Journal of Emil Taussig
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Emil's Timeline
The following is a summary of Emil Taussig's journal.
- May 25th 1918
- Arrives at Camp Merrit
- June 4th 1918
- Emil prepares for his tour in the Great War.
- June 5, 1918 - June 21, 1918
- En route to England, Emil departs from the United States along with his band mates to England. He arrives in Southhampton, and by June 22nd has performed his first military band concert at the local YMCA.
- June 23rd, 1918
- Following his short stay, Emil leaves for France. His journal reports of indicates the lack of sufficient traveling methods, " We were packed worse than cattle".
- June 25,1918
- Havre, France, Emil arrives at 9am, he mentions the only available method of bathing is a vapor bath. It has been his only "bath" in weeks.
- June 26th, 1918
- Emil left Havre, destined for Forcey, France to entertain an alternate camp.
- June 28, 1918
- Forcey, France (only a few miles away from Switzerland.) Emil's initial days in Forcey are characterized by boredom. Gossip around the camp is flourishing. Rumors of an elobrate capture of two German spies dressed up in United States uniforms is all the excitement for almost a whole month. His journal entries are short, and mainly consist of daily chores and activities. However, in late July he describes his thoughts and experience on a hike only a few miles away from the front lines.
- August 2,1918
- Emil is stationed at La Maus, France. "...visited hospital. Men of all descriptions in terrible condition, but in high spirits. Spoke to many Americans wounded all anxious to get back to front."
- August 4, 1918
- "Funeral for Sammy-marched from hospital to cemetary. Thousands of people looked on with sadness as if it was the first American funeral they ever saw."
- August 16, 1918
- La Suze, France. " A comrade who just returned from the the front told us of some trickery the Germans are using in thier retreat of the last weeks. They leave knives stuck in tables and when we pull them out, they discharge hidden bombs. Leave bombs under dead soilders, and when the body is turned over they discharge...Have strings stretched across no-mans-land and when night raiding party goes out they run in to them and ring a bell where men are placed with machine guns to mow them down...Now we are on to those tricks, those tricks bring them very little results."
- August 20, 1918
- La Suze, "The new gun which we are to use passed thru this town. Everyone gaged with wonderment of the massive sturcture. It's soposed to shoot 116 miles....Allies made nice gains and captured many prisoners."
- September 21, 1918
- Paris, France. "Have been having terrible itch of late, and skin is raw and bloody from continous itch. Have cuties(lice). Hard job getting rid of them. Nearly everyone has them now...Morality of the female sex is unbelievable. Thousands of girls everywhere."
- September 26, 1918
- La Suze "Bad-luck, broke tooth, and had to go to civilian dentist in La Maus who wrote to Paris for a facing. Teeth are going to the dogs."
- October 7-9, 1918
- La Suze "The enemy asks President Wilson to discuss 14 peace terms by calling for an armistice. President Wilson announced he will not discuss peace terms...Many men dying due to colds and pneumonia. Weather has been terrible which causes so much sickness. Cold and damp, and sleeping on floors. Big epidemic all over France..."
- October 13, 1918
- La Suze "A lot of excitment last night. A negro attacked a French girl on a 2nd floor P.O. Belg...Have no more cuties, some job getting rid of those damned things. The enemy is retreating on all fronts in terrible disorder. Influenza is killing more Americans than enemy bullets. Men are sick only a few hours when they die."
- October 20, 1918
- La Maus "...this country is a big massive mud-hole. Two dead Germans were seen clinging to a tree after the Sammies made a charge." (Note: the Sammies were American service men in World War I. Their name comes from the French phrase "nos amis" it translates "our friends.") "They evidently were shot, and gassed and clung to the tree until rescued, but they died in the standing position...can't be bothered with anything but rifles, amunitions, and helmets. The enemy is evacuating Belgium."
- October 22, 1918
- La Maus "An American who was captured by the Germans returned to the American lines with 35 Germans who preferred to be taken prisoners by us. This Sammy was credited with single-handed capture of 35 men...It's a sure thing there won't be any bull on the front this winter as in other years as we are in to finish it up. Other winters French and German soilders have washed clothes on opposite sides of a river. Talked to Sammy who just came from the lines who said he had his gas-mask pierced by a bullet, and was given orders to tie a wet haudkercheif around his mouth...Before the St. Mihiel drive General Pershing had graves dug fo 30,000 men which he expected to lose. Only 800 were killed."
- October 29, 1918
- La Suze "Austria asks for seperate peace. Germany requests terms for an armistice. A mail boat carrying 8,000 bags of mail was sunk in mid-ocean. Recieved letter informing me Matilda was married October 14, 1918."
- November 6, 1918
- La Suze "...Every billet has a stove except ours-terribly damp and cold. Men in dug-outs are a thousand times better off than we are. A stove would at least absorb the dampness. Recieved pay today and am again a millionaire!"
- November 10, 1918
- "Some fool in Co.E. committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a rifle because he was to go to the front the next day."
- November 11, 1918
- "Armistice with Germany at 11AM. ...Fire works in big quantities."
The Rare Books and Manuscripts Library encourages patrons to examine this collection. If you discover important details or may have information related to this soldier and his company, please note it below:
