GEORGE S. PATTON DIARIES Annotated transcripts Aug. 26 1943-Feb. 8, 1944 (2 of 2) BOX 3 FOLDER 4 December 1, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) 'I had been dealing with heroes. I saw two men whom I thought were cowards. Naturally I was not too gentle with them.'" This is exactly true, but there is no use repeating it. Colonel T. A. Dodge, who wrote "Great Captains", etc., dedicates the life of Hannibal thus; "To the American Soldier who, not bred to arms but nourished by independence, has achieved the proudest rank among the veterans of history." This is a good quote to use some time. Air Marshall Park, who commanded the fighter covering London during the blitz, came to spend the night. He is a New Zealander and a nice man. He later commanded the air defense in Malta. With reference to the Blitz, Park said that he had two rings of fighter airfields, the first one near the coast and the second one nearer London. The Boche bombed him completely off the coastal ring and had him groggy on his inner ring when they suddenly shifted and bombed London. Had they kept on bombing his airfield for one week more, he would have been grounded and London would have had no protection. In 1943, at Malta, his job was to stop the supplies getting to Rommel and also to defend Malta against the Germans. At times he was so low in gas that he would not allow the planes to taxi from their dispersed positions to the take-off line but had them pushed by manpower to save fuel. In his attacks against the German shipping, he frequently lost 30% and on one occasion lost 36% of the planes involved. He believes that during this time - that is - prior to August, 1943 - Malta could have been taken by a combined December 1, 1943 (cont'd p. 3) air, airborne and amphibious attack. One of the German Marshals proposed this but Rommel demanded that the air force of the Germans be kept up over Africa. This was finally agreed to, with the probable result that, by it, he lost the war, because had Malta fallen there was nothing to prevent any of the 40 German Divisions loose in France from going to North Africa; and it is now admitted, so Park said, that had Rommel possessed one additional fresh division, he could have walked into Cario. Park also stated that had Conyngham permitted, he could have given me direct air support at Gela, whereas, under the complicated system set up by Conyngham, the requests had to go all over the country, with the result that when I asked for a bombardment to stop the tank attack on July 11, I did not receive it for five hours, at which time it was useless as it was unnecessary. We talked over my ideas for the operation in Italy. I feel that with our air and naval superiority we can drive the Germans completely from that country, provided we have sufficient naval lift to move one reinforced regiment. Such an operation would naturally be predicated on our receiving one more infantry corps in Italy. My plan is to first blood each new division in a small operation, where, due to excessive artillery fire, it is sure of a local success. Then replace the new divisions with those holding the line, and when all is set, to put on an attack either amphibiously or straight ahead, supported by all the air, naval gunfire and artillery possible, and use for it troops who are not tired and have just tasted victory. Park agreed and said he would like to help me. I wish we could try it. He also said that the morning December 1, 1943 (cont'd p. 4) he heard that the Germans had attacked London was the happiest moment of his life, because then he knew he could stop them. December 2, 1943 Corporal Matassa, my barber, who is a Sicilian by birth told me that his people tell him that we are dealing too gently with them, that they are all crooks and are used to, and need an iron hand, and that in that respect Mussolini was much better than we are. The natives feel that the farmers have plenty of grain, but are holding it for high prices and that if a few hoarders were hanged there would be plenty of grain. They also feel that AMG is retaining too many of the old guard fascists in power. I doubt this, as any man of ability had to say he was a fascist in order to get a job. I have heard this before from other Italians but was interested to get it from an American soldier. It is possible that even my armor of self-confidence has taken a few punctures as a result of different things. Just now I went to a retreat Parade of the 1st Armored Signal Battalion, who have been with me since I took command of the I Armored Corps at Benning. They too have been ordered to Italy to join the Fifth Army, yet the Fifth Army, which is static, has twice the signal troops we ever had. It almost looks like an attempt to strip the body before the spirit has flown; but one should never indulge in self-pity. Efforts are also being made to get General Gar Davidson for a "special mission to Italy'. He does not want to go and I want to keep him and have so radioed. It is folly to break up an efficient, battle-proven staff just for expediency. December 3, 1943 Nothing. December 4, 1943 Nothing. December 5, 1943 Today, myself, Poletti, McSherry and some others are to get L.L.D.'s in political science at the University of Palermo at 1100. About 1030 Colonel Koch came in with a rumor that there is to be a student demonstration and possibly a riot. However we are going anyway. We are taking a motorcycle escort in case something should start. We got the University just after the Cardinal arrived. There was a large and very noisy crowd in the hall where the presentation was to take place. The students in the back made a lot of noise, and those in the front urged those in the rear not to make any noise, and in so doing it made just as much. The Magnifient Rector (Rectorio Magnificio) clasped his hands and the Cardinal looked worried. Everyone made speeches which no one could hear, due to the tumult. Codman said that he could not see a student who looked capable of being educated. Mussolini must have been quite a man to get as far as he did with such scum. John C. H. Lee spent the night and gave me some hearsay dope on the Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt meeting. According to Lee, Uncle Joe had the whip hand and used it. Once on a military question Churchill said, "We can leave that to our military advisors" and Uncle Joe replied, "Do you have to have General Brooke make up your mind for you?" Lee is leaving in the morning. December 6, 1943 Nothing. December 7, 1943 Mr. McCloy (1) and General Holmes arrived at 1000. They had intended to arrive at 0800 but at the last moment the B-25 set up for them failed to arrive. Mr. McCloy came to my office at 1730 and said that he wanted to put me wise to what had gone on at the two conferences. When Churchill and the President first got to Cairo the Chinese were there, and Churchill and Roosevelt committed themselves to an amphibious operation in the Chinese theater. Then Churchill and Roosevelt had a near split (too bad it did not materialize) over the "Overlord" plan. Churchill said that instead of its being Overlord it was becoming "Master." He is still fooling around about small attacks in the Aegean sea, particularly with a view to the capture of Rhodes. He is actuated in this by political considerations, as he has been attacked at home by the opposition for losing the three islands. They also quarrelled over the appointment of a supreme commander to the British, hedging on the amount of authority he was to have. Things were apparently pretty grim when they went to see Stalin. Stalin came into the conference and said, "There are only two things I want to know. When are you going to attack France and when are you going to appoint a Supreme Commander?" Churchill began talking about the Aegean operation this winter, and Stalin said, "That is nothing. This is the last round of a prize fight and it is not the time to dance around the ring but to go in and slug. I admit that your bombing has removed some enemy air, but what I want taken off my neck is divisions, not bombers. It is time for you to attack both in the north, and also in the south, of France. I have whittled the enemy down to your size." Churchill suggested that a committee be 1. Hon. J.J. McCloy, Under Secretary of War December 7, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) appointed to consider plans and make a report and Stalin said, "If we three can't decide, who can? I don't have to ask my generals to make up my mind for me. I have no time for discussion by juniors. I have to get back to Moscow and win a war and win it fast, so I can reconstitute my country." To put on the attacks in northern and southern France landing boats will be necessary, hence the Chinese operation will have to be cancelled; and in addition, landing boats and carriers will have to be withdrawn from the Pacific. Admiral King was agreeable to this when Stalin said that as soon as Germany was wiped up, he would help us in Japan, as he had an old grudge to settle with her. It has been decided that Marshall will remain as Chief of Staff, but will participate more actively in operations; that Ike will be Supreme Commander in the UK and that when the southern attack gets ashore, that too will come under him; that Spaatz will go to UK as chief of all air operations both in UK and Africa. Churchill kicked on this and so did Portal, but Stalin insisted. General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson will succeed Ike in Africa. Churchill picked Wilson over Alexander. I think there is considerable discontent over lack of drive in Italy. I asked Mr. McCloy about myself. He said that he had never let friendship move him, but that he felt that I had in my makeup certain chemicals no other General had; that I was a great fighter and an inspiring leader, though probably not a Moltke, and must be used. That I was not to worry about what was said about me as that would hurt my efficiency. He also said that I look and act like a general and that no one else we have does. He asked General Marshall what was to become of me and December 7, 1943 (cont'd p. 3) Marshall had said, "He will have an Army." I should have a group of armies, but that will come. I think that my luck is in again. In a few minutes I leave to see the President and after that I can tell more about it. Mr. McCloy asked me for a brief account of the "Incident". I told him I could not do better than to read him the letter I had written to Mr. Stimson but not mailed. When I had read it, he said, "I wish you would give it to me to show Mr. Stimson". I replied that I would give it if he wanted it but that I was not volunteering anything. He requested me to hand it over. December 8, 1943 Mr. McCloy left at 0715 and on the way out to the field he said, "Another thing about you is that you look like a general. You have color, personality and size. Men like to follow a man they can respect." We got to Castelvetrano at 0930. The President was supposed to arrive at 1015, but due to motor trouble, he did not get in until 1420. General H. H. Arnold got in at 1330, and we had quite a talk. He substantiated all the Mr. McCloy said about the conference and added that Stalin ran the show, saying to Mr. Churchill, among other things, "What is the matter with you English? You used to be good soldiers; now you don't fight at all and you are afraid of the sight of blood." Arnold also said that, despite our air efforts, the German air force is getting bigger and now has 8,000 planes. The three Allies have over 20,000 but are not using them. He thinks Air Marshal Portal is to blame. He feels that the Russians and ourselves are much more of the same mind than the British. December 8, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) He said it had been necessary to tell the British that unless they went on with us in the "Overlord" operation, we would take all but a token force out of England and concentrate on Japan and let England stew in her own juice. He has been at every conference and says that in every case after we have found the British to agree to a policy then we have no sooner gotten home than they have practically repudiated the agreement, and he thinks that unless Stalin and the President use pressure that they will do it again. The President was most affable to me. So were F. A. Watson (1) and Harry Hopkins (2). The latter took me aside and said, "Don't let anything that s.o.b. Pearson said bother you." He also told Colonel Harkins that so far as he knew the incident was closed. Ike was very nice also, and said that he felt sure I would soon get orders to go to UK and command an Army. He asked me what to do with Jake Devers. The Army Group Staff which Bradley had been assembling in London was predicated on General Marshall going to London. Now that Ike is going, it may all have to be changed. On the way to the plane after refreshments the President said to me, "Poor dear old Winnie is getting pretty difficult, but Uncle Joe and I see eye to tye." The tide has turned, I hope. General D. I. Sultan was at Palermo when we returned and we had a nice time. He told me one very interesting thing. When he was in command of the Hawaiian Division, which he only relinquished in June or July of 1941, General WC Short (3) was obsessed with the idea that there would be an air raid and therefore had the planes well spread out. At the same time, Admiral Kimmel (4) was obsessed with the idea there 1. Maj Gen P. A. Watson Mil. Aide to President 2. Mr. Harry Hopkins - Personal advisor to President 3. Maj. Gen W. C. Short Comdr. Hawaii at Pearl Harbor 4. Adm Kimmel Naval Comdr " " " December 8, 1943 (cont'd p. 3) would be an air raid and therefore kept the fleet out of Pearl Harbor. Between this time and December 1941, Short became obsessed with the idea of saboteurs and collected all the planes in small areas, and Kimmel became obsessed with the fear of submarines and put the fleet in Pearl Harbor. It would seem probable that this complete reversal of opinion must have been implemented by the Japanese. It was very unfortunate that it took place. December 9, 1943 D. I. Sultan left at 1315 in our plane. At supper got a wire from Alexander congratulating me on being a Companion of the Bath. December 10, 1943 Wired thanks to Alex and wired General Wilson at Cairo that I would arrive Sunday. Raining like hell. Mr. Murphy came to see me and we had quite a talk. He told me about De Gaulle, who, he said, was put in through British duplicity and the native stupidity of Giraud. He feels that there is a verbal agreement between Roosevelt and Churchill to let Churchill run Europe while we run the west. However, he thinks Roosevelt is playing with the idea of keeping Dakar, and may take part of Morocco. While staying at Teheran, Roosevelt stayed at the Russian Legation and that made Churchill very mad. Murphy thinks Germany will negotiate with two months. December 11, 1943 All ready to start for Cairo at 0700 in the morning, weather permitting. Raining again. Last night Mr. Murphy, General P. L. Williams, General T. B. Larkin, General L. L. Stuart came to dinner and we had the first good movie I have seen, called "China". December 12, 1943 Mr. McCloy was forced down here yesterday and spent the night. He left again at 0715 and we started for Cairo immediately afterwards. We flew over the Mediterranean as far as Benghazi where we stopped 45 minutes for gas and arrived at Cairo in the dark in 8 1/2 hours. The desert from Benghazi east is very much without landmarks but is quite rolling, so that at 1500 yards in almost any place troops would be concealed. It would seem to me that in desert fighting, captive balloons, and even battery commanders' observation ladders would have been a help, but so far as I know, neither of them was used. The surface of the desert is hard, but breaks up with much travel; however, it is much easier traversing than the desert surface around Indio. The fact that it breaks up with travel accounts for the information we had before going to Indio, that we should not follow in trace, and our surprise when we found that in the Colorado Desert it was necessary to follow in trace. We flew right over the battlefield of El Alamein and were surprised to note how little evidence of combat still remains. It was quite a thrill to suddenly see the pyramids staring you in the face. Our party on this trip consisted of Colonels Cummings, Codman, Hammond, Franklin, Harvey 1, Carter 2, Chambers 3, Birch 4 and Van Buskirk 5. We were met at the station by Major H. Chapman Walker, Aide to General Wilson, who took Codman and me to the General's house. The rest of the officers were very well looked after by General Ralph Royce 6. He asked for me & I tried to serve in his squadron in France in '18 - but was refused permission G. C [P?] 1. Col T.H. Harvey Asst G-4 7th Army 3. [2.] Col John Chainbers Engr Section " 2. [3.] Col B.S. Carter - G-2 Sect " 4. Col Claude Birch P-M. " " 5. Col J Van Buskirk S.S.O. " 6. Maj Gen R. Royce Air OF.F. C.J.A. Cairo December 13, 1943 Codman and I are staying at General Wilson's house, "quite a nasty little shack" about 20 minutes out of town at a place called Maabi. A very complete program has been "laid on" for us by Major H. Chapman Walker, ADC. We went shopping with Lady Ranforly, who is secretary to General Wilson. Her husband was captured over a year ago. We had cocktails at Shepheard's Hotel. All the local information about the Egyptians and this visit is covered in a separate paper which I have in the files. (appendex B. P.) In the afternoon we visited the tank school, which is a very poor one, an inferior copy of our own at Fort Knox. The seem to have a large number of good officers doing nothing in a big way. Certainly there is no sense now in having a tank school in Egypt. It appears from this, and from other incidents I have seen, that the British, and probably ourselves also, have a habit of never thinking about stopping anything after it has been started. Once a tank school is created, they keep on having one even after the necessity has ceased for one in that locality. The Egyptian peasant is definitely lower than the Sicilian WHOM I have thought was the bottom. When the dam at Assuam was built it developed snails, who are the host for the sort of hook warm. The native men and some of the women get this. It gives them the belly ache and also reduces their sex virility so they smoke Hashish to pep themselves up, but the effect is brief, and also it makes them suffer more in pain from the worms. It is a sort of vicious circle. About 1200 people own all the land so that each peasant, if he has any land, does not own over 4/5 of an acre. The average pay is $50.00 a year and out of -- December 13, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) this they have to pay for the water they drink. I saw a man defecating in the "fresh water canal" and a few yards down stream women were washing clothes, and a little lower several women were drawing water. The sail boats have the same lines they had 4,000 years ago, but since 762 AD they have adopted the Arab lateen sail, instead of the square sail that they used previously. The strange think is that they sail fast and well. They have huge rudders which also act as a sort of center board. December 14, 1943 Took off for Jerusalem at 0700 and crossed the canal just south of Lake Tenis. Thence we followed the road to Beersheba. We flew along the line of Allenby's advance and crossed the Wadi El Arish, near where the battle took place (1). It is a less formidable obstacle than I had gathered from the books--Beersheba and the surrounding country do not look too difficult. I took a picture. We also flew over Hebron and Bethlehem where I also took pictures. We flew just south of Jerusalem and landed at Aquir, near the coast. From there we drove to the Holy City, a distance of thirty miles. The personal incidents of this visit are covered in a paper which is in the files. General D. F. McConnell, who commands the district, gave us a very intelligent Priest who took us to see the sights. We entered Jerusalem by the gate which Tancred stormed to take the city. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre covers both the tomb of Christ and the place where the cross stood. It is run by Catholics, Greeks and Copts. The Tomb is a cave with a little chapel outside. The floor of the cave and the slab on which the Body lay are both protected by marble slabs. The cave is 1. General Patton was an ardent admirer of General Allenby and served as his aide when Allenby visited the Hawaiian Island. December 14, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) very small. Most of the hill where the Cross stood has been cut away, but there is an alter on the spot where the Cross was erected. Under the altar is a brass plate with a hole in it, so one can stick his hand in and feel the stone; also there is a sliding plate which can be moved to show where the rocks were cracked. Not far away is a cistern where the three crosses were found. They had a simple way of telling which was the proper one. They had a sick man touch each cross and, naturally, the one that cured him was the right one. Simple if true. The priest believed it. I bought a rosary for Mary Scally (1) in the Church and had it blessed at the Altar of the Cross. We also saw the Crusaders Chapel and the swords with which the Knights were accoladed. I think the sword is genuine although the pommel is smaller than usual. From here we followed the Way of the Cross backwards to the site of the Roman Fort where the trial took place. We then drove to the Garden of Gethsemane. There are still olive trees, and Church of the Passion is very pretty. I forgot to say that the doorkeeper at the Church of the Sepulchre is a Mohammedan; also that four secret service men protected me while visiting all the Holy places---lack of faith? We then drove the Mount of Olives. There is a Mosque on the spot where the Lord took off, and while we were there the Muezzin sounded off. The walls of the city are in fine shape and good 11th Century construction. Mohammed also took off for heaven, mounted on a white horse, from the site of the Cathedral in the City. We flew back along a beach and passed right over Gaza. Here, too, the place did not look too formidable. 1. His nurse, aged 97. December 15, 1943 Lady Ranforly arranged for an eminent scholar to show us to the sights, so we picked him up at the hotel and asked how to get to the Pyramids. He was shocked and grieved and assured us that he knew nothing about them but was a Mosque specialist. I told him I was not interested in Mosques and told him goodbye. We picked up a native guide at the Mena house and went to see the Pyramids. The Guide knew less about them than I did but we had an interesting time --- just the age of the things is thrilling. They were just a memory when Rameses II was Pharaoh. Besides, Napoleon had been there. They are not as impressive, and to my mind not so large, as those at Mexico City. Height 490 feet, base about 700. I must look up the Mexican ones. Called on Mr. Casey, the British Minister and member of their War Council. He is an Australian and, in my opinion, a very bright man. He was extremely nice to me, asked me to visit him stay at his house, go to meals, and everything else, which I was unable to do, due to the fact that I did not have time. Had lunch with General Alexander and six Saudi Arabian Princes. The latter spoke no known language and did not understand each other very well, but were quite fine looking men who wore European clothes under their robes. They are just back from the United States. Apparently there is some sort of an oil deal on. After lunch visited a factory where the British make dummy airplanes, tanks, guns, and even landing craft. The tanks run on truck bodies and the boats float. I was told with great pride that the dummies cost only 1/10 as much as an original. Personally I think it is money very much wasted but the people who make them are very enthusiastic. When we had inferiority in the air, the tanks, and landing craft, dummies may have been useful, but now that we have December 15, 1943 (cont'd) superiority they are utterly useless. Yet there are hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of men working on them diligently. Another case of something being started and never stopped. At 5:30 PM I made a talk on landing operations to about four hundred officers of the Headquarters staff. It was a good talk and they were quite enthusiastic. December 16, 1943 General Beaumont Nesbitt, who is the liaison officer and also a Major General, took me to Shepheards Hotel where I met the rest of the staff and we drove along the Suez Road for two and a half hours and finally got to the combined operations training center, which is on the shores of the Small Bitter Lake. I gave a talk to the instructors and some two hundred students, including Lt. General R. M. Scobie, who commands the only corps in Egypt. In spite of the fact that I am certain the President and Prime Minister and Uncle Joe agreed not to waste men in side shows in the Greek Islands, these people are getting ready for just such a show. Their training stuff is about like ours, but not so well done, and they are making landings in still water. I was not impressed although they were quite interested in my talk, took notes, and' asked a lot of questions. General Scobie said he had never learned so much in forty-five minutes in his life. On the way back we had quite a dust storm. General Sir Henry Maitland-Wilson had returned. He is large, rather fat and seems stupid but is probably a good soldier. I liked him and he is more impressive than either Alex or Monty. There is a very definite effort on the part of all the staff, except General Wilson, to run Monty down and to try and get me to agree with them, but December 16, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) needless to say, I did not commit myself. Apparently the Regular Officers of the British Army do not like Montgomery at all. December 17, 1943 General Nesbitt and I met General Anders who commands the Polish II Corps, and drove to the Polish Camp near Faqus, which is on the eastern side of the Delta and is an excellent training area. They had a guard of honor --- a very fine one --- then we had lunch and later inspected units. At lunch General Anders gave me one of his insignia of a Lt. General, also the Corps shoulder patch --- a mermaid. I gave him a U.S. and a 7th Army shoulder patch. He is much of a man ---has been hit eight times and was Chief of Staff of a Russian Division in World War I. The troops are the finest looking and best disciplined I have ever seen. The wear British uniforms. Anders says they hate the Germans and Russians equally. He says that the Russians murdered 1500 Polish officers in cold blood. (1) Colonel Cummings and I drove to Alexandria, reaching there after dark. The delta, which we had to cross, looks just like Indio, but is wetter. In Alexandria we had been invited to meet the Commander in Chief of the Levant, a naval officer. We spent the night at a hotel and were somewhat put out because nobody met us, although the rooms at the hotel had been reserved in the morning. December 18, 1943 At 1000 Colonel Mosley, British, called as representative of Vice- Admiral Sir A. Willis, Commander-in Chief of the Levant, and took me to the Yacht Club where some more admirals met me. We got in a barge and inspected the harbor, which is huge and not damaged at all. We landed 1. See letter to B.A.P. December 18, 1943 (cont'd P. 2) and inspected the tank repair shop, which is in a huge shed. However, the methods are archaic and they only work 10 hours a day. There are practically no machines and it takes them 52 hours to strip and reassemble a tank. They even make gaskets by hand. Not the least notion of modern methods of mass production, and they are very proud of themselves. A very poor show, yet flaunted in my face as a model of efficiency. Truly a pathetic race. We were then taken to the Army and RAF joint Operations Room where we were supposed to marvel at their non-existent efficiency. Yet lots of Americans fall for it because the British are so self-confident. We drove back to Cairo over the dessert road. They have signs saying not to halt except at convoy parking places, also signs showing the distance to the nearest gas filling point. These are ideas worth copying. After a drive of 150 miles we reached Cairo. December 19, 1943 Left at 0630 by plane for Karnak and Luxor. Major Emory, a noted Egyptologist, who has been in the country 22 years, and was a member of the Carter expedition, came along as guide. He pointed out several other groups of pyramids, also a buried city which he had just started to excavate when the war came. At Karnak airport we got some cars and drove a few miles to the city. Here we took a sailboat and crossed to the west bank, where we got some delapidated Fords and drove to the Valley of the Kings. Emory showed me how they hunt for tombs. They cut galleries in the face of the hills and can tell if an excavation has occurred by the shape of the stone chips they find. They tell the age by the type of chips. The tombs are built like the houses of those buried in them., and the rooms are in general filled with the objects which would have been in December 19, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) them in life. The first tomb we entered was that of King Tut. He was a young and not important King, so the tomb is relatively small. The big ones, like that of Rameses II must have contained much more stuff. In Tut's burial chamber there is a huge stone coffin, inside which is wooden sarcophagus covered with gold plate. Actually there were three such coffins. The one we saw is #2 and the body is in it. Number 1, which was of solid gold valued at 70,000 lbs., used to hold the body but is now in the Cairo Museum, as is also number 3, the outer one, which is of painted wood. The Valley of the Kings looks like a Box Canyon at Indio but is much smaller, and it is supposed that there are still 3 undiscovered royal tombs in it. We then drove to Thebes, about two miles, and visited a tomb of a Prime Minister, discovered by Major Emory. It is of interest as it shows the methods of work. One can see line drawings of the relief, then where they were chipped out in the rough, and finally the finished relief. The work is very beautiful. This man started his tomb under the old Orthodox religion and half the carvings are of the old formal type. The other half was done after the reformed faith came in and the figures are much less stiff and more lifelike. One carving shows the rays of the sun god falling on the Pharaoh. When the old faith came back, the priests cut a line across the rays so that they would not fall on the apostate King --- small potatoes. (see photographs) We then drove to the palace and temple of Rameses II. It is quite a formidable structure with a moat cut in the solid rock. Also the walls are crenelated. While fighting in Syria he had met such walls and copied them. December 19, 1943 (cont'd p. 3) Nearby is an artificial lake which he built for his Queen because she had been raised on the seashore and missed a large body of water. It is several hundred acres in extent and was all hand work. Of course mow it is dried up, but one can still see the banks. Major Emory says that in all building projects the Pharaohs were careful not to take too many laborers because it interfered with the cultivation of the land. Also they did not keep any one group too long because since they were not soldiers, it was feared that they might develop revolutionary ideas if they associated too long with soldiers. Times have changed very little. We run that danger with the CCC and will do it now, unless we get all our troops into battle. We recrossed the river, had lunch at a hotel, and then visited, first Luxor, and then Karnak. These two temples are so huge and grand that it is not possible to describe them. Outside Karnak there is a Roman Forum of average size, yet it is so dwarfed by the temple that it is hardly noticeable. December 20, 1943 Left Cairo at 0630 and reached Palermo at 1430. A great deal of mail was waiting for me. General Gay is out of the hospital (1) and looks fine and I am glad to have him back. Had a note from Hughes saying that the Gallup Poll was 77% for me, 19% against me, and 4% not voting. December 21, 1943 Read letters and wrote replies all day. I had 38 letters, mostly from strangers, backing me up, and only 6 cussing me out. I am having copies made of all letters, both good and bad. I don't read the bad ones as they simply make me angry to no purpose. Codman leaves for Algiers in the morning to buy some Christmas food and drink and to get the latest reaction. He will take Hughes a set of the letters to show 1. After a hernia operation. December 21, 1943 (cont'd p. 2) him how the wind is blowing. We received a wire today asking how many officers we need to send to Algiers to plan an operation about the size of "Husky." I replied, "Two Hundred," which is more than I have, but I know the will cut me so I had best ask for plenty. I have a hunch that I will not go the UK but will command an attack against the south coast of France, probably under the command of General Sir H. M. Wilson. If they leave Hughes at Algiers as Deputy I will get on all right --- I will anyway. December 22, 1943 Nothing December 23, 1943 Nothing December 24, 1943 Christmas Eve Went to the Seventh Army officers party at the Hotel. It was very nice, with a tree, presents and a movie. Each officer got a handkerchief with a shoulder patch of the Seventh Army embroidered on it. (1) Later, Codman and I went to midnight services at the Episcopal Church where there was a huge crowd. We talked over the "incident" until nearly 0300. Codman has been of great help and has also been most reassuring. He flew to Algiers to get the latest dope, getting back this afternoon. Jimmy Doolittle called to see me this afternoon. He says that he will stay in North Africa and command the bombers, and that Ike is going to UK with Tedder as his deputy. Spaatz also goes, but is surrounded by British. Much of this information I have already pieced together and I am not sure that it is true. H. Maitland Wilson gets the AFHQ at Algiers. I command a mixed pack to attack from -------- but it will be about nine divisions. It will be called "Anvil" (2). I hope we get the 1. Sent me a letter. (BAP) 2. Code name for Invasion of Southern France December 24, 1942 (cont'd p. 2) naval lift. I fear that if Wilson is in command he will divert some of it to that crazy Greek attack on Rhodes to save the Prime Minister's face. Stalin may, and I hope will, balk at that. I shall certainly be glad to fight again, and the place is the one which we have been studying and reporting on for six weeks; but it was not a guess, it is the only possible place, and I knew it as soon as I looked at the map. I hope the war does not abort until I have a chance to put on another show in Europe so as to be the inevitable choice for Japan. December 25, 1943 Christmas Day I got a great many presents and some lovely letters. We had the Navy, the senior British officer, Colonel Poletti and the heads of all the staff sections for dinner. Before that I inspected all that is left of the Seventh Army and they were all glad to see me. My men are crazy about me, and that is what makes me most angry with Drew Pearson. I will live to see him die. As a matter of fact, the ability to survive this has had a good effect on America, and on me. My destiny is sure and I am a fool and a coward ever to have doubted it. I don't any more. Some people are needed to do things and they have to be tempered by adversity as well as thrilled by success. I have had both. Now for some more success. December 26, 1943 Codman and I went to Church but most of the others overslept. I had a very fine letter from Mr. Stimson. He answered the letter I sent him by Mr. McCloy. I would have sent it sooner but Ike was opposed to it. I wish I had sent it sooner. Mr. Stimson has certainly been a very staunch and straightforward friend of mine since the beginning. December 27, 1943 I woke in the night amazed at the size of the training job which confronts me. I dreamt first that there were endless miles of beach with soldiers training on them. I wish that I had just one veteran division and on U. S. Armored Division. Apparently I will have five French Infantry Divisions, two French Armored Divisions and two U. S. Infantry Divisions, in III Corps. I wish I could go to Africa and get to work. There is a lot to do. The French will have to be wholly retrained, especially their Armor. I will try to get General I. D. White on a loan. I also need some infantry officers --- I may be [Check with original longhand copy] able to get wounded ones, and possibly Middleton or Terry Allen. Well, we will have quite a lot of time and, if Hughes stays, he and I can get what we need. I wish to God Ike would leave and take Smith with him. They cramp my style. Better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven. Campanole left for Washington today on a loan --- he will be with the President on a good will trip for some weeks. He is a loyal and lovable man. December 28, 1943 Sent Harkins to Algiers to find out what is going to happen December 31, 1943 Another year ended. I hope I do bigger and better fighting in 1944. Harkins got back yesterday and I can't make head or tail of the mess. The Seventh Army Staff is going to Algiers to plan "Anvil" but Hughes writes that I won't command "Anvil". He thinks I am going to UK. I hope not. I would hate to play too far down in the team, also if I get to England, as it seems to be set up, it means I go alone to pick up a new staff. I prefer my present one to any I have seen. They have stuck December 31, 1943 (Cont'd p. 2) by me and I propose to stick by them. Harkins thinks that Italy is over, and that we will get at least one Corps from there. If so they must be pulled out and rested for at least six weeks. There is no use worrying or guessing --- soon we will know. Destiny will keep on floating me down the stream of fate. Admiral Davidson is back and dined with us last night. Colonel Poletti brought in an advisory committee for Civil Government, on which were a lot of Russians lead by Mr. Vishinski, the man who got all the confessions from accused Russians in the trials. He is a benign looking little man with near-sighted eyes, but very clever. I had a Russian, who is a Corporal in G-2, explain the Russian situation to them on the big map, and it made quite a hit. Mr. Vishiinsky told me that the Russians had, in his opinion, and he certainly should know, suffered casualties to the extent of 23,000,000. Of course this does not only mean battle casualties. People have died from many other reasons as a result of the war. January 1, 1944 Received an "eyes only" radio from Natousa saying that I will be relieved from command of the Seventh Army today and report to Algiers for further instructions; that the Seventh Army staff will plan "Anvil" and that when Clark thinks he should quit Italy, he will notify AFHQ and be assigned to command the Seventh Army. That no transfers between the staff of the Fifth and Seventh Army will be made without permission of higher authority. That the Fifth Army will have only the 88th, 85th, 34th and the 1st Armored Divisions. The 3rd, 45th, and 36th are coming to the Seventh Army to spearhead the attack at "Anvil". The training center January 1, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) will be moved from Mostaganem to Italy. I feel very badly for myself but particularly for the staff and headquarters soldiers who have stood by me all the time in good weather and bad. I suppose that I am going to England to command another army but if I am sent there to simply train troops which I am not to command I shall resign. There is no appreciation of the fact that a staff is a living thing, not simply an animated table of organization. I cannot conceive of anything more stupid than to change staffs on a General, nor can I conceive of anything more inconsiderate than not to notify him where he is going. It is just one more thing to remember when the time comes to pay my debts. A Hell of a "Happy New Year." January 2, 1944 Flew to Algiers after Church, arriving 1330. Hughes met me and was very nice. He knows nothing about this "Anvil" plan any more than I do and agrees with me that it is totally impractical and crazy. January 3, 1944 Went to see Carey Crane, Assistant G-3, but was careful to ask no questions about myself or who conceived this plan. On the face of it the thing looks like an attempt to save Clark from the onus of his utter failure in Italy. Probably it was decided to let me relieve him while he got the new job; then