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LOG OF TRIP TO MOSCOW Major General James H. Burns and Major Wm. M. Martin, Jr. 8 April - 3 June, 1943 Thursday, 8 April: 2:20 P.M. Left Washington Airport. 7:20 P.M. Arrived West Palm Beach. Friday, 9 April: 10:00 A.M. Left Morrison Field, West Palm Beach. 3:15 P»M. Arrived Borinquen, Puerto Rico. Saturday, 10 April: 8:00 A.M. Left Borinquen, Puerto Rico. 2:00 P.M. Arrived Georgetown, British Guiana. Sunday, 11 April: 7:00 A.M. Left Georgetown, British Guiana. 5:45 P.M. Arrived Natal, Brazil. Monday, 12 April: 8:00 P.M. Left Natal, Brazil. Spent day in Natal. Tuesday, 13 April: 4:l5 A.M. Arrived Ascension Island. 5:30 A.M. Left Ascension Island. 2:00 P.M. Natal time - 5:00 P.M. Accra Time. Arrived Accra, Gold Coast. Wednesday, 14 April: 10:35 A.M. Left Accra, Gold Coast. 3:20 P.M. Accra time - i*:20 P.M. Kano time. Arrived Kano, Nigeria. Thursday, 15 April: 6:00 A.M. Left Kano, Nigeria. 3:00 P.M. Kano time - 4:00 P.M. Khartoum time. Arrived Khartoum, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Friday, 16 April: 6:45 A.M. Left Khartoum, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. 1:00 P.M. Arrived Cairo. Saturday, 17 April: 7:00 A.M. Left Cairo. 2:00 P.M. Cairo time - 3:00 P.M. Teheran time. Arrived Teheran. Sunday, 18 April: 10:00 A.M» Movie of Stalingrad shown at the Russian Embassy* 12:00 A.M. Visit to Darban to Russian Embassy summer quarters. 1:00 P.M. Luncheon at Russian Embassy - Host U.S.S.R. Ambassador Andrey A. Smirnov. 6:00 P.M. Drove to Amirabad Barracks. 7:00 P.M. Russian show put on by Red Army entertainers. Monday, 19 A p r i l : 9:00 A.M. Visit to check-up depot outside of Teheran. 1:30 P.M. Tour of railroad station and yards under guidance of Colonel Paul Yount, Acting President• 5:30 P.M. Teheran newspaper correspondents. Reception at General Connolly's. Tuesday, 20 Aprilj 9:00 A.M* Left for Kazvin by auto. 1:00 P.M. Luncheon and tour of Kazvin with Captain Hoffman, head man, and Cap tain Dukes, formerly stationed there, who accompanied us from Teheran. 6:30 P.M. Dinner at General Connolly's presided over by General Shingler for Brigadier General Pat Hurley; General Hurley discussed Russia and informed us of the scope of his present assignment as the President's roving minister to the Middle East. Wednesday, 21 April: 10:00 A.M. Left Teheran. 5:30 P.M. Arrived Kuibyshev. Met by Admiral Standley. - 2 - 8:00 P.M. Dinner at Chinese Embassy - Admiral Standley Chinese Ambassador, General Tu Fu Chen, the host, and General Barns as guest of honor* Thursday, 22 April: 10:30 A.M . Left Kuibyshev. Admiral Standley and Mr. Kamenev, president of Voks, Russian Cultural Society, now accompanying us• 1:00 P.M. Kuibyshev time - 2:00 P.M. Moscow time* Arrived Moscow* 7:30 P.M. Dinner at General Faymonville's apartment* 9:00 P.M. Moscow newspaper correspondents - General Burns talks off the record* Friday, 23 April: 10:00 A*M* Visit to Lenin Museum* 2:30 P.M. Long drive southeast of town. 5:00 P.M. General Burns calls on Molotov. 6:30 P.M. General Burns calls on Mikoyan. 7:00 P.M. Bolshi opera house to hear "The Demon". 10:45 P.M. General Faymonville gives dinner for staff. Saturday, 24 Aprils 3*30 P.M. Movie at American Embassy. 7:00 P.M. Circus. Sunday, 25 April: 10:00 A.M. Church. 12:00 A.M. Guests of the Peoples Commissar for foreign trade in the official box at a ballet called, "The Hunchback Horse". Refreshments between every act and at end. 3:30 P.M. Tour of city and long walk in the Military Park of Culture and Rest. Monday, 26 April: 2j3O P.M. Long drive to east of city. 8:30 P.M. Dinner at General Faymonville's. Ralph Hubbell of American Red Cross a guest. - 3 - Tuesday, 27 April: 10:30 A.M. Boat trip on Moscow-Volga Canal• 1:30 P.M. Luncheon on board boat with Russians as hosts• 6:00 P.M. American Embassy reception which Admiral Standley gave for General Burns* Mikoyan ranking Russian guest* Movie of Sun Valley with Sonja Henie shown before buffet supper* Wednesday, 28 April: 1:30 P.M. Visit to Factory 45, a motor aviation plant. 4:30 P.M. Guests of Mr. Komaroff, director of plant, at luncheon. 7:00 P.M. Concert at Tschaikovsky Hall with Russian dances* Guests of director of hall who was also director of Tschaikovsky Museum. At conclusion of concert, he showed us over museum. Thursday, 29 April: 10:30 A*M* Visit to Red Museum. Captured enemy equipment. 2:00 P.M. Visit to Factory Number 30, manufactures automatic guns. 7:30 P.M. General Faymonville host of Klebney, where crew of our plane is quartered, to crew of our plane; Military Attache and his assistants, Ambassador and his assistants, with General Burns as guest of honor. Friday, 30 April: 10:00 A.M. Visit to Tretykoff Museum. Saw many views of war depicted in modern paintings. 1:30 P.M. Visit to Factory Number 28. Stormavik aircraft factory. -U- U:30 P.M. Banquet in honor of General Burns given by director of plant and chief engineer• 7:00 P.M. Opera house to hear "Ivan Suzamen", a favorite Russian opera• Usual refreshments. 10:30 P.M. Director gives dinner for General Burns• Saturday, 1 May: 1:30 P.M. Motorcycle races on outskirts, of Moscow in special park. Obstacles, climbing hills, complying with special requirements. i;:30 P.M. Banquet for General Burns* hissed end of races as result• 7:00 P.M. Swimming meet at Stalin Factory pool. Many participants. American records posted and respected* Sunday, 2 Way: 10:00 A.M. Church. 1:30 P.M. General Burns is guest of Admiral Standley at lunch. 7:00 P.M. Ballet at Opera House, "Don Quixote". Another banquet in honor of General Burns. Monday, 3 May: 2:30 P.M. Special tour of Red Army Museum• l±:30 P.M. Another banquet. Tuesday k May: 1:30 P.M. Visit to Stalin auto factory. ki30 P.M. Banquet as guests of Mr. Lychakov, director of factory and auto expert. 7:00 P.M. Moscow Art Theatre to see "Kremlin Chimes". Usual refreshments and dinner afterwards with unusual center-piece of Kremlin (in flowers). Wednesday, £ May: 2:30 P.M. l|0 mile drive south to Podolsk. Saw prison camp, 7:00 p.L". BaLlet, "Swan Lake". Soviet favorite. Toasting and dinner afterwards. -5 - Thursday 6, May 7:00 P.M. Dinner for General Burns given at Spiradovna by Mikoyan. 24 guests• Admiral Standley and British Ambassador, Clark Kerr, guests of honor* Friday, 7 May: 7:00 P.M. Dinner in honor of General Burns given by Mr. Kamenev, head of Voks (Russian cultural Society)• Admiral Standley a guest of honor. 14 ladies present and a jazz band. Pictures on the fall of Sevastopol shown. Saturday, 8 May: 1:30 P.M. Lunch at Klebney. 3:30 P.M. Embassy Movie. 7:00 P.M. Symphony orchestra - Rymsky - Korsakoff music. Toasting of Tunis and Bizerte victory* Much food* Sunday, 9 May 10:00 A.M. Church. 3:45 P.M. Soccer football games. 30,000 in attendance. Toasting and banqueting between halves and at end of game. Monday, 10 May: — Tuesday, 11 May: 9:15 A.M. General Burns, General Faymonville, Major Cook Day off. and Major Cross left for front. 7:00 P.M. Major Blake and Major Martin attend concert at Tschaikovsky Theatre. Wednesday, 12 May: Thursday, 13 May: General at front. 11:00 P.M. General returns from front, tired and bedraggled• Friday, l4 May: Saturday,l5May: Day of rest. 3:30 P.M. Embassy Movie, "Edison, the Man". • 6- 7:00<P.M. Concert of Russian folk songs and dances at Tschaikovsky Theatre. Sunday, 16 Kay: 9:00 A.M. Church. 11:00 A.M. Boat trip on Moscow River - traversed six locks - arrived Klomska, after passing Lenin Hills and Kremlin, about 5*30 P.M. 8:30 P.M. Returned from trip after supper. Monday, 17 May: Day of rest awaiting Mr. Davies arrival. Tuesday, 18 May: Day of rest awaiting Mr. Davies. He was expected at 5:00 P.M., but word reached us about 4:00 P.M. he had gone to Stalingrad and would not be in until the next day. Wednesday, 19 May: 5:00 P.M. Mr. Davies arrived. Big gathering at airport to greet him. 7:00 P.M. Boxing matches in famous hall where Lenin came to power. Usual refreshments and meal. Thursday, 20 May: 1:00 P.M. Ambassador Davies gives a lunch for General Burns. Admiral Standley and General Faymonville and General Michela were honor guests. Friday, 21 May: 7:00 P.M. Stanislavsky Theatre where we saw "Chimes of Normandy". Usual refreshments. Saturday, 22 Mays 9:30 A.M. Left for Tula by auto. Long convoys of autos on road. 1:30 P.M. Lunched in woods picnic style 75 miles from Moscow. 3:00 P.M. Met at entrance to Tula by the Mayor and taken to City Hall where Governor of province awaited us/ - 7 - 3:30 P.M. Large dinner for General Burns. 5>:15> P.M. Left for Tolstoy's estate. Escorted around by Miss Sophia Tolstoya, granddaughter of Tolstoy, who spoke good English. 9:00 P.M. Miss Tolstoya serves an elaborate meal called "Tea" for General Burns after which we returned to Governor's place• 11:30 P.M. Main banquet attended by leading citizens preceded by harmonica player• A Lt. General from the Rostov front was the ranking Russian guest and sat on the Governor's right, General Burns sitting at the head of the table. 2:00 A.M. Retired to guest house of Tula. Sunday, 23 May: 10:00 A.M. Visited defense areas outside Tula. Tank demonstration and inspection of soldiers for General Burns. 1:U5 P.M. Red Army Concert in Tula Hall. Cut short by- word to return to Moscow. 2:l|0 P.M. Left Tula by auto and drove furiously to Moscow. 6:30 P.M. Arrived back in Moscow. 7:00 P.M. Kremlin dinner for Mr. Davies given by Mr. Stalin. Monday, 24 Hay: "Mission to Moscow" film shown. Day of rest. Tuesday, 25 May: 7&00 P.M. Concert of English songs. Wednesday, 26 May: 3:00 P.M. General Burns lunches with Molotov. 7:00 P.M. Ballet, "The Hunchback Horse" again. 10:30 P.M. Dinner at Klebney. Captain Golikoff, partisan - No. 1 guest - friend of Davies' nephew, J. D # Stamm. - 8 - Thursday, 27 May: 7:00 P.M. General Faymonville gives a dinner for some of his staff. General Burns guest of honor. 8:30 P.M. General Barns leaves to play bridge with Mr. Davies, Admiral Standley and Mr. Litvinoff • 10:00 P.M. Took trip around Moscow to Hermitage Park and then drove around watching them put up the barrage balloons. "Girl from Barcelona" was playing at park theatre. Friday, 28 May: 11:00 A«M. Presentation to General Burns of 'White Fox fur as present from Mikoyan. ll:00 P.M. General Burns pays final call on Mikoyan. 7:30 P.M. Red Army Ensemble Concerts Sat in front row. Mr. Davies, Admiral Standley, and Mr. Litvinoff sat in official box; invited General Burns to join them but he declined with thanks. Saturday, 29 May: 6:35 A.M. Left for U.S. after much breakfasting and toasting. Mr. Davies1 plane precedes us by 20 minutes. 3:O0 P.M. Moscow time - 7:30 Novosibirsk time. Arrived Novosibirsk. Guard of soldiers meets us. Taken on special train to town and then by car to Dascha on 0b River. 9:30 P.M. Dinner begins. Mr. Davies ill and General Burns presides. 11:00 P.M. Adjourned to road on bank of River where special Red Army entertainers put on a show. Mosquitoes bad. Sunday, 30 May: 8:00 A.M. Left Dascha. — o — 9:00 A.M. Mr. Davies1 plane takes off. Ours is stalled because of bad magneto* Worked all day to fix this. 6:30 P.M. Left Novosibirsk. 8:30 P.M. Arrived Krasnoyarsk. Monday, 31 May: U:10 A.M. Mr. Davies1 plane leaves. 6:30 A.M. We got off. 1:00 P.M. Krasnoyarsk - 3:00 P.M. Yakutsk time. Arrived Yakutsk. Banquet in town given by Mayor for General Burns. Ranking Russian guest was Colonel Mazourka of North Pole fame. 3*30 P.M. Krasnoyarsk time - 5*30 P.M. Yakutsk time. Left for Nome. Monday, 31 May: (again) 4:l5 A.M. Yakutsk time - 9:15 A.M. Alaska time. Arrived Nome, Alaska. 11:15 A.M. Left for Fairbanks, Alaska. 2:25 P.M. Nome time - 3:25 Fairbanks time. Arrived Fairbanks. 7:30 P.M. Dinner given by Colonel Kitchen and Colonel Cormack for General Burns. Drive around Fairbanks after dinner. Tuesday, 1 June: 6:00 A.M. Left Fairbanks. 2:15 P.M. Fairbanks time - 3:15 Spokane time. Arrived Spokane. 8:30 P.M. Visited Captain Corrigan's home and his new baby. Wednesday, 2 June: — Day of rest as we had bad weather. All planes grounded. - 10 - 6:30 P.M. Dinner at Press Club given by Spokane newspaper men to meet General Burns. Thursday, 3 June: 5:00 A.M. Left Spokane. 12:00 A.M. Spokane time - 2:10 Kansas City time. Arrived Kansas City. 4:00 P.M. Left Kansas City. 8:l5 P.M. Kansas City time- 9:15 Washington time. Arrived at home base. - 11 - LOG OF TRIP TO MOSCOW Major General James H« Burns & Major Yifm> M. Martin, Jr* Thursday, April 8: Left Washington airport at 2:20 JCUm. Wearbher-~rea&onably-good- with -slight haze in air and a headwind. Arrived West Palm Beach at 7:20 p.m. where we were met by Colonel Harding and taken to the Royal Worth Hotel• Dinner and retired about 10:00 p*m. Friday, April 9: Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. Drove to airport immediately after and here were delayed nearly a examination.. Finally took off aboutJ$x00 aVm. ±K"veryjZj^ beautiful weather and arrived at Borinquen, Puerta Rid _ ^ _ at 3?U5 p.m. It rained very hard shortly after. Diniier at the Officer's Club and retired at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, April 10: Up at 6:00 a.m., had breakfast at Officer's Club and left the airfield at 8:00 a.m. Arrived Georgetown, British Guiana 2:00 p.m. and toured the post during the balance of the afternoon. Retired immediately after dinner at 8:00 p*m. Sunday, April 11: Up at l;:30 a.m., breakfast and then had to wait around because of fog until 7:00 a.m. Arrived at Natal, Brazil at $\h$ p.m., our longest flight to date, 10 3/l± hours in the air. Supper with General Walsh and Colonel Johnson. Monday, April 12: Got up about 8:00 a.m. and after breakfast toured the town of Natal. Swimming u*rt*± 11:00 a.m., lunch and and rested in afternoon after touring the 'ge&sb. Left at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 13: All quiet in the dir. Arrived Ascension Island a little after daj^break at Ij.:l5 a.m. Breakfast at Ascension Island and took off at 5:30 a.m. arriving at Accra at 2:00 p«nu our time, which Y/as 5:00 p«m. their.time. Dinner at Officer's Club and spent evening with Colonel Collins and General Davison who was enroute to Karachi. Vfednesday, April l!i:Up at 7:00 a.m. and took tour of Accra immediately after breakfast. Visited the airfield and inspected its facilities. There was a backlog of 25*000 pounds in their warehouse. Machine shops were excellent. Took off at 10:35 a.m. and arrived Kano at 3:20 p.m., which was l±:20 p.m. their time. Took a tour with Major Dixon of the walled city of Kano. Retired early. Thursday, April 15: Up at U:30 a.m. and after a good breakfast in one of the best messes we encountered anywhere, took off at 6:00 a.m. Got a good view of the walled city at sunrise. Flew over Lake Chad about an hour later and, traversing arid country, arrived at Khartoum at 3:00 p.m., which was li:00 p.m. their time. We were met by Colonel Kerr and after dinner with him and Major Sought, looked around the post, and saw a movie called, "The Flyer Takes a Wife". The sun set around 10:30 p.m. and the elimarte was delightful. Friday, April 16: Up at 5:15 a.m. and left at 6:i;5 a.m. for Cairo, arriving at 1:00 p.m. Spent leisurely afternoon driving around the city and went to dinner at the American Minister's, - 2 - Mr. Alex