Diary 1918) Sunday Jan. 13 Went to Chaumont in P.M. to see Col. R. Returned sunday night got stuck in snow. (Diary 1918) Monday Jan. 14 Worked on requisition for spare parts and replacements. Wrote letter about misconduct of Lt. Jacobs. (Diary 1918) Tuesday Jan. 15 Finished requisition in morning and went to Chaumont in P.M. Took three hours as I got stuck on slippery hill which I could not clime. Staid all night with Col. R. (Diary 1918) Friday Jan. 18 Went to see French Mission about Tank Camp. Promised they would give me a place to day. Had argument with Lt Jacobs over his trying to run me out of my house. (Diary 1918) Saturday Jan. 19 Went to Chaumont to see Col. Rockenbach off for England. Every thing for the tanks looks fine. Collins came back with me to spend the day. Saw Col. F. [*Fox] Conner about approving tank land. (Diary 1918) Sunday Jan. 20 Went to see the French about Target Ranges and after much talk I got all we asked for including the Tank ground. Collins and I went for a ride to tank center. (Diary 1918) Monday Jan. 21 Took Col. Drum out to see the Tank center he will approve it to Col. Conner. Worked in office on speach or lecture to be given 23 to bunch of generals and colonels. Lt. Col. Drum Collins went back to Chaumont. Gen. Sample called to appologize for conduct of Lt. Jacobs of his staff. (Diary 1918) Tuesday Jan. 22 Typed notes for Lecture Went to Chaumont found all gone to hell. Coordination section had disapproved land and held up buildings. I got it smoothed out again but Gen. Williams told me that we could get no tanks from the French. I talked over trailer business with him and he seemed much interested. (Dairy 1918) Thursday Jan. 24 Nothing (Diary 1918) Friday Jan. 25 Got ready to move out of house. (Diary 1918) Saturday Jan. 26 [*(missing)*] Moved to new house No. 48 Rue The owner and her daughter came to arrange things very nice people and good looking. Two french officers came from mortigny-les-Bains [Montigny Le Bans] to look over camp found it good. (Diary 1918) Monday Jan. 28 Went to Chaumont to see Col. Rockenbach. He talked a lot and said nothing. (Diary 1918) Thursday Jan. 31 Lt. Braine left for Paris to day. I was sorry to see him go he is the most reliable man I have yet met and has plenty of sense. Sent a couple of pictures by him. Got my first "Overseas cap" (Diary 1918) Saturday Feb. 2 Went to Chaumont in P.M. Saw Col. R. He wired recomending me for Lt. Col. National Army as I have not sufficient rank to get proper subordinates. He told me that I was to organize 1st Tank center and see to biliting arrangements for 12 cos. light tanks he had asked for. Also to select to G. S. officers from Staff School. Returned to Langres in evening at 9:30 P.M. (Diary 1918) Sunday Feb. 3 Saw Lt. Col Wade about billiting areas. Saw Lt. Col Bjonstead [*?*] about students. Made tentative plan for 1st Tank Center Staff. [*check*] (Diary 1918) Wednesday Feb. 6 Saw Maj Drain [*?*] at 10 A.M. worked in office till 7. Got all material approved. Went to see Gaby des Lys. Col Had lunch with Comdt. Michele and got promise of 10 tanks in March. French fear big German attack and are bending all energies to meet it. (Diary 1918) Friday Feb. 8 Left Paris at 8 A.M. reached Langres at 2:30 Found letters from B and the sweater she sent me. Going to Dine at Gen. McAndrews. Gen. Vaughn Chief of Staff to Gen Bing gave lecture on Cambrai operation. (Diary 1918) Saturday Feb. 9 Made out tables for Q.M. & Ordnance Supply of Tank Cos. Col. Boer telephoned that I was to go to Blois to select men for 1st Lt. Tank Co. (Diary 1918) Sunday Feb. 10 Col. R. & Col. Walker Eng came to lunch and later Col. R. met officers and gave little Talk. We then inspected Tank Area. Wrote to Lt Col. Alexander about maps. Went to see Lt Col Reed at Chaumont found him very nervous. Gave him some sleeping medicine. (Diary 1918) Monday