someone decided to make Lucas the goat. Called on Hewitt to say goodbye. He is on his way home for a short visit. He was most outspoken in his regret that he and I were not to do "Anvil" together. Saw a copy of a letter by a British General in which he said, "We don't need to worry about being commanded by an American. Ike is only a political General and cannot command, as he has never had any experience". I wired Air Vice Marshal Park asking if I could accept his January 3, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) invitation to visit Malta. He replied yes, and we fly up tomorrow. I cannot see how any normally intelligent person could inspire this fool change of staffs. It is unfair and insulting to me, but is heartbreaking for the staff of the Seventh Army who have been utterly loyal, and now find that their efforts get them nowhere. It is damnable. I hope I find out who did it and then get to a position so that I can really hurt him. I shall do my best t see that they (the staff) are properly taken care of but they will certainly not be. I have contemplated asking to be relieved but will stick it at least for the present. Bea gave me "The Duke", a life of Wellington, and he too had many adversities. His staff was also changed several times. Fate. January 4, 1944 Left Algiers at 1000 and flew to Tebessa. On the way passed over a rather large Roman Ruin with a temple and theater that is not even listed on the map, and took a picture of it. All the dump areas at Tebessa are cleaned up. Hunted for, and found, another Roman Ruin north of Tebessa --- from the road I saw it in the distance one, in March. Took a picture of Feriana, where we had our headquarters for the attack on Gafsa. From Feriana we flew down Messerschmidt avenue to Gafsa and then over the battlefields. Took a picture of Feriana. It was quite thrilling to fly over Gafsa and El Guettar --- hundreds of memories surged up and all were of success. I believe had it been possible for me to have looked over the battlefields from an airplane about the end of the first week, after I had got to know the country from the map and from the ground, it would have been a distinct advantage. Certainly had either myself or General January 4, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) Eddy gone up we would not have made the mistake of attacking the wrong half of Djebel Berda. Also the gum tree road was a far less dangerous avenue of attack than I had thought from a study of the map. On the other hand, too intimate a knowledge of the terrible difficulties of the mountains might have made me less bold. In any case El Guettar was a great school, both in regard as to what to do and what not to do, and also as a means of producing self-confidence. We also flew over Maknassy from the south. Here I believe that an airplane view would have been an inestimable advantage, for Maknassy is not half as strong a defensive position when viewed from the air as when viewed from the ground. Arrived Malta 1500. Park met me and showed me all around the airfields. His men are the best disciplined and smartest air men I have ever seen and I told him so. At 1830 we went to the San Lorenzo Palace built in 1620 by the Grand Master. Field Marshal Lord Gort lives here and Codman, Stiller and I are staying here, as Park is going to Cairo and has packed up his house. Lord Gort is most charming and quite a man. He has a V.C., three DSO's and a 70-foot Yawl, which he sails himself. Played ping pong after dinner. No running water nor heat in the palace. January 5, 1944 Captain Holland, Lord Gort's aide, took us to see the sights. The forts are artillery stone proof structures, not quite Vauban but pretty good and very well built. They were built between 1400 and 1500 and are artillery stone proof including the roof, although of a pre-Vauban type. They are well built, of local limestone which cuts like butter until it has been exposed to the air. The library was most interesting. I saw a codex of 1420 being the story of St. Anthony from birth to death. January 5, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) He was continually beset with women, or rather, devils in the shape of women. They all have horns sort of toned in with their headdresses. There was one very interesting picture in this set which showed an armorer's shop with all sorts of armor hanging up for sale. These suits were both mail and plate and ranged from late 1100 to 1400, showing clearly that there must have been a trade in second hand armor, so that one is wrong in thinking of armor as of distinct dates. Every knight had to have 16 crosses of nobility before he could join the Knights of Malta and all these are preserved and are a great genealogical record. These family trees have been preserved since somewhere around 1200, because when the Knights were driven out of Rhodes by the Turks, they had put up such a great resistance that the Turks gave them the honors of war and let them take out everything, including their library and their money. This collection of genealogical data is probably the oldest and most accurate in the world. Some of the illuminated manuscripts are beautiful. Even after printing came in, the capitals were painted in by hand. The knights had to vow poverty, chastity and obedience. They only kept the last vow. They were not priests. The dock yard was most interesting and shows that air bombing is important to destroy a harbor. January 6, 1944 Left Malta at 0900, Park came to see me off. The island is very densely populated; some 2,000 people to the acre. It is full of walls and houses and churches and is utterly not self-supporting. The people are rather a poor mongrel type, like Sicilians. Reached Palermo at 1030. All the mountains are covered with snow. January 6, 1942 (cont'd p. 2) I called all the Chiefs of Sections in at 1330 and had Gay read the order relieving me from Seventh Army. I told them not to worry, but to be as loyal to Clark as they have been to me and I thanked them for their loyalty and then choked up and quit. Well, if the Third Cavalry was baptized in blood and fire and come out steel, I have been rolled in the mud and have come out with my faith and a sense of humor. January 7, 1944 Made out recommendations for the promotions of Gay to Major General, Cummings, Muller, Nixon and Franklin to be Brigadiers. Also had two copies made of recommendations for the DSM for officers of the Seventh Army who have been turned down. I am taking all these to Italy tomorrow and am going to ask both Clark and Lucas to do what they can to get them approved. It is the most, and the least, I can do for men who have been utterly loyal to me. January 8, 1944 Landed at Naples at 1000. Lt. Colonel Southerland, Aide to Clark, met me with two cars and two motorcycles. We drove to Caserta where Clark has his headquarters. The rear echelon occupies the Bourbon Palace, a huge building of 2400 rooms which, with its grounds, served as a model for Versailles. The advance Command Post, in which Clark advertises that he lives with his troops, is some 4,000 yards farther north but still in the palace grounds. He and Gruenther have caravans there and a large wooden hut, with a radio, reading lamp, easy chairs, etc. This dangerous outpost is some three hours hard driving from the nearest front line. Both Gruenther and Clark were most condescending and treated me like an undertaker treats the family of the deceased. It was rather hard to take, January 8, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) especially as I am certain that they pulled the wires which got me removed from "Anvil", but I had to be nice as I want my men promoted and decorated. I then drove with Codman to see Keyes, whose command post is well up. Keyes met me on the road and we went to see the right side of his front. I slept in a caravan for the first time and think they are very comfortable. January 9, 1944 Keyes, Codman, Lowman (1) and I drove up to see Honk Allen's (2) attack. We climbed a high hill, and in spite of my practice at Palermo, I was quite out of breath. So were the rest. Honk had his OP in a house, the only one on the hill. This is a mistake as houses, especially isolated ones, draw fire. He is doing pretty well but is too far back. He had taken his objective but the British on his left failed, as usual, to take theirs and are trying to blame Allen, saying that fire from the hill he captured got them enflanked. This is not true. They failed because they only sent in a battalion where a regiment was needed. In the afternoon we visited General Ryder at the Headquarters 34th Division. He still has his bum chief of staff, whom I told him to get rid of in Tunisia. He seemed full of reasons why things cannot be done. I believe that, while he is a brave man, he is not a good soldier. We then drove down to an artillery Observation Post and climbed up to have a look. On the way down one of our batteries close by started to fire so I stopped to take a picture. We then started down again and a salvo of four shells struck, two in the road where we would have been but for the picture, and two on top of the hill where we had done the observing. It was a nice volley, as they all arrived together and were well grouped. None of 1. Capt Lowman Gen Keyes aide 2. Brig. Gen. F. A. Allen Jr. January 9, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) these shells burst more than 30 feet from where we were, yet no one was hit. Codman had some fragments hit his helmet and a piece of a nose of a shell struck within a few inches of my foot but was evidently a ricochet as it did not bury. At the foot of the hill there was a cave full of ammunition and sleeping men. One of the bursts lighted the ammunition piled in this cave, which started to go off and I have never seen people move so fast in evacuating. One man turned two somersaults, lit on his feet, and passed me doing hundred yards in 8 seconds. However, a Lieutenant, whose name I regret I forgot to obtain, and several men, hurried back and went into the cave to see if any of the men had been wounded. None had been hit. I gave Keyes my fleece-lined overshoes, as it is very cold. We spent the night at VI Corps Headquarters south of Caserta. Lucas was fine but looked worried. He is in charge of the "Shingle" operation. He does not think he will get the Fifth Army when Clark leaves and thinks that some hometown boy from Washington will get it. I hope he is wrong and I hope he is successful at "Shingle", but I am not sure that he has sufficient drive. January 10, 1944 Told Clark goodbye. He says that, due to the efforts of the Prime Minister, more emphasis is being placed on "Shingle", to such an extent that "Anvil" may not have the troops or the boats to come off. If this is so it may produce trouble with Stalin, as "Anvil" was definitely promised him. Clark and the British navy between them have changed the date on "Shingle" three times. It is set too soon now. No rehearsal. He changed the date for "Anvil" three times while I was with him, moving it backward and forward. January 10, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) The left corner of Clark's mouth is slightly drawn down as if he had been paralyzed. He is quite jumpy and so is Gruenther. Drove to see 3rd Division. Truscott was as usual and we had a long talk on river crossings. He had done one. They are like landings. I also talked on rifle fire and heavy weapons. He has no changes to offer on what I have written. Sent for Francis Gravis (1) and saw him --- just a child. Could not locate Jim Totten (2). He is supposed to be in Sicily, looking for me. Reached Palermo at 1600. No news, no Totten. January 11, 1944 Nothing January 12, 1944 Nothing January 13, 1944 Nothing January 14, 1944 Gay had a letter from Colonel Harkins which is quite discouraging. Clark has sent General Caffey (3) to Algiers to represent him in planning "Anvil". Caffey is no good, so Clark must think the show is off. Also we are already pressed for time on the requisitions. I wish this thing would clear up. January 15, 1944 Gay, the Doc, (Colonel C. E. Odom), Murnane, (4) Stiller and Lt. Busey (5), who speaks Italian, and I left by car for Troina. Gay's and my car both broke down so we rode in a Command Car and a Weapons carrier. We went on the road just short of San Stefano and reached an elevation of 3900 feet (quite cold) and had a magnificent view of AEtna, of which I took 1. Son of a cousin of BAP. Later Gen Pattons aide in Europe 2. Maj. J. W. Totten, Gen. Patton's son-in-law. 3. Brig Gen B.F. Caffey 4. Maj. Gen Murnane aide to Gen Gay 5. Lt D. G. Busey - G-2 sect 7th Army January 15, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) some pictures. I hope they come out. On the way to Troina we stopped off the look at the Chateau Cerami, from which place I observed the attack on Troina during the battle. There is very little left of the Chateau which, however, is extremely ancient as it apparently developed from a cave and has now practically returned to it's original cavern state. However, the town is worth seeing as it is the dirtiest of all the filthiest places I have ever been in. It is amazing how animals can live with such dirty people, not how people can live with such dirty animals. Troina is much less hurt than one could expect when it is remembered that we shelled it with 130 guns for nearly five days and attacked for two days with 70 medium bombers. During this operation only 240 civilians were hurt. Roger the Great Count's Castle is now part of the church but is clearly Norman, and I saw some pieces of what I think are Roman brick in the cellar. The priest knew something of the history, but