Kirk. Saturday, April 17: Up at 5:30 a.m. Took off at 7:00 a.m. Flew over the Suez Canal down the Mediterrean coast over Tel-av-iv, Haifa, Jerusalem, too far on right to see, Dead Sea. Flew almost directly over Bagdad and got a good view of both Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Beautiful mountains with much snow and ice from here on in to Teheran where we arrived at 2:00 p.m. which rms 3:00 p.m. their time. Talked with General -Goatey-; Took a long walk around town. Yfere quartered with General-Oofiley^at #ds house and had dinner with Genera-Uuonle^-Arnold N. Brown, Colonel R. C. Graham, General Shingler, Colonel Youn§7 Captain Wyairt, Lieutenant Fuller and were later joined by Colonel Osbornfu Sunday, April 18: Up at 8:30 a.m. Left for the Russian Embassy shortly after breakfast where we saw a movie about Stalingrad. We were then taken to visit the summer quarters of the Embassy at Darban where the porch gives one a magnificent view of the snow-clad peaks in the distance. Lunch at the Embassy began at 1:00 p.m. and lasted until nearly l;:00 p.m. The Russian Ambassador, Andrey A. Smirnov, was the host and Major General Anatoli Korolyov, Commanding General of U.S.S.R. forces in the Persian Gulf, Colonel Petrov of the U.S.S.R. Airforce and Colonel Boris Razin, military attache for the U.S.S.R., were the ranking Quests. After a buffet dinner, we drove to Amirabad barracks for a Russian show put on by a Red Army traveling troup of - 3- entertainers. The show was very good. After a few appropriate remarks by General eeftley^. t&e show was concluded around 10:30 p.m. Monday, April 19: After breakfast at 7:15 a.m. and a walk around the town, we went out to the check-up depot where trucks were arriving from the South. They were receiving 150 2§ ton trucks per day and hoped to receive 250 soon. The appearance of the depot was primitive but efficient. Returned to General 6c^^^Ls^rl\inch and almost immediately after visited the railroad with Colonel Yount, who was acting as its President. The U.S. operated portion of the railroad comprises 586 miles from the Persian Gulf to Teheran. The Russians operate 286 miles to Bambar Shah on the Caspian Sea. Colonel Youndhad 365 locomotives and hoped to have U38 by December. 1?6 were actually in service and he hoped to have nearly 200 in service in December. The tonnage hauled for the peak month was 88,000 and they hoped to get it to 125,000 tons in December. 75 to 80 percent of this appeared possible. U>000 American soldiers work on the line. 20,000 Persians are on the payroll according to the figures, but not more than 10 or 12 thousand of these show up for work. The whole line, Russian and American, has 75*000 men employed with a probable attendance on the job of about 50,000. Returned to General Genlejrs to meet with the Teheran newspaper correspondents/' Quiet dinner with General Conley and his staff -U- before retiring. Tuesday, April 20: Up at 7:00 a.m. ready to take off but the Russians told us the weather was bad and the trip was cancelled• We departed by car for Kazvin with Captain Dukes who had been stationed there for several months. We had a flat tire on the way, but drove the one hundred miles without further mishap and lunched at the camp with Captain Hoffman. The camp was quite primitive and an inspiring sight. The morale of the men was high and the difficulties they had overcome were very remarkable. Everybody was too busy to be unhappy about anything. It started to rain during our tour and rained most of the way on the return trip. Had dinner at 6:30 p.m.. with Brigadier General Pat Hurley and Major Henry, his cdde, who told us he was the President's roving minister through the Middle East. He discussed at some length his experiences on the Russian front, his views on Russia and the Russians and his meeting with Stalin. As we went to bed, riots were on in the town and occasional gunfire could be heard. These were food riots which had been going on for some time and turned out to be nothing very serious. Wednesday, April 21: Up at 6:00 a.m. and after several postponements, were finally given clearance by the Russians and took off at 10:00 a.m. Yfonderful trip through the mountains reaching the Caspian Sea and moving up just too far to see Baku, but making it possible to see Astrakam as we -5 - headed towards Moscow. Arrived at Kuibyshev at $:30 p.m. It was about a three-quarters of an hour drive from the airport, where we were met by Admiral Standley, to the American Embassy quarters where we spent the night* Dinner at 8:00 p.m. at the Chinese Embassy, Admiral Standley, General Burns and myself, the Chinese Ambassador, the Chinese counsel, and our host, General Tu Fu Chen. The Chinese Ambassador was a philosopher of note and one of the most interesting men we met on the trip. Thursday, April 22: Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. with Admiral Standley, Perkins, Thompson and Calder of the Embassy1s staff and left accompanied by Admiral Standley for Moscow at 10:30 a.m. We had taken on board our plane, Mr. Kamenev, the Director of Vox, the Russian Cultural Society, who continued with us to Moscow. Arrived at Moscow at 1:00 p^nu, which was 2:00 p.m. their time. We flew almost directly over the Kremlin in arriving and were quartered in Mokhovaya Number 6 for the duration of our stay. General Burns in a front room; Major Blake and myself in the room adjoining. Dinner with General Faymonville and at 9:00 p.m. General Burns received the Teheran newspaper correspondents and talked to them off the record. Friday, April 23: From this point up until our departure from Moscow, it was routine to get up about 8:l£ a.m. , breakfast at 9:00 a.m.,walk around the Kremlin which was directly in front of our place of residence, and visit some point of interest in the town or to read and lunch about 1:30 p.m« On the first day we visited the Lenin Museum and after - 6- lunch took a long drive southeast of the town. At 7:00 p.m. we went to see an opera, "The Demon's and dined at 10:U5 p»m. with General Faymonville. General Burns called on Molotoff at 5:00 p.rru and MiHLyan at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2li: Routine morning. Movie at the American Embassy in the afternoon, and a circus in the evening. Sunday, April 2$x After breakfast went to church service conducted by Father Braum, who has been in Moscow for the past nine years. At noon were the guests of the people's Commissar in the official box at the ballet called "The Hunchback Horse". Refreshments were served between every act and at the conclusion of the performance. Took a trip to the west of the city and ended up taking a long walk in the Military Park of Culture and Rest. Monday, April 26* Routine morning. Another trip in the afternoon, this time to the east of the city. Picked up two boys, twelve and thirteen years of age, who,under questioning by General Faymonville, revealed that one had had two brothers killed and the other boasted that he had had three. It made him appear more important than the first one. They had happy,Bright faces and their enthusiasm was startling. We dimied at 8:30 p.m. with General Faymonville and Ralph Hubbel of the Red Cross. Tuesday, April 27: Immediately after breakfast were driven to the boatdock where the Russians had a special boat rigged out with some thirty flags and we left at 10:30 a.m. for a trip on the Moscow Volga Canal. We had a picturesque Captain whose - 7 - ability to consume vodka was outstanding and whose enthusiasm was contagious. We had our first visit with an intourist lady interpreter named Ludmilla Mirasova, whom we shortly nicknamed lf The Blonde Bomber11. She remained with us off and on until we left Moscow* We were also accompanied by Aleksieff, and assistant to Hikanov, and Sir Sergeyeff, the Tice-Commjssar* We got back zsa&Bt around 5:00 p.m. and were at the American Bnbassy at 6:00 p.m. for a reception which Admiral Standley gave for General Burns• After a buffet supper, they showed a Sonja Henie picture about Sun Valley. The entire Snbassy staff, consisting of Thompson, Page, Stevens, Dillon, Calder, and Perkins, were all there. Wednesday, April 28: Routine morning. Left at 1:30 1p*W> after an early lunch for a visit to Factory k$> a motor aviation plant. This plant covered seyerral square blocks and had in it a good many American machines. American machinery noted consisted of Gisholt Company, Westinghouse, Pratt and \tfhitney, Kearney and Tuck, National Steel and Pittsburgh Screw and Bolt. There was one British firm represented by Kendall and Gentry, liany of the workers appeared to be 16 years of age and less and there were considerable more than $0% women workers. In one area where lathe work and finishing was being done, there were practically no men and what men there were were seldom over 18 years of age. There was no way of estimating what the actual production was, but it could not have been very large. Immediately after finishing, the Director, Mr. Komaroff, and the Chief - ft - Engineer gave a dinner for General Burns• Mr. Komaroff was in his early thirties, was extremely serious with a good sense of humor and did everything possible to show us all ifcsysxe there was to see. There were sixteen present at the table. At 7:00 p.m. the Russians tookx us to a concert at Tschikovskjr Hall with Russian dances where we were the guests of the Director, who was also the head of the Tschikovsky Museum. At the conclusion of the concert, he showed us over the museum until midnights Thursday, April 29: Routine morning with a visit to the Red Museum. Lunch a little later and left almost immediately after for Factory Number 30. This factory manufactured automatic guns. The Director was older and the personnel appeared to be older and more experienced than in the previous shop. General Electric, Westinghouse, Warner and Swasey, and the British Churchill manufacturing companies were represented. We followed from the start of the operation to the finish and then the General stepped up boldly and fired several rounds in the testing room. At the conclusion, we had another of the usual dinners. We had our first introduction to Mr. Boyar who, like Mr. Alexsieff, had worked for the Amtorg in New York and therefore knew something about Americans as well as speaking a little English. At 7:30 p.m. we oteilPto a mixed party at Klebney where the crew of our plane were domiciled. The Babassy crowd and the military attache group,consisting of General Michela, Lt. Colonel Boswell, and Lt. Colonel McCab, comprised the guests. - 9- Friday, April 30: Routine morning with a visit to the Tretykoff Museum and in particular to modern paintings about the war. We left at 1:30 P.M. for Factory 28* This was an aircraft factory manufacturing Stromavik planes• There was no question but that substantial numbers of planes were being produced in this factory. As in each of the others, they were careful to point out to us that large portions of its original composition had been evacuated through the Ural Mountains when the Germans were too close to Moscow. The evacuated portions had formed the nucleus of additional plants which were now producing more than the parent plant. Planes were coining off the assembly line in a reasonably steady stream and I counted 33-28-31 in one building, 22-19-26 in another. The director was^fascinating fellow and his chief engineer was a tall, thin^intelligent chap who was most impressive. At the dinner they gave at the conclusion of the visit, they repeatedly asked about the second front and had no hesitation in talking freely about almost any subject. Starting at 7:00 P.M.,we were the guests of the Russians at one of their favorites, ffIvan Suzamen", where food was plentiful and provided between the acts and at the conclusion of the performance. American machinery noted in the Stromavik plant consisted of the Erie Foundry, General Electric, Westinghouse, Warner aid Swasey and the British Reed-Prentice. Saturday, May 1: Routine morning. Cold, damp,rainy day. Began to clear up around 1:00 o'clock and shortly thereafter we were - 10 - taken to a Military Park of Culture and Rest to see some motorcycle races in the northern part of the city. There were no parades and outside of of a few banners and the perennial pictures of Stalin and Lenin there was very little evidence of a May Day celebration* We had dinner through the finish of the race which was a bit disappointing as the race which was over obstacles was most interesting. In the evening we went to the Stalin factory for a swimming meet. The Russians are very interested in swimming and keep records of the best times in the world when the various events for their contestants take place. The U.S. holds all but two of the records and one feels instinctively iha± at a sporting meet such as this, the friendliness of the Russians for the Americans and the respect they have for our prowess. Sunday, May 2: Routine morning. General Burns lunched with admiral Standley. Major Blake arid I lunched vriLth Major £ook and after lunch took a drive with two very charming ballerinas named Tamaria and Grisilla, who had leading parts in two of the performances which we saw* They spoke very little English, but were extremely interested in everything American. Visited the last act of a performance of La Traviata.at a Military Park of Culture and Rest. At 7:00 were guests of the Russians at a performance of one of their favorite ballets, "Don Quixote11, and the usual refreshments were served. - 11 - Monday, May 3* Routine morning. Visit in the afternoon to the Red Army Museum, Sixteen at the table following the visit; much vodka and several very enthusiastic Russian professors and an extremely pretty girl who lectured on one wing of the museum • Monday seems to be more or less the Russian day of rest and we had a quiet evening with no entertainment planned• Tuesday, May I4: Routine morning* Left at 1:30 for the Stalin Auto Factory now producing nothing but trucks. It is an enormous plant resembling in outline several of the Carneige-Illinois plants in the Pittsburgh area combined with several Detroit assembly plants. There were 15 at the dinner following the visit which was presided over by &r. Lychakov, the director. He had visited over 200 American plants and had pictures of Detroit all over his wall. He was familiar with all American methods of manufacturing. He had been an important man in Russia for some 20 years add was much surer of himself than any of the others we had met. He spoke openly against the Japanese, said it was only a matter of time until Russia would have to join with us to defeat them. Went to the Moscow Art Gallery it 7:00 P.M. to see a play called, "Kremlin Chimes .tf The usual refreshments and the dinner with an unusual centerpiece immediately following. The "Blonde Bomber11 was at her best and the poor General heard the story of Kremlin Chimes at least tfcm times. - 12 - Wednesday, May J>: Shortly after breakfast heard over the British broadcasting system that Mr. Davies was enroute to Moscow* Spent two hours talking to Mr. Keith Officer, Counsel to the Australian Minister in Moscow. He was quite optomistic about what the Russians had done and thougWbthere was no question they would be able to withstand any attach which the Germans might make* General Burns, Major Blake and I walked around the Kremlin twice and then took a forty mile drive south to Podolsk. Just outside the city, we saw several grim prison camps and it did not look like it would be very pleasant to be listed as a political enemy in the U.S.S.R. Country life seemed to be proceeding very much as it might in a Mid-west small community and even the little children were participating in the planting and work. Every house seemed to have at least four children and they looked extremely healthy. Mr. Stalin had issued an edict requiring every individual to maintain mriL an individual garden as well as participating in the work of the community (Kolkhoze). At 7:00 P.M. we went to see what appears to be the Soviet's favorite ballet, "Swan Lake". A ballerina named Glukofvina was making her debut and appeared to please everyone or else the theatre was packed with her friends* Mr. Alexsieff was our host between the acts and gave an elaborate dinner immediately following the performanceWe toasted evsryeabe from the Red Army to Major Blake's children. - 13 - Thursday, May 6: Routine morning broken by a large procession almost resembling a parade of Russian soldiers enroute to the railroad station and passing right in front of our building. There were at least three battalions* Colonel Grey came in and talked at some length to General Burns about the tank situation. General 3urns received a wire from Mr. Hopkins suggesting that we remain in Moscow until Mr. Davies arrived which more or less altered our plans to leave shortly• At 7:00 P.M. we gathered in the Soviet residence reserved for guests where Mr. Mikoyan was host at a dinner for General Burns. Mikoyan had General Burns on his left and Admiral Standley on his right. Directly across from Mikoyan was the British Ambassador. There were 3k test's. courses and over 20 i ^ K • This dinner, from my by far standpoint, was*the most lavish and beautifully arranged of any we attended including the later dinner at the Kremlin for Mr. Davies. Friday, May 7: Routine morning and afternoon with several long walks. Friday evening we attended dinner given for General Burns by the Russian Cultural Society, Voks. Mr. Kamenev, the head, accompanied us from Teheran to Moscow and had become quite friendly. '?hey had a group of hostesses all of whom spoke some English and were studying English so that they welcomed an opportunity to practice a bit. We were taken into a small movie theatre in the quarters adjoining Mr. Kamenevfs office and a hostess was assigned each of us to interpret the Russian in the film and the titles - 1U - on the pictures. Most of them spoke so poorly that it was really quite difficult to follow thera# The pictures all had to do with the fall of Cebastopol. Most of the captions had to do with technical terms and wer$ very difficult to translate into English anyway. The photography was excellent and would compare favorably with the best British and American pictures and the picture itself was equally as good in composition as the famed desert Victory*1 which, incidently, was showing in all the Moscow movie theatres. As soon as the picture ended, we were taken to a beautifully decorated dinging room with a table set for thirty guests. Admiral Standley sat on Mr. Kamenevfs left and General Burns on the right with the girls interspersed with the balance so as to be in a position to interpret. . General Burns made a very fine talk and stressed the necessity of being honest with each other if we were to become friends and participate in the peace settlement in such a way as to prevent further warfare. He made a good impression on the group and Admiral Standley did also. The Admiral made the first toast of the evening and offered it to General Burns as the guest of honor and used it as a means of introducing General Burns and giving him the floor. Commander Young and Ed page spent mostof the evening trying to get me to drink vodka, but,I am glad to say>were unsuccessful. The dinner ended about 10:00 P.M. and we adjourned to a small ballroom where foiieifiag a jazz band and refreshments enlivened the evening. Admiral Standley, despite his 72 years of age, had more life than anyone and danced with — 15— all the girls, drank more vodka and wine than anyone and went home under his own steam. Only the curfew broke xk the party up at midnight. Saturday, May 8; Routine morning and lunch at Klebney. Several newspaper correspondents including Quentin Reynolds, now writing for Colliers magazine, Eddie Gilmore of the Associated Press and Henry Shapiro of the United Press. Reynolds t&ld us about his trip to the Dipp parade and how he had written abook on that subject. After lunch we all went to the Embassy to see another picture. General Martel, head of the British Mission in Russia, made some interesting comments on his observations at the front and expressed himself as well satisfied with the efficiency and integrity of the Russian soldier. In the evening we went to a symphony concert conducted by one of the outstanding Russian musicians, Drzehinsky. We sat in the official box and were entertained immediately after at another dinner which the Russians gave for General Burns. Tunis and Bizerte occupied the attention of both the press and the radio and the Russians all felt very good about the news. Sunday, May 9: Went to church in the morning and otherwise ^srorked quietly. It was raining when we got up but the sun came out about noon and shortly after lunch we left for a new stadium on the outskirts of the city. They had three good soccer games attended by about 30,000 people and the atmosphere, while considerably subdued, was very much similar to the ordinary sporting event in this country. - 16 - The first two games produced very mediocre soccer, but the third game was quite exciting and the brand of play was considerably better and would compare favorably with the best soccer in the United States• We had our lady interpreters along and I made some wagers with both of them as to the outcome of the first two games and lost both timesf but succeeded in recouping my losses on the last game when the Red Array team won 2 to L General Burns provided a verjr amusing incident at the end of the dinner given for him after the game when he begged off drinking any more punch. This made very little impression on the Russians who continued to ply all of us with both food and drink and made it as difficult as possible to refuse• There was more toasting of Tunis and Bizerte. Monday, May 10: Routine morning and afternoon. Major Blake and I took a long walk around and down the Moscow River and in the evening he and General Burns and Mr. Hubbel of the Red Cross were guests at the dinner which General Faymonville gave while x attended a dinner at the Ifartional Hotel given by ± H K the Australian Counsel for Mr. Jeoffrey Wilson, a personnel assistant to Prime Minister Churchill and Ed Page who is now the second assistant in the Embassy acting largely as Admiral Standley's private secretary. We discussed at considerable length the subject of women in Russia and they explained to me why both Admiral Standley and the British Ambassador are opposed to having women on their staff. I remained unconvinced that this was a desirable policy, but could see the complications which might arise* in view of the varying standards which the - 17 - Russians have. On this subject, I later learned that General Faymonville is even more ardent than the others in his resisting accepting Russian girls to drive the official cars* Tuesday, May 11: We were up early and got