Feb. 11 Went to L of C about billits at Bourg and they promised to fix it for me. (Diary 1918) Thursday Feb. 14 Went to Saumur to see the Canards and Md. Clery. Found every thing as usual all were dilighted to see me. Returned to Jours had dinner at Hotel l' Universe with Chapman & Bowen Caught Army special at 8:10. Slept well. (Diary 1918) Friday Feb. 15 Reached Chaumont at 12:35 went to see Col. R. made report of trip. got S.O. [*special order*] No. 2 Tank Corps detailing me as C.O. 1st Light tank center. Came to Langres at 6:30 with Col. R. he left after supper. Had indigestion and was biluous took lot of water and some black pills. Letter from B and packages. (Diary 1918) Saturday Feb. 16 Worked out arrangements for reception of companies. 4 letters from B. (Diary 1918) Sunday Feb. 17 Got Telegram that 2 Tank companies would be in at 9:25 had men meet train Got [*illeg*] on phone and found they would be in after 1. Went to station Lt. Col. H. B. Hennessey came with them. Marched them to St. Geosmes [Joemes] and put them in billits. 195 men all told good lot. (Diary 1918) Monday Feb. 18 Inspected billets in P.M. Called on Doctor in charge of Amb. sect. Got Maj. Keep Eng. R to order lumber for buildings. (Diary 1918) Tuesday Feb. 19 Went to camp at 8 A.M. gave men talk on discipline and behavior. Had lecture by Maj. Tracy on camouflage. Went to gas course in P.M. Sent list of proposed rank of officers to Col. R. at 1:30. (Diary 1918) Wednesday Feb 20 Gas lecture and drill in morning. Went to Bourg to look over billets. (Diary 1918) Thursday Feb. 21 Gas lecture and practice in gas chamber full of tear gas. Box resperator absolutely nutrilizes gas. Mask shows a little gas if you breath deep. Went to Bourg and assigned Billets for officers and men. (Diary 1918) Friday Feb. 22 Moved A & B Cos to Bourg. Inspected old Billits at St. Geosmes and found them clean. Established Camp. Heard a tank had arrived rushed about but found mistake due to bad French on part of Lt. Brown. Called up Col. R and demanded transportation Got, Dodge Sedan, motor cycle, and Truck. (Diary 1918) Saturday Feb. 23 Had inspection found men dirty and not shaved raised hell and disciplined Doctor for not keeping heels together. Took Bath. Saw Gen. Wood. Col. Collins came to lunch. (Diary 1918) Sunday Feb. 24 Went to Bourg and fooled around nothing much. Dr. Hand reported. (Diary 1918) Monday Feb. 25 Went to drill at 8:30 men did well. Gave lessons in pistol shooting in P.M. (Diary 1918) Tuesday Feb. 26 Tuesday nothing (Diary 1918) Wednesday Feb. 27 Wednesday. Lessons in Pistol shooting got Second Dodge by mistake I think saw old lady and rented rooms. (Diary 1918) Thursday Feb. 28 Went to drill found B. Co. not out on account of rain. Got them out. Had inspection A. Co best, inspected billits found them very good. Latrines poor one case of mumps. (Diary 1918) Friday March 1 Snowed. Got hut from Gen Shipton Unloaded [bomber] lumber for Shops. R sent me a scheme to train 116 off. and 1638 men in no time. Worked out a scheme. (Diary 1918) Saturday March 2 Went to Chaumont to see Col R. about training. Recomended that Tanks have a representative in U.S. Col. said no. (Diary 1918) Sunday March 3 Boyd asked me if I wanted to go riding with Gen in P.M. said yes. We went to a place near Toul and saw M. [Clamercion] Clemenceau. Then went to Hq. 1st Div. to compliment them on repulse of Bosch raid. Found that we were going to have a show decided to stay all night. Gen. Summerall promised to let me go to observation post. But Gen. P saw me getting helmet and said no. Col. Purrington took me up road to Gen Duncans Brigade. Barage was to start at 1 A.M. with 90 guns. I staid up to see it. (Diary 1918) Monday March 4 Barage started to the second and in 3 minutes the Germans came back with more guns. At 1:20 regiments started Infantry unable to start [Brown] [?] was