not much. It was in front of htis tower that Roger had his fight with the drunken Saracen, and after his horse was killed, calmly unsaddled him to take the saddle back into the castle in order to show that he had no fear of the Saracens. I had hoped to get to Enna before dark to see the castle there, which is supposed to have been built on a Roman basilica, but it was too dark. No news of what will happen to me. On the way home Gay made a profound remark, which is well to remember in the next operation. He said that when Bradley stormed Troina it was not necessary, for we had cut it off. Of course to use the road east, it was necessary to go through the January 15, 1944 (cont'd p. 3) town but we could have probably taken it by starvation in a day or two. January 16, 1944 General Joyce and two aides came at 1600 and stayed all night. He is apparently on the way out but was very sporting and showed no bitterness. January 17, 1944 Saw General Joyce off in the morning. Came to office and am either coming down with some disease or else have "cafard" very badly. I simply don't feel like doing a thing, so am going home. I do wish something would eventuate about myself. January 18, 1944 Feel all right this morning. Sergeant Meeks told me after breakfast that he heard on the radio last night that General Bradley has been made commander of all the ground troops in England. I supposed that this means that he will command the American Army Group. I had thought that possibly I might get this command. It is another disappointment, but so far in my life all the disappointments I have had have finally worked out to my advantage, although at the time it is hard to see how they will. If I am predestined, as I feel that I am, this too will eventually be to my advantage. Bradley is a man of great mediocrity. At Benning in command, he failed to get discipline. At Gafsa, when it looked as though the Germans might turn our right flank on April 5th and 6th, he suggested that we withdraw Corps Headquarters to Feriana. I refused to move. In Sicily, when the 45th Division approached Cefalu, he halted them for fear of a possible German landing east of Termini. I had to order him to move and told him that I would be responsible for his rear, and that his timidity had lost us one day. He tried to stop the landing operation January 18, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) #2 east of Cape D'Orlando because he thought it was dangerous. I told him I would take the blame if it failed and that he could have the credit if it was a success. Finally, on the night of August 16-17th he asked me to call off the landing east of Milazzo, for fear our troops might shoot at each other. He also failed to get word to all units of the II Corps of the second paratroop landing. On the other hand Bradley has many of the attributes which are considered desirable in a general. He wears glasses, has a strong jaw, talks profoundly and says little, and is a shooting companion of the Chief of Staff. Also a loyal man. I consider him among our better generals. I suppose that all that has happened is calculated to get my morale so that I will say "What the Hell! Stick it up your ass and I will go home", but I won't. I still believe. January 19, 1944 Nothing January 20, 1944 Captain Carey, of the Navy, came to call. He says that "Shingle" is pretty dubious as the beaches are bad and largely unknown, and that in the event that the LST's can't land they are to be landed by LCVP's. This is always a difficult operation, and if a coastal battery at one end of the beach is not taken out by the Rangers, it will be nearly impossible. At a rehearsal, some nights ago, 40 Dukws were lost. I think that the British 1st Division is using the Dukws. If the thing is a sucess, Clark will get the credit. If it fails, Lucas will get the blame. It seems inconceivable that the Boche will not guess that we are coming, but he has made so many foolish mistakes that we may get ashore January 20, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) unopposed, after all. January 21, 1944 Ever since I have been in Sicily, I have been looking for the city of Himera (1), which was destroyed by the Carthaginians in 405 B.C. Termini Immersi is what is left of the word, "Thermal" of Himera (hot baths of Himera). Colonel Codman located a lady, Madame Marconi, who is head of the Museum in Palermo, and she took us to Himera. There is nothing left but a Greek temple on the flat, at the base of the hills just west of the River. It is my belief that this temple marks the spot where Hasdrubal committed suicide in 395 B.C., and that the Greeks built a temple to celebrate the fact, but when the Carthaginians came back they destroyed it. On second thought I am not sure it was this Hasdrubal or the elder Hannibal, but anyhow when he saw the battle was lost, he jumped in the funeral pyre. We went on top of the hill where the town must have been. The hill is in two cusps. The town could have been on either one. It is my belief, however, that it must have been on the western one of the two cusps. There is not so much as a tile left of the town, yet it probably had a hundred thousand inhabitants. January 22, 1944 Gay, Codman, Madame Marconi, Odom, Stiller, Murnane and I flew to Castelvetrano where we met the cars and drove to Selonius which is now called Selinute. Until yesterday I had always thought this place was "Sciacca" but I was wrong. This town had a life of only 250 years, but must have been very prosperous and was destroyed in 406 BC by the Carthaginians. 1. See letter to BAP January 22, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) On a hill west of the town there are three temples, completely wrecked by an earthquake --- the northern one, that of Apollo, is the largest in Sicily and must have been very magnificent, but it was never finished and only a few of the columns are fluted. The columns are perfectly stupendous. The capitals, which are Doric, must weigh five to ten tons each. We then visited the town where there are several smaller, but older, temples. The wall around the town is very interesting. On the north side, which was the most vulnerable, there is a double wall, the inner one having flanking towers on each side of the gate. There is an open space and a second wall, in front of which there is a ditch, and, on the near side of the ditch is a hollow way, which was apparently roofed over at one time, with doorways entering the ditch through which the defenders could counter-attack people who had got to the bottom. In front of the ditch is a semi-circular outwork, or barbican, which, in turn, is defended by a ditch with a drawbridge. Unless I am very wrong, this is a more complicated form of defense that was known in 405 B.C., and to me it smells very much of Norman influence. I believe this town must have been refortified by the Normans, yet it is said never to have been occupied since it was destroyed. However, the stonework seems to be Greek. On the return trip, we flew over Moyta which was once the leading Carthaginian city in Western Sicily, and which is now an island occupied, apparently, by one farm. Some of the walls are still visible, and from the air you can see, underwater, the causeway which the Greeks built in order to storm the place. We also flew over Erice, which is the original of the present city of Trapani, being situated on top of a high mountain. January 22, 1944 (cont'd p. 3) There is a fairly good Norman castle there. On reaching Palermo, I received the following telegram: "To: CG Seventh Army, for Patton, 22 January 44. George S. Patton, Jr. Lieut. General, 02605, U. S. Army, orders issued relieving you from assignment this theater and assigning you to duty in U.K. Request you proceed to NATOUSA, Algiers for orders. ---CG, NATOUSA". Looking at it in retrospect to the chain of events this sounds logical, but on the other hand, why have they been so slow about it and why have they taken all of my staff? It makes it most difficult for my people and for me. I wired Devers, who I think is in Italy, asking him whether he wants me to wait for him here. Radio saying VI Corps landing at mouth of Tiber is a success, and unopposed. January 23, 1944 Went to Church and spent the rest of the day doing up my desk and doing the other things incident to packing. January 24, 1944 Took off at 1030 with Colonel Cummings, Lt. Colonel Codman and self for Algiers and we were met by Colonel Harkins. Went to Hughes' office who knew nothing but that Devers had heard I was at Palermo and had wired Was Department orders for me. When they came they simply told me to proceed to UK. This was very nice of Devers but was not instigated by me. January 25, 1944 Visited the Ecole Normale and told the planning staff of the Seventh Army goodbye with sincere regret on both sides. Left Algiers at 1200 in a C-54 with 250 pounds of extra luggage (mainly consisting of papers pertaining to my personal files, and some clothes) and a female secretary January 25, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) belonging to Ike. Arrived in Marrakech at 1600 and went to Taylor Villa, which is run by the Air Corps for visiting strangers. There are no charges, which I think is a mistake, as it wastes good money and people are not appreciative of what they get free. Brigadier Dunphie (British), who was with me in Tunisia and who was wounded the day Major Jenson was killed, happened to be in the house. I asked him why he was not wearing his Silver Star and he told me he had never received it. I had recommended him for it on April 1, 1943, but since he went to the hospital and I left the Corps shortly afterwards, the paper apparently never reached him. Colonel Codman took off his own Silver Star Ribbon, and we decorated Dunphie there on the spot. I will have to see that he gets the citation when I get to England. Left for Prestwick in a C-54 at 2400. January 26, 1944 Arrived Prestwick at 0945 after a perfect trip, save for the last hour, when there was no visibility. Colonel Henry, AC, met us and was most obliging. I shaved and we had a good breakfast. Left Prestwick at 1100 in a C-47 --- pea soup all the way --- could not land at the point we meant to. General John C. H. Lee and Commander Butcher met me. Lee put Codman and myself up at his flat. Called on Ike at office and found I am to command Third Army. All novices and in support of Bradley's First Army --- not such a good job but better than nothing. Ike asked me to dinner; Kay, Butcher, a British Aide-de-Camp, and a WAC Captain were present. Ike very nasty and show-offish --- he always is when Kay is present --- and criticized Lee for his flamboyance which he --- Ike --- would give a million to possess. Well, I have an Army and it is up to me. January 26, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) "God show the right." As far as I can remember this is my twenty-seventh start from zero since entering the U. S. Army. Each time I have made a success of it, and this one must be the biggest. January 27, 1944 Had a talk with Lee and his Chief of Staff to orient myself on the setup in England. Went to see Bedell Smith, who was in rare form --- s.o.b., --- has just been made a Lieutenant General, and is looking better than I have ever seen him. I also called on Tedder who seemed genuinely glad to see me. After lunch, went to see Bradley's plans, which I consider bad; the landings are so close that an attack against one affects the whole thing. As it is now set up, Bradley with the First Army of six infantry and two armored divisions, lands on a two division front. The British to his left, east, land on a three division front. After the British have got the port of _______ the Third Army comes ashore at the port. We take Normandy and Brittany, then countermarch and come up on the right of the First Army. While all this is going on, two other U.S. Armies land. A hell of a lot of things can happen before that time. Got Smith to approve a list of fifteen Seventh Army officers for transfer here. Both Ike and Smith strongly advise me to get rid of Gay, but I am not doing it. Bradley and Smith rate Truscott, Middleton, Gillem ahead of Keyes; I don't see why. Well, I am off to a bad start but am on my way. In addition to general "Overlord" plan, there is a plan called "Rankin A and B and C" to be put into effect should the Boche cave. In addition to the plan for the assault and the plan in case Germany breaks down, I feel there should be a third plan to be put January 27, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) into effect in the not too unlikely even that the initial landing of the leading armies (First U.S. Army and First British Army) gets boxed. In that case I believe that what troops are left should be landed in the vicinity of Calais, following an air bombardment of the nature used at Pantelleria; that is, land at the narrowest place by day, under all the air we can get, and simply blow a hole. We may well have to do this. I have talked to Spaatz on this subject and he agrees with me. Got on Lee's special train "Alive" at 1600. Colonel Heriz-Smith, Chief British Liaison Officer with SOS and Colonel Vaugh, U. S. Commanding Officer of the WBS (parentheses and name) were on the train. Train too fine. Dined and drank. January 28, 1944 Arrived at Gourock, which is near Newcastle, at 0700. Was met by Colonel Crothers, Commanding Officer of the 26th District SOS. We inspected the Quartermaster and Air Force depots and General Hospital 50. We started after lunch to board the "Ile de France" with a view to making an inspection, but the weather was too rough, particularly since they were trying to land