General Burns packed for his trip to the front. He left a little after 9 o'clock accompanied by General Faymonville, Major Cook, and Major Gross. He had not been gone more than a half hour before I was called by Admiral Standley and I went down and visited with him for about an hour, explaining to him as much of the General's plans as I was conversant with* In the evening Major Blake and I attended a concert of folk songs at the Tschikovsky theatre. After it was over, we took a walk around Moscow, watching them put up the barrage balloons and mann the anti-aircraft. It certainly looked like it would be difficult to successfully bomb Moscow and even in the dar^ companies of soldiers appeared to be constantly on the move and the railroad stations were filled with troops moving up to the front. Pratically all the men which we saw were crippled or were obviously on a short leave. One of the most interesting things to observe was the fact that each company contained several girl soldiers mixed right in with the men wearing an exactly similar uniform. These, I was told, were largely used for clerical and hospital work but so far as marching and training was concerned, they were just as much a part of the company as anyone else. Father Braum, the Catholic priest, was very much upset about this. ., « Wednesday, May 12: The General still at the front* I spent the morning writing and wrote about twenty pages of observations on MJMwmisssL economic conditions which I later checked with several friends. Blake and I walked about 12 miles up to Gorki Park and came back in the dark to the Western entrance of the Kremlin. The guards refused to let us pass and we loitered around that side in an atmosphere where it was possible to almost feel history lurk in the shadows. Whenever one thinks about Moscow, one cannot help but be impressed by the Kremlin. From my standpoint, it is complete refutation of Mr. Kipling's phrase, "East is East, and Y/est is West; and never the twain shall meet11, because it is perfectly obvious that the two meet along the banks of the Moscow River and in the crevices and crannies of the Kremlin. Whether the mixture is good or bad is another story, but the fantasy which it produces is truly remarkable. Thursday, May 13: Usual morning. Continued to write and we awaited the General's return. After another very long walk, we got back to our room about ten o'clock just as it was getting dark. 1'he General returned about 11 o'clock looking very tired and bedraggled. He had had a hard but interesting time. Friday, May lli: The General rested all day while Blake and I continued to work on our notes and took another long walk. I spent considerable time in the main office building of the U.S.S.R. which would compare with something like our Department of Commerce or the Department of Interior. - 19 - It was not much more difficult to get into than these buildings, but had an entirely different atmosphere. All the key offices were occupied by good Communist party members a&d all of them reported directly to someone or some department located in the Kremlin. Most of them were housed in the Moscow Hotel except that it left half of this Hotel reserved for the party leaders from out of town who come in particularly for conferences• It did not take much observation to realize this was a one-party country and that while it was possible mot to be a party member, if anyone hoped to hold office or to have a good position, he was certain to be a good party member• Saturday, May 1$ \ Continued to write in the morning and in the afternoon walked to the Embassy to see an old American picture, "Edison the Man", and in the evening went to another concert of folk songs and Russian dances which was received with delight by a capacity audience. Sunday, May 16: Went to church at nine o'clock and left at eleven o'clock on one of the most interesting trips we took. The Russians had chartered a boat for us and starting out at the entrance of the Moscow-Volga Canal, we traversed six locks and wound around past the Lenin Hills to an old monestary of Basil I out in front of the Kremlin down through the factory area of the town and eventually arrived around five EfaE±Eaek thirty o'clock at what would correspond to one of our national parks. This was the site of a group of churches put up in the 17th century called Klamskf. - 20 - They were situated on a bluff overlooking the Moscow River and ranged up to 2^0 feet in height. There was a simplicity and grandeur to the architecture which left one breathless and it was a real tribute to the Russians t/u that they had had enough foresight to preserve frhoooincomparable worl^jf of architecture even though it was constructed by the enemies of the people, the Tsar's henchmen. Monday, May 17: It rained here almost all day and*as a result, we did not venture very far from home base. In the evening, General Faymonville gave a small dinner for General Burns and shortly after we retired early. Tuesday, May 18j We spent most of Tuesday awaiting the arrival of Mr. Davies who had called the previous night and informed us he would probably arrive not later than five o'clock. However, around five, we heard that he had gone to Stalingrad and would not reach Moscow that evening. As a result, we spent a quiet evening• Y/ednesday, May 19: Immediately after lunch we all went out to the airport to await the arrival of Mr. Davies1 plane. It was a gala occasion and American and Russian flags were flying at the entrance to the airport and up and down the runwaj^s. Practically the entire American commission was on hand. Just before the plane came in, Mr. Molotov's assistant and a number of high-ranking Russian Army and Navy officers arrived to be present also. It was cloudy and looked like rain, and was extremely cold. We waited impatiently for nearly an hour and just when we had about given up,the plane zoomed out of the East, made a complete arch of the field and larided almost directly in front of us. It was a large C-5U plane which requires a stepladder to get down from and so presented a perfect setting for the movie csmassxK cameras and photographers who were present* Mr. Davies was the first to get out of the plane and seeing Admiral Standley in the distance, waved his hand and yelled hello. He ascended the ladder, shook hands with all the Russian officers and then introduced the crew of his plane to Admiral Standley. It was after six before everyone had shaken hands and we gradually began to leave the airport. In the evening we went to some boxing matches held in the historic hall where Lenin came into power. The boxing was very poor and did not seem to be too enthusiatically received by the crowd. It was estimated that there were about 25*000 present remarkably different than an American audience &ss± in that there was very little applause or noise of any sort. In fact, once or twice it was so quiet it gave the impression of a boxing match in church. The final bout, however, the heavyweight bout, brought together the champion of Estonia and the champion of Moscow, both weighing about 200 pounds, and this evoked considerable enthusiasm particularly when blood flowed freely. Thursday, May 20: Routine morning and at one o'clock we imt to a reception a±x£x which Ambassador Davies gave for General Burns in at the guest house^hich he was residing* Number 8, Sarsovy Street. Daviesfsat at the head of the table with neneral Burns on his right and General Fa; monville on his left. Admiral Standley sat at the head of the other side of the table with Admiral Duncan on his left and Dr. Chace, Mr. - 22 - Davies1 personnal physician, on