stopped Germans kept on for almost twenty minutes then all was quiet and we went to Bed about 2:30 P.M. I staid with Maj. Hixon We left at 7 A.M. reached Chaumont 10 and Langres 11:30 A.M. I caught 4:40 train for Paris and got train for Boulogne at 11 P.M. (Diary 1918) Tuesday March 5 Reached Folkstone at 2:30 P.M. and London at 5 P.M. I went to Kays and found a tea in progress. Met some interesting people and Mrs. Leverton Harris asked me to see Faust. She is wife of Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Blockade. Faust was sung in english but was pretty good. (Diary 1918) Sunday March 10 Left for Folkstone at 9:40 got to Boulogne at 4 P.M. Left for Paris at 8:20 P.M. sat up all night got in at 6 A.M. went to be at 7 got up at 8:30 Did some business and left for Chaumont (Diary 1918) Monday March 11 Left for Chaumont at 8 P.M. sat up till 3:30 A.M. (Diary 1918) Tuesday March 12 Saw Col. R in morning and left for Langres at 11:15 Fixed up business and went to bed. (Diary 1918) Wednesday March 13 Went to center in morning Col. R came down and seemed pleased. (Diary 1918) Thursday March 14 Made arrangements to visit Martigny-les-Bains. (Diary 1918) Saturday March 16 Nothing much. (Diary 1918) Sunday March 17 Had Elsie Janis and her mother to lunch she is not pretty but quite amusing though common in her pronunciation she wore an artificial Lepord skin coat. Met Secretary Baker and went around with him for a while seemed interested and intelligent. (Diary 1918) Monday March 18 Went to Center in morning and painted neck with iodine resulting in bad burn and much suffering. Moved office to Bourg. (Diary 1918) Tuesday March 19 Got telegram from B congratulating me on promotion to Lt. Col. have not heard of it yet otherwise neck much better. (Diary 1918) Wednesday March 20 Got telephone from Lt. Baker that tanks had left at 12 noon should reach there on 22 P.M. Had preliminaries for Track meet. (Diary 1918) Thursday March 21 Got Cable gram from Mrs. Ayer to the effect that, "Our commander has gone from us all his thoughts and actions showed love for you, Ellie" Wired Mrs. Ayer direct from Chaumont by authority of Col Davs. "Deep sympathy to you and Beatrice, Love." Went to Chaumont and saw Col R about new sort of tank recomended that 10 be sent for trial Col R. asked for 15. (Diary 1918) Friday March 22 de Coppet left to go as aid to Gen Alexander we had some Champagne. (Diary 1918) Saturday March 23 Tanks arrived at Langres-Marne about 3 P.M. we arranged to unload them opposite the Bois d'Amour The train got here at 8:40 we had a hundred men and 10 extra with Fire extinguishers we got them all unloaded and in the woods at 12 mid night. I backed seven off the train and Lt. Baker the other three. (Diary 1918) Sunday March 24 Moved tanks into sheds and arranged to have them oiled on Monday. Left for Paris to get my machine at 4:40 Arrived at 11:10 and there was an air raid. (Diary 1918) Monday March 25 The long range gun put shells into Paris every 15 min. from 7 to 10 A.M. I left at 12:30 and reached Langres at 6:30 with out incident. The shells did little harm as they do not seem to cary much explosive. The range is said to be 120 Kil. The hits are well grouped most of them near the Gare [d'est] de l'Est. (Diary 1918) Tuesday March 26 Got eight men trained to act as instructors in driving. Arranged schedule so asto train 96 men and 8 officers in 3 weeks in Driving motors & guns. (Diary 1918) Wednesday March 27 Started schedule things did not work well. Examined BRENNES [*?*] as possible location for center. (Diary 1918) Thursday March 28 Gen Shipten & Lt Col Henry visited Center schedule worked better (Diary 1918) Saturday March 30 Had to abandon schedule in order to groom tanks. Col B & Gen Black visited center I drove tank through heavy woods for them. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.