with the wharf to leeward in the high wind. Lt. General Sir William Thomson and Major General Sir Eric Goowood, British Army, both retired, Air Commander Hawes and Admiral Hill, the Naval Commander in this region, all came to tea on the train. After dinner we boarded the Queen Mary to welcome the advance party of the Third Army under Colonel Williams. General Thomson asked me to make a talk to all the officers which I did, first telling them that I was still a secret and not to be mentioned. We took Williams and his party of 13 officers and 26 enlisted men on our train and left for Knutsford about midnight. January 29, 1944 Colonel Jacobs 1 met us and took us to headquarters, Third Army, at Peover Hall and Toft Hall camp. I was not too pleased with proposed arrangements of Headquarters at Toft Hall so decided to move Advanced Echelon to Peover Hall. Work done by SOS was excellent and remarkably quick. In the afternoon visited the Board of Ship Canal Company and met Mr. R. D. Brown, the manager, and members of his staff. The visit seemed futile to me. Went to Red Cross Club in Manchester, which is run by Miss Hendrickson, Mr. Cassidy and Lady Leese, wife of Sir Oliver Leese, Commanding General Eighth Army. Later they all came to dinner on the train. All seemed very nice. The station master, who is one of the two in England who wears a silk hat, called to have a drink. He puts on a good show, but I feel that he is too ostantatious. Train left for Cheltenham during the night. When we came out of the Club, there was a crowd of several hundred, or perhaps a thousand, people waiting, so when I got on the train I had Colonel Harry Smith 2 call up the censor's office in London to see that there was no statement about me. January 30 1944 We arrived at Cheltenham, the field headquarters of the SOS, for breakfast. Lee's Deputy in the SOS, General T. D. W. Weaver, gave me the set up. I later talked to Colonel ? Laymon who heads the replacement system of the SOS. Drove to Little Compton Manor for lunch with Major and Lady Alexander Metcalf. He was the Duke of Windsor's aide-de-camp and she is the youngest daughter of Lord Curzon. Her sister married Oswald Mosley, just released from jail for being a Nazi. Miss Mosley came to lunch; a big fine looking girl with a tragic face. On 1. Col Fenton Jacobs - S.O.S. Hqs. Liverpool - 2. Col Harry Smith ? January 30, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) the way hime, drove through Cottswolds and inspected Prisoner of War Enclosure #1 near Blockley; also the Ordnance Depot at Aschurch, which is most impressive, and is run by a /colonel G W. Richmond, who was a former non-commissioned officer in the Cavalry. Dinner for the SOS Staff, where I made a speech and again warned that I am incognito. January 31, 1944 Attended SOS weekly staff conference. I made a speech, which was good and alive, but warned them that I am a myth. Reached London at 1530 and went to see Bedell Smith. We were both charming. The nurse who takes care of him, Miss Weston, was present, and I had the opportunity of letting him advertise himself. I let him do all the talking and played him up. Washed mouth out later. February 1, 1944 Left by car at 0800 to visit 4th Armored Division, Major General "P." (John S.) Wood, near Badminton, the Duke of Beaufort's place, where the game was invented and all the hunting took place. Lovely drive. Passed huge Dolmen supposed to have been thrown up by Merlin. He must have been very ill as it covers 16 acres and is several hundred feet high. Charles II is alleged to have climbed up it. He must have thrown a curb, or his horse did. "P." was delighted to see me. We inspected troops all afternoon and found them in fine shape, except the 46th Medical Battalion, Lt. Colonel Col. R.E. Maillord, (?) which was dirty. P. is a good leader. He wants to get the 988th Treadway Bridge Company, which used to belong to his engineer battalion. He should also have nine mine detectors. I found that there were not enough I the division and asked for more. Senior officers came to dinner. February 2, 1944 Talked to all officers of the 5th inf. Division and inspected the remaining units which I failed to see yesterday. The Division is superior. In the afternoon called on Mr. Fred Darling, who trains the King's horses. He and I agreed on need of length from point to hip to point of buttocks, so we are true friends. Also looked at druid ruins. Went to a play in London by the Lunts, "There Shall Be No More Night", and after the play we met them. It is well acted, but badly written. Mis Marian Hall of the Red Cross and General Donovan (Wild Bill) called at 2100. February 3, 1944 Had a long talk with Bradley and met General J. L. (Joe) Collins, Wilkie's younger brother, who commanded a corps in the South Pacific. He will command the VII Corps in this operation. I had known him in the Tennessee Maneuvers, where he was Chief of Staff of the IV Corps, and was not much impressed with him, but they say he is a good fighter. Called on General Spaatz and told him that he and I may have to pull the chestnuts out of the landing operation if the attack of the First Army bitches by putting an attack across the Channel at Calais. He agreed with me and said that if I could give him five days, he could blast a hole five miles long and about the same depth into which I could land even without landing craft. Speaking of the British influence, which is very apparent, he made a profound and regrettably true statement. He said, "We have paid a hell of a price for the supreme command." We have. We both feel that, instead of "Overloard", we should have shot the works on Toulon and in Italy, where we were already ashore and had much February 3, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) better fighter protection than we can get here. I am sure that if I had commanded there we would have had Rome by now, and would have been towards the Alps. However, I did not command, so there is no use arguing. Bought two pairs of boots from Faulkner, one high and one low, and' and overcoat, a pair of trousers, a combat coat and a blouse from Weatherill. Went to a farce, "While the Sun Shines"; Then to dinner with Marian Hall. At dinner at Miss Hall's I met Lady Cavendish, who was Miss Adele Astaire, sister of the dancer, Fred Astaire, and who is the most profane person I have ever seen or heard; otherwise not attractive. Colonel Johnny Castle was there and made big talk about how he wanted to get with me. When we started "Torch", I offered him job and he declined it because he expected to be made Armored Force G-2. He can stew in his own juice now as far as I am concerned. Air Raid came on but no one was disturbed --- it lasted all night. February 4, 1944 Drove to Knutsford via Banbury, Chelsea, Birmingham and Stratford. At the latter place we had lunch at the William and Mary Hotel. Bea and I stopped there in a room named "Two Gentlemen of Verona" in 1910 --- almost 34 yers ago but it seems shorter. Coming the way we did, and not knowing the road, it took us six hours. February 5, 1944 Wired to expedite the arrival of the rest of the Third Army Staff. Also asked for Colonel Koch as G-2. To keep Hodges from being reduced, I have to be attached to the Third Army till he is made a Lieutenant February 5, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) General --- now he is only a Lt. General by virtue of commanding the Third Army. General Williams and I had a badminton court set up and played a game. John Peel used to own this house. Monty's aide-de-camp phoned last night asking me to see him at 1000 on February 11th. I will go to Ireland on Monday to inspect the IV Corps under General Haislip. (1) February 6, 1944 Went to the Peover Chapel this morning and was put in the Master of the Hall's place. Right next to me was a very fine effigy of a recumbant knight and his lady. The armor seemed late 1300. There is another effigy near the alter of an earlier period --- I would think about 1200, and a third in a side chapel of a very modern armor, probably late 1400 or 1500. Called on Major and Mrs. Leicester-Warren, who are the parents of Lady Leese, General Sir Oliver Leese's wife. They live in a very large house dating from Tudor times. The family was De Warren and apparently crossed with the Licesters and then the nobility died out. They have a huge place with a brick wall entirely around it. They seem quite real. Wrote up some notes for future exhortations to units. The more I see of this fool thing of swapping staffs, the more I "thank whatever Gods may be for my unconquerable soul." February 7, 1944 Drove to the headquarters of the Western Base Section, SOS, at Chester, where I was received with a guard of honor and guided to the airport, where I boarded a De Haviland Rapide, a wooden two-motored bi-plane built many ears ago with a ground speed, under the best conditions, of not over a hundred miles an hour. We started at 1000 and had a heavy head wind so did not arrive at the Headquarters XV Corps at 1. Maj. Gen Wade Haislip. C. G. XV corps February 7, 1944 (cont'd p. 2) Lurgan until 1200. In the afternoon I inspected the 2nd Division at Armagh. It is commanded by General W. M. Robertson with General C. A. Martin as Assistant Commander. Robertson was in Italy. I was quite impressed with the neatness and general good appearance of the Division. I was accompanied on the inspection by Colonel C. V. Allen, Corps G-3. In my opinion, General Martin talks too much and has an excuse for everything. General * Hayes is the artilleryman. We then drove to the Mourne Mountain area to inspect the 5th Division under General S. Leroy Irwin. General Allen D. Warnock is Assistant Division Commander. Harold C. Vanderveer, who used to be artillery instructor at Riley, is the Artilleryman. This Division has been in Iceland for two years and is alleged not to be up to the others, but, in my opinion, it is a very fine division. General Irwin was Chief of Artillery in the 9th Division in Tunisia with me, and did a very good job. I was responsible for having him made a Major General. On returning to the Headquarters, I was told that General Eisenhower had phoned. He wanted me to come to see him about Hughes, who he feels is getting a rough deal at the hands of Devers. He may want me to take Hughes in the Third Army. I will do anything for Hughes, and, of course, anything Ike wants, but should prefer to keep General Gay as Chief of Staff, although Gay would work perfectly satisfactorily with Hughes if I had to take him. General Haislip is in Italy, so while here I have been trying to do a little missionary work with Colonel Lovett of the Engineers, Chief of Staff. In my opinion, he is a very intelligent officer. [* George Price Hays. ( Medal of Honor - World War I) Hg] February 8, 1944 Colonel Allen, Colonel Pearson Mencher(1), and I drove to Onagh Area to see the 8th Division, Mag General W.C. McMahon. He is at the front. It struck me as a good division. I gave a talk to all senior officers, first warning them that I was a secret. Later, I talked briefly to various units. General Nelson Walker is the Assistant Division Commander, and General James A. Pickering, Artillery Commander. Haislip is back. He was a little on the patronizing side but I don't think it was intentional. Talked to the remaining senior officers and Generals of the Corps. Warned them that I was a myth. February 9, 1944 Haislip, Allen and I inspected the 6th Cavalry, Mechanized, at Landragee. They made a very fine impression. Corps engineers seemed good. Made talks. Gay Cummings, Odom are here and will see them in London in the morning. Feel like I have a disease. The officers of the 6th Cavalry are billeted in the castle of my old friend, the Duke of Manchester, whom I called "Mr. Grace" in 1917. We also visited the engineers and made a short talk to each group of troops we passed. After lunch we flew back in extremely bad weather, so bad in fact that we had to make a detour to the south to avoid running into the Isle of Man, because there was no visibility which would permit our seeing it. 1. Col Pearson Mencher c/s XV Corps Copy Children's book Oct 1943 Now that sufficient time has elapsed, it is perfectly permissible for me to give you a general idea of the lighter side of the Sicilian Campaign and subsequent incidents The first intimation I had that we were in the transport area was when the davit for a landing boat gave way and the boat crashed into my porthole. For a moment we thought that a bomb had hit. As we were sleeping in pull pack, we went on deck. The whole coastline as far as we could see was a mass of flames. In some places they looked like burning mountains; in other places, simply like a line of fire. At intervals along the flaming shore, searchlights would suddenly flare and sweep the water. This was very interesting because while the lights made it so bright on deck that we could read a paper, the enemy was apparently unable to see us from the land. I think this had something to do with refraction and the haze caused by the fires. Whenever on of these searchlights flickered on, innumerable tracer bullets from our destroyers and patrol boats hurried toward it like bees returning to a hive. That searching immediately went out. the fires along the shore, we discovered, were caused by our high explosives igniting the wheat fields. Fortunately, for the Sicilians, the wheat had been harvested but the stubble was still there and that is what burned. During the flight in Gela on July 11, some very amusing incidents took place. While we were in the street, two enemy planes flew down its length, dropping bombs and machine gunning it. They got about 20 civilians and some soldiers. All the remaining civilians, of whom there were several thousand, immediately began to behave in a most foolish manner, running up and down the street, aimlessly screaming. All their friends, who had not been in at the kill so to speak, hurried out-of-doors to join in the yelling, and it was necessary for us to use MP's and rifle butts to solace them. The southern Sicilian is, if possible, the dirtiest of all Sicilians. There were actually cases in which they lived with corpses in their houses for several days because they were to laxy to remove them. Yet, when we used posthole diggers to bury them they were very angry and said the dead should be buried horizontally and not vertically. We gave them the opportunity of horizontal burial by "permitting" the civilians to dig the graves. -2- In the courtyard in back of the house I occupied, I once counted 8 children, 11 goats, 3 dogs, a flock of thickens, and a horse all picking up filthy scarps from the pavement. None of them seemed to die. I suppose people that have been raised on tomato sauce made after the Sicilian manner are immune. Their method of preparing this sauce is to collect tomatos, many of them overripe, and squeezed them out their hands onto old sheets, or pieces of paper, or doors, or anything, and then put it on trays, usually lying on the sidewalks to dry. Since the streets are never cleaned, there is plenty of germ ladened dust to mix with the sauce. This is the thing with which they eat their macaroni. The Sicilian cart is a very peculiar and anomalous vehicle. It is absolutely without springs, yet all the panels have sacred or anthological pictures painted on them and quite well done. In nearly every case there is a grill between the body of the cart and the axil which is made of carved representing scenes from the Bible such as the Resurrection or the Descent from the Cross. The Italians, under German tutelage, were extremely clever in the construction of pillboxes. In fact, in many cases, they were too clever because they camouflaged them with hay or bushes and our first phosphorus shells set them on fire. In other cases they went to the trouble of building stucco houses outside of the pillboxes. In order to put the letter into action, they simply gave the wall a kick and there was the pillbox. In Spite of the tremendous number of these things, we had practically no trouble in destroying them. One battalion alone got 39 in one day. Owing to the lack of water and other causes, we decided to drink champagne while at Gela and secured a case which would seem ample, but owing to the large number of visiting firemen who came, it disappeared in about two days. It was then necessary for secure more champagne. In order to do this, the dealer, who was a bootlegger, had to be gotten out of jail through the interpretation of the Bishop. After he was removed from jail long enough to sell us more champagne, he obligingly returned to his cell. Agrigento was one of the earliest Greek cities, as later it was to be one of the earliest Carthaginian cities. At Agrigento there are three very beautiful Greek temples--one to Juno, one to Concordia, and one to Hercules. There is also a sacred way connecting these temples, bordered on each side by rock-hewn tombs, now all pilfered. -3- The Mayor of the town, who was by the way of being an archeo- logist, took me to look at these temples. When we came to the temple of Hercules, which was the biggest but in the worst state of repair, I asked him had it been destroyed by an earthquake. He said, "No, General, it was an unfortunate incident of the other war. When I asked which was the other war, he said that this temple was destroyed in the Second Punic War. The emergence of the Carthaginians at Agrigento, in 470 B.C., is of interest as showing that global war is not new. At that time Car- thange owed a sort of lip service alliance, or in fact vassalage to Xerxes, King of Kings. This was the time when Xerxes was planning to cross the Hellespont and attack Greece. In order to prevent the Greeks from Syracuse and the cities in the heel of Italy from sending reinforcements to the Mother Country, Xerxes ordered the Carthaginians to land in Sicily and in the heel of Italy for the purpose of keeping the colonial Greeks at home. When one thinks of the staff work and pre-vision necessary to arrange such an operation; when it probably took the courier a year to get from Sardis to Carthage, we can give ourselves , with our instantaneous means of communication, less credit for good planning. On the other hand, the Carthaginian Army, which landed at Agrigento and points west, and numbered some 300,000 men, tock five years to get to Syracuse, and having gotten there suffered complete defeat and total annihilation. At a small road junction called, Segesta, Hugh Gaffey and I saw the most beautiful Creek temple and theatre that I have yet encountered. With the exception of the fact that the roof of this temple no longer exists, it is in a perfect state of preservation and has been very little repaired, Since the Creeks were driven from this part of Sicily in 470 B.C., that is, some 2500 years ago, the temple must have been built at an earlier date. There is one rather peculiar thing about the temple. The columns are not monolithic, or composed of two or three monoliths as is usually the case, but are build up of a number of small stones. It is further note- worthy that after the lapse of 2 1/2 millenniums you cannot get a sharp knife edge between the joints and the stones. -4- When I was about eight years old, a minister named, Mr. Bliss, told me that when he visited the Parthenon he had put his silk hat at one end of the steps and having gone to the other end had sighted across and could not see the top of silk hat, indicating that in order to secure agreeable lines, the straight lines of the Greek temples were actually curves. Gaffey and I tried the same thing at Segesta with two steel helmets, one on top of the other, and were unable to see them over the curve of the steps. The theatre which was a small place, capable of seating perhaps 2,000 people, is on top of a very high hill so that in addition to the view of the actors the spectators also had ever before a magnificent seascape. Apparently, the Greeks who built this theatre had lived in a village back of it, but owing to the inevitable cannibalism of all ancient things by succeeding generations, the town no longer exists and can only be traced by the fact that nearly all the stones lying over the hill show traces of having been worked. Speaking of cannibalism, I read that a great deal of Pisa is constructed with stone taken from Carthage. The city harbor of Syracuse are to me of particular interest because this place is probably the scene of more amphibious operations than any other harbor in the world. When looking over its water I could almost see the Greek triremes, the Roman galleys, the Vandals, the Arabs, the Crusaders, the French, the English and the Americans--who, to mention only a few, have successively stormed or attempted to storm that harbor. When we first came to Sicily, and the same thing is true of Sardinia and Corsica, we were surprised at the large number of small towers dotting the coastline. These towers were apparently built between fifteen and sixteen hundred under the influence of Genoa. The system consisted of a man picking himself out a good spot for a tower and building it. He would then go to the government and offer to garrison the tower, usually with himself and family if he were paid. The pay was not excessive--in our money, about $50.00 a year. Apparently that and not the Arab pirates is the origin of the towers. Another very striking characteristic, particularly of Sicily, is the fact that nearly all the towns cling like limpets to the top of precipitous peaks. On closer examination you will find that the highest building on these peaks is the ruin of a Norman castle. -5- The Normans captured Sicily between 900 and 970, and then apparently each Norman gentleman built himself a tower, for that is what most of them are, on the highest peak he could find. In the course of time, as his riches improved, he sometimes added an inner and then an outer bailey, but this not the general rule. The town then grew from the descendants of his soldiers and from the local people who came close to the castle in order to secure protection. The Palais Royal at Palermo (The Paleopolis of Polibius) had such an origin. It's site was a volcanic outcropping, surrounded by two streams on which the Arabs erected a castle called a "Ksar." This outcropping, much manicured, still exists and the original Ksar built by the Arabs around 700 A. D. still forms part of the central keep of the palace. Unfortunately the palace too has been overmanicured and only in the basements and inner walls can one see the original building. In the basement of the old keep we find the Norman treasury. It consisted of two stone rooms founded on bed rock, one room completely within the other. In order to get into the inner room, it was necessary to open two doors and pass through a short vestibule. These doors were constructed so that when the outer door was opened giving entrance to the hallway, the inner automatically shut. When the inner door was opened, the outer door was shut. Inside there is a pit about ten feet deep and twenty feet square with a monolithic block in the bottom. On this block was piled the largest treasure such as vases, dishes, etc. In the four corners of the room are huge wine jars which are suspended from the floor so that a sentinel going down through a door could see that nobody had cut in the bottom of them. It was in these wine jars that the money was kept. When we were storming these towns or driving past them, I could amost picture in my mind's eye the small groups of knights and men-at-arms who by virtue of occupying these strong points ruled the world as they knew it, and how pitifully weak in numbers and armor they were in comparison with our guns, tanks, and infantry, which rolled by them in endless streams. However, there were some things which the ancient knights and their ill-smelling companions would have understood and have laughed at-- that was our improvised mule cavalry. -6- In order to move the terrific country through which we had to fight, we had to improvise mounted units. These men rode whatever they could find-- mules, burros, and occasionally bullocks. The saddles were either of local construction, captured Italian equip- ment, or simply mattresses. Once I met a young soldier with a captured Italian saddle which he had casually placed on the horse's neck in front of the withers. When I stopped him to question his ideas in so placing the saddle, the horse lowered his neck and soldier rolled off. He said that he thought that was the place to put a saddle. I suppose that the only time he had ever been on a quadruped was at a circus when he rode on an elephant's head. Nevertheless, this improved horse cavalry was a tremendous advantage. In fact, we could not have won the war without it. We all regretted that we did not have a complete American cavalry divi- sion with pack artillery. Had we possessed such a unit, not a German would have escaped. The home life of the native is very peculiar. Apparently they have never decided to cook in any special place, so that all cooking is done in the streets. The cooking equipment has improved considerably since we came, as they now use our discarded 5-gallon oil cans. Not only do they cook in the street but sit in the street, and what is more distressing sing in the streets at all hours of the day and night. Owing to the fact that they live primarily on garlic, which is sold by old men carrying garlands of garlic over their shoulders, the singing not only impresses the ear but also the nose. The Sicilian takes much better care of his animals than does the Arab, and he practically never uses a bit, all the horses and miles being controlled by a hackamore. Also the Sicilian animals being house- raised are the docile creatures I have ever seen. This also applies to the mules. To encourage these animals to pull or move forward, the Sicilian emits a noise between a belch and a groan. He has no verbal means of checking the horses because whenever he stops groaning at it, the horse automatically halts. -7- One very funny thing happened in connection with the Moroccan troops. A Sicilian came to me and said he had a complaint to make about the conduct of the Moroccans, or Goums as they are called. He said that he well knew that all Goums were thieves, also that they were murderers, and sometimes indulged in rape-- these things he could understand and make allowances for, but when the Goums came to his house, killed his rabbits and then skinned them in the parlor, it was going too far. One of the most striking reactions of the Sicilian in his lack of reaction--that is, you can blow a horn at him for quite a while before he notices it, and then when he notices it, he moves in the wrong direction. If two of them are walking together, they will always separate so that it is practically impossible to dodge them. Some people believe that this lack of automatic reflex is due to the diet, because they say a race completely nourished on proteins loses rapidity of thought. The Sicilian are great bread eaters. Cows eat grass so think faster. Since the greater portion of the Sicilian life is spent in sitting, it would naturally seem that after thousands of years he would have thought of making comfortable seats, but no, he sits on rocks, mud, boxes, or anything but chairs. He has piles they say. However, they are a very cheerful people and seemingly contented with their filth, and it would be a mistake in my opinion to try to raise them to our standards, which they would not appreciate nor enjoy. Corsica looks exactly as if you had taken the worst part of the Rocky Mountains and submerged it in the ocean. It is nothing but a succession of high, absolutely barren hilltops, composed of polished granite in the majority of cases. However, it has two striking characteristics: It is wholly French, and it has not suffered from the air. It is a distinct shock to arrive in a city which has not been blown up. Ajaccio is just as it was. Naples, on the other hand, has been very badly raided, but owing to the absolutely marvelous performance of our people, the docks are in fair working order. Pompeii comes up to the highest ideals of what a ruin should be. It also gives you the highest idea of the type of men who built it. It is very unfortunate that during our attacks it became necessary to bomb the ruins. Luckily, no very great damage was done. G S Patton Jr. [Dec] 1943 The Flight Into Egypt Since it has been announced over the radio and also in the press that I have been to Cairo, I can now write about it. Lt. Colonel Codman, myself and eight other members of the staff of the 7th Army took off from Palermo at 0715 December 12 1943 and flew first to Benghazi where we stopped to re-gas and to lunch. The airfield is about 15 miles from the town and is covered with small bomb and shell fragments but otherwise is in fine condition. The country, while devoid of landmarks of any sort and practically without vegetation so that it requires navigational methods, is nevertheless quite rolling, and I believe there are a few places where at a distance of 1500 yards troops would not be visible. It occurred to me that had it been possible to use them, observation balloons or even the old battery commanders' ladders would have been very useful. The surface is a sort of hard baked mud of a brownish color and is much easier to traverse than is the sand around Indio. However, after several vehicles have gone on any one track, the surfaces breaks up. This accounts for the fact that we were informed that in desert movement, vehicles should not follow in trace. However, In Indio, we found that it was much better to have them follow in trace. -2- Certainly the country seems to me very much easier to operate in, particularly with armor, than is our own desert. From Benghazi we flew straight across the desert to Tobruk which is a very small and badly banged up town with an artificial harbor full of wrecks. From Tobruk we flew the railway to El Alamein, and although we came close to the ground, we could see very few wrecked vehicles or guns and practically no wire. From El Alamein we flew along the coast to Alexandria and then up the Delta to Cairo. There is a very striking demarcation between the green of the Delta of the Nile Valley and the brown of the desert. I was informed that except for the Delta, which is about 150 miles wide, the rest of Egypt is less than 30 miles wide and some 2500 miles long. It was quite a thrill as we approached Cairo to see the Pyramids. We were met at the art field by General Sir Henry Maitland-Willson's Aide de Camp, Major H. Chapman Walker, who provided the car for Codman and myself, and three other cars for the rest of the staff. The Aide took Codman and myself to the General's house where we stayed during our entire visit. The General himself was absent when we arrived, but his former chief of staff and several officer lived at the house, which, while very unpretentious, is quite comfortable. -3- It is situated about a twenty minutes drive south of the city in a section called Mwadi. Major Chapman Walker had arranged a very complete program, which, after inspection, we approved. December 13, 1943 Codman, myself, and Major Chapman Walker, accompanied by Lady Ranforly, who is secretary to General Wilson, went on a shopping trip in the morning. Cairo is really a disgusting place. It looks and the people act exactly as they did in New York in 1928. Both sides of the streets are solid with automobile and there are other automobiles parked in the middle of the streets. All the stores are running full blast and seem to have plenty of things to sell but at terrific prices. For example, I priced a pair of silk stocking which cost four pounds. The Egyptian peasant, who abounds in large numbers, is distinctly lower than the Sicilian whom up until that time I had considered the bottom of the human curve. When the Assouan Dam was constructed, it gave a certain type of fresh water snail a chance to develop in large numbers. This snail is the host for a sort of hookworm, but it is only since the con- struction of the Dam that this hookworm because a menace. -4- As a result of this hookworm, the Egyptain peasant constantly suffers with the bellyache and has his sexual vigor reduced. In order to relieve his pain and restore his vigor, he has taken to smoking hashish. This hashish has desired results for a few months and then produces importance, making the present even more susceptible to the attack of the hookworm, so that he is in a sort of vicious circle. Prior to the war the traffic in hashish was well under control with the result that the natives were quite discontented, but since the war they have been able to get all the hashish they want and are now very contented. Of the whole population, some 1200 own practically all the land except for a few million peasants who own approximately 4/5's of an acre apiece, while the rest own nothing. The average pay of peasant is $50.00 a year from which he has to rent his drinking water. They are unspeakably dirty in their habits and also in their dress. On the fresh water canal I saw a man defecting in the water which seems to be their favorite sport. Below him at a distance of not more than ten yards women were washing clothes, and a short distance further down stream a village was drawing drinking water. -5- The sailboats on the Nile have the same lines they had in the days of the ancient Egyptians, but since 762 A.D. they have adopted the Arab lateen sail in place of the square sail which they formerly used. In spite of their awkward appearance, they sail very well, and it is said that when an English company brought out some specially constructed sailing barges which they thought would best the native craft, the natives sailed circles around them. As far as I could determine, the native boats have know keel but a huge which in a sense has a center board as well as a rudder. After we got through shopping, we had cocktails at the famous Shepheard's Hotel. The cocktails were good but cost about a $1.50 apiece. In the afternoon we visited the British Tank School which is increasing but not anywhere as well arranged as our schools at Knox or Benning. December 14, 1943 We took off by plane for Jerusalem at 0700 and crossed the canal just south of lake Tens which is near where the Children of Israel crossed. -6- It never occurred to me until this flight that at the time the Jews crossed, it was perfectly unnecessary for them to ford anything, because there is a stretch of desert from Bitter Lake to the Mediterranean which had not any water on it. However, they did cross the river and Napoleon crossed it about the same place and also lost his baggage when the wind shifted. From the canal flew along the line of Allenby's advance and crossed at Wadi El Arish at the spot where the battle occurred. It is a much less formidable obstacle I had gathered from the books. Beersheba and the surrounding country do not look too difficult but certainly away from the wells the country is an absolute sand sea, and it is difficult to understand how Allenby ever moved a cavalry corps across it. From Beersheba we flew over Hebron and Bethlehem and turned westward just south of Jerusalem, finally landing at Aqir which is near the coast where we were met with some cars and driven 30 miles to Jerusalem. The only reason for calling Palestine a land of "milk" and honey is when you compare it with the desert immediately surrounding it. It consists of noting but barren stony hills on which a few olive trees eke out a precarious existence. We did not see a single beehive, although there were quite a number of Mimosa trees. -7- On reaching Jerusalem we were met by Major General D.F. McConnell who commands the District. He have us an English priest, who had lived a longtime in Jerusalem, as a guide to see the sights. We entered the city of Jerusalem through the gate which Tancred stormed when the city was first taken. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher covers both the Tomb of Christ and also the place where the Cross stood. It is run by a composite group consisting of Catholics, Greeks, and Copts, and by a strange freak of chance, or British political insight, the doorkeeper is a Mohammedan. The Tomb is a small cave not over 8 feet long by about 6 feet wide with a ledge along one side where the body lay. The floor and the ledge were so worn by the countless millions who have visited it that they are both covered with marble slabs. It struck me as an anomaly that during my whole visit to Jerusalem I was guarded by four secret service men, and the funniest part of it was when I entered the Tomb the four secret service men came in with me. It seems they have very little confidence if they believe anyone would get assassin- nated in such a place. -8- Outside the room is a second anteroom built of marble which is 12 feet square. All the old drawings in the Bible which I have seen show a very much larger cave than that which really exists. From the Tomb we went to the Crusaders Chapel where those who became Knights of Jerusalem were knighted. In this chapel is the sword which is supposed to have been used on these occasions. In my opinion it is a fake since the pummel is not of the correct shape nor has the pummel sufficient weight. The pummels of Crusaders swords were usually carved in the form of a stone or a piece of lead which in an earlier date had actually been tied there. This pummel was in the shape of a blunt acorn. The cross guard and the shape of the blade were correct. From here we went to the place where the Cross had stood. Most of the mountain was cut away during the Roman occupation when they filled up the Tomb and erected a Temple of Venus over both the Mount and the Tomb. However, there is an altar which is supposed to be on the exact spot where the cross was erected. Under the altar is a circular brass plate with a hole in the middle through which you can stick your hand touch the holy stone beneath. -9- There was a sliding piece of brass which can be removed for consideration and shows the place where the rocks were rent asunder. While I was in this Chapel I secured a rosary for Mary Scaly and had it blessed on the altar. I procured it from a Canadian priest who is one of the residents of the Church. I gave him a $10.00 bill, not as he assured me in payment for the rosary but as a contribution for the poor. When he saw the money, he said that American money was useless, but when I offered to take it back, he said that the Lord would provide and kept it. From there I went to a cistern which is about 25 yards from the point where the Cross stood. One of the queens of Jerusalem had a dream that if this cistern were opened, the cross could be found. When it was opened, three crosses were in it. The question then arose which was the true cross. It was solved in a very naïve manner by rubbing three different lepers, one on each cross. The cross which cured the leper was unquestionably the true cross, or so my friend the priest assured me. After we left the Church, we followed the way of the Cross which is a dirty street to the point where the Roman Forum had stood. -10- I should think the distance is less than a half a mile. In addition to the Stations of the Cross used by the Catholics, the Greeks have a number of extra ones so that it is practically a day's trip for a Greek priest to walk down the street, as they have to stop and do a great many stunts in front of each Station. From the Forum we got into the cars and drove to the Garden of Gethsemane where there are still olive trees which just possibly may have been in existence at the time of the Crucifixion. At the edge of the Garden there is a very beautiful cathedral in memory of the Passion of Christ. The windows are made out of purple stone because, they told me, that purple was the color of passion. It is a very beautiful building with some really magnificent paintings donated by a very famous artists. On leaving the Garden of Gethsemane we went to the Mount of Olives from which the Lord took off when he rose to heaven. It is very incongruous that on the supposed spot where this occurred there now stands a Mohammedan mosque, and that while we were there, the Mohammedan priest came out on the balcony and did some of his hollering. -11- From the Mount of Olives you can see the walls of Jerusalem very well. They are the best preserved of any walls I have seen, and from their construction they date from around 1200. I did not know until this trip that Mohammad, not to be outdone by Christ, also took off for heaven from Jerusalem, but in his case he was riding a white horse at the time. After lunching with the commanding General, we drove back to the airfield and flew back to Cairo along the coast passing over Gaza. Although I looked very carefully, I could see no indication of the fighting, but I did recognize the cactus edge where the tanks got stuck. We reached