his right. In the afternoon, Admiral Standley and Mr. Davies had a conference with Mr. Molotov at five o'clock. Immediately after which the Eknbassy gave a reception for Mr. Davies, showed a very old Eddie Cantor picture and after a buffet dinner, Hr. Davies left for a ninety minute conference with Mr. Stalin. I spent the remainder of the evening with Robert Magidoff, the NBC reporter who is on the radio twice a week from Moscow. He told me that our relations with the Russians in Moscow are not all they should be* The Russians are suspicious of us and of the British, but he could not speak in too high terms of the work General Connolly was doing in Teheran and of the relationship between the Russians and the Americans in Persia. I used to know him in Brooklyn and so he talked quite freely to me and quite critically. He spoke Russian just as well as General Faymonville and his wife, who is a Russian, was quite an asset to him. Friday, May 21: I spent the morning visiting the Australian Legation Headquarters. It was quite difficult for the Legation to go get suitable quarters and JBfe interesting to see the sanitation and plumbing and all workmanship in the various rooms. They were practically rebuilding the entire structure in order to make it suitable for habitation. In the evening we*mi£ to the Stanislavsky Theatre which is a competitor of the Bolshi Theatre. We saw an opera very frequently done in this country, "The Chimes of Normandy11 • Another dinner immediately following and all the usual refreshments between the three acts. - 23 - Saturday, May 22: We left at 9:30 for Tula. The road was covered with American trucks filled with soldiers and equipment mraa moving up to the front. It was so filled that by the time we reached Podolsk, it was almost impossible to make more than 15-20 miles per hour. All along the road and in the villages we could see soldiers and equipment and it was a marshal atmosphere and everyone was doing something to prepare for the war. Vfe noted signs at every junctisH?<e saying "If you want to live, kill Germans .rf Everyone had a little truck garden which was being tended by little boys and girls under 12 years of age and by very old women and men, particularly women. Our journey v/as delayed considerably by the pressure of traffic and o/C had to ia&k lunch picnic sjfcyle about 1:30 in the woods 75 miles from Moscow. We had caviar and cheese sandwiches and quite a variety of wines. It was nearly 3 o!clock before we reached the entrance of Tula where the Mayor and several officials were waiting to greet us. They had been waiting for about two hours and were naturally glad to have it over with. fe were driven through crowded streets to what would correspond to our city hall and every house and building was filled with people looking out to catch a glimpse of the strangers. It was really quite a sight in Tula^fcr a town of about 100,000 people, famous in peacetime for samovars and harmonica^ and now entirely converted to the production of guns and ammunition« On the fourth floor of the city hall we were ushered into a lavishly decorated room wherejbehind a large desk surrounded b y pictures of Lenin and Stalin, a plump, - 2U - aggressive, dynamic governor with flashing eyes and an infectious smile greeted us. He didn't speak any English but informed us through an interpreter this was the first time Moscow had given him a chance to meet foreigners and he was going to make us happy and show us everything we wanted to see even if he had to have the whole town turned over and, as we later learned, even if he had to kill us in the bargain. After a few pleasantries we were ushered into the ixg: large luncheon which had been arranged prior to our being so late on the road. There were 28 at the table and after some 15 courses and much toasting, we were permitted to wash up, then bundled into cars, driven past a large smelter on the outskirts of the town up to Tolstoi1s former estate. This the Russians have converted into a national park. We were greeted by Tolstoif s grand-daughter who is the curator of the museum in Moscow as well as the caretaker of the estate here in Tula. She was a very cultivated womgn who spoke several languages fluently, but English not as well as I had first thought she would. The Russians were obviously very proud of her but not inclined to listen to her discourse. We eventually ended ouVtour at Tolstoi1 s tomb which was surrounded by high trees and a beautiful evergreen blade. This was the climax of the tour and immediately thereafter, we we returned to the house where at nine o'clock W E E K were served a magnificient meal, obviously Americanized, and listed as "Tea11. It consisted of fried eggs, qottage cheese, cold meats, glasses of milk from the farm, and amazing cakes, a slice any one of which was enough to completelyput you out« All of us ate too much but everyone thought it was all right to do so as we naturally thought this was the last meal of the day. You can imagine how discouraged: we were when at ten o'clock we were taken back to the city hall for the main banquet in honor of General Burns, which was preceded by harmonic playing and dancing and finally got under way about 11:1*5 p.m. with nearly UO at the table, the guest of honor being a Lt# General from the Rostov front. It was an amusing occasion in as much as everyone was loaded with food at the start and it all seemed like a terrible waste. However, the General on my left told me at some length ±kai how hard they had JEHJC worked to prepare this and I gathered that the Russians are a very poor but very proud people. It is completely unfair to think that they have a lot of food because they put a lot together for a state occasion, this being only the third dinner they have had in 3 years in Tula. Most of the people were living on black bread and tea but were too proud to admit taey were often hungry and were determined to their impress us with ikx hospitality and good spirits. I came to the conclusion that on the whole it was very commendable and similar to the pride a man sometimes shows in wanting to take his girl to the best eating place in town even though he has to eat in an automat for the next six or seven days. Dinner grew more and more boisterous and finally broke up around 1:1J5 when General Burns was too weary to carry on any further. After many huiaerous incidents we were escorted in pitch blackness to a guest house in Tula where around 3 o'clock in the morning we got to bed. The governor accompanied us and did practically everything except put us to bed which he would have been glad to do if we had let hinu Sunday, Llay 23: We got up early and General Burns flipped with Blake and myself as to who would use the lady barber provided to shave us* The General lost and got a shave by the lady barber. She couldnft have been nicer and although her instruments were not too clean, probably no harm was done. Breakfast consisted of chai, black bread, vodka, red wine, cold pork, fried eggs, saoock sauerkraut, and an amazing assortment of hors dfoeuvres. The sun was out bright and the Governor arrived about ten o'clock to take us out to the emplacements on the outskirts of the town. The road got worse and worse the further we went and at points was almost impassible* It thus took us until nearly eleven o'clock to get anywhere close to the troops. When we did get there, they had a battalion standing at attention and after General Burns and General Faymonville had saluted them, they roared three cheers and we proceeded to inspect their dugouts and heaflquarter compafaies. These were impressive because of their comeliness and obvious utility. However, no individuality was permitted. Each man's mess kit and even the picture of his girl must go in a particular spot. Discipline was so rigid that from my standpoint at least living conditions must have been horrible. A man five minutes late would get six weeks at hard labor and, wfrttffr)iy« unlike the American Army, theye were no exceptions or excuses permitted. The result was men jumped automatically to attention wherever you saw them and it was very embarrassing to both Blake and myself as mere majors in the Army to find a group of soldiers who were merely taking a few minutes rest after digging a 30 foot ditch, perspiring and grimy, drop everything and jump to attention as we passed. There could be no doubt as to the efficiency and successful discipline of the army. Shortly after this inspection, we were taken to a broad field -where a large, heavily mastached colonel rushed up, saluted General Burns, gave his name and mission, then quicker than you could say tfJack Robinson11 issued an order and 11 rolling medium tanks came ruwBiHS out of the woods into battle formation. It was so startling it was almost frightening to suddenly be enveloped by the fumes of gas and oil and pointed guns and then have issuing from each turret, human moles who lined up at attention and awaited commands. General ^urns and General Faymonville went down the line and shook hands with each of the men. Many of them had decorations and wounds and each one of these was requested to recount his story. Very few of them had been in less than five tank battles and many of them were from bt^alingrad. They were all small, hard as naij.s, and unprepossive looking. Their lot must have been a very hard one and although their spirit was good, it was a depressing atmosphere. Very few of them could be expected to live through the summer. vTe left this tank demonstration and were escorted back to antiair-craft emplacements and th£n on back to the town. They had arranged a special Red Army review for us in the City Hall3 but on arriving word had been received through the secret police that we were to be in Moscow at seven o'clock. The result was the performance had to be cut short and the banquet had to be cancelled, ^ith a full escort, we dashed furiously out to the city limits only to find our passports for readmittance into Moscow missing. Hence, after all this haste,, we had to wait nearly forty-five minutes for the lost slips of paper. We then drove furiously for two hours and got to Lloscow about 6:20 P.L". We were informed we were to be guests of Mr. StaLin at the Kremlin at seven o'clock. Hurridly washing and fixing up, we then dashed up to the main entrance of the Kremlin and were deposited at the palace entrance* The immediate entrance was unimpressive and aside from xxiQpcssxksxxxssdL a veryaustere looking group of soldiers who took our hats and were assigned to each one of us as bodyguards, there was not much difference than entering an old brown stone house in the middle 70fs in New York, or Sheridan Drive in Chicago, or a Los Angeles town house* But then turning to the left within the palace, the shades of Catherine the Great rose before us and a staircase, reminiscent of Louis XIV, breathtaking in its perspective giving the impression of mounting endlessly to the sky and yet actually numbering only 200 steps, richly carpeted and strangely exotic provided an entrance to the main vista of the palace itself. At the top of the staircase and turning to the left again, one enters the senate chamber. This is quite modern, has desks chromium plated for about 1500 members of the pra&sidium to sit facing enormous statues and pictures of Father Lenin and Smoky Joe himself* Yfe were hustled through this hall and then entered the banquet chamber* This was lighted as brightly as Broadway on Saturday evening and the table decorations were as lavish as an exhibition in the LCetropolitan Museum of Art. We all assembled in a small room just off the main banquet room and were given a seating list of all the guests and served beer and JSkamrpHirgHg champagne* Yihy this combination no one seemed to know. Mr. Molotov enterw* shortly thereafter and within a very few minutes Stalin himself made his entrance. He wore a gray jacket, collar without tie, black riding boots, and a brown-gray pair of pants neatly pressed and perfectly fitting. His attire was rich in its simplicity and far more rega than one would have expected. After glancing around the group rather nerv^ously and appearing ill at ease, he suddenly made up his mind sssA that the thing to do was to shake hands with everyone and s±Hidaigxa± starting at the right and moving to the left, he was transformed into a Illinois Rotarian who this was grabbed both our hands in his and pumped as though the handle of a plow. As soon as this ceremony had heen gone through, we all moved iid5J4X±kKX±mx in to the dinner. Mr. Davies sat on Mr. Stalin's right and Lir. Clark Kerr, the British Ambassador, on his left. Directly XKEmsacross from Mr. Stalin was Mr. Molotov. On Mr. Molotov's right was Admiral Standley and on his left an interpreter. Next to the British Ambassador was also an interpreter, then came General Burns and on his left was Marshal Vorshilov. Directly across the taole from Marshal Vorshilov was Mr. Mikoyan, the head of the secret police, the N.K.V.D., Mr. Beria, was at the head of the table on the right and Mr. Zhukov was on the left. Next to him were three Lieutenant Generals from the Russian Army and Marshal Timoshenko followed by Andreyev, head of the Soviet Council, and lor. Nicolai Shervnik, head of the Council of Nationalities. At the conclusion of the first course, Mr. liolotov proposed a toast to the Presidents special ambassador, Mr. Davies, and Mr. Davies responded with a 1$ minute talk on what he had seen at Stalingrad, the glory of Russia, the alliance of Russia and the U.S., the desirability of making Stalingrad a National Park to commemorate the Russian victory over the Hun, and the necessity of the free peoples and the god-fearing peoples, Russia and the United States, cooperating to make a permanent peace. It was far too long and completely out of order. Mr. Davies recognized this himself and after the resulting toast had been drunk, got up and apoligized at some length also. The fifth toast was a toast to the United States Army proposed by Mr. Molotov and seconded by the Russian generals present. General Milchela, our military attache, responded with a toast to the Red Army and this was the only toast of the evening which evoked any enthusiasm on the part of Stalin. He jumped up from his seat, rushed around to General Milchela, touched his glass to the generals, and fairly beamed dadna (bottoms up). The 9th toast of the evening was proposed by Admiral Litvinoff to Major General Burns. Toasts were also drunk to Admiral Standley and to the British Ambassador. The 18th toast was to General Faymonville. There were 21 toasts in all and the dinner was cut short in order to adjourn to Mr. Stalin's private movie theatre where they showed the picture "Mission to Moscow" which had been brought over by the Russian Ambassador. During the picture Mr. Davies sat on Stalin's right and the interpreter on Mr. Stalin's left. Mr. Stalin got up and left three times during the picture and gave the impression of being thoroughly bored during the later half of the dinner and the entire showing of the picture. About midnight we all shook hands with Mr. Stalin, Mr. Molotov, and Marshal Vorshilov and departed. We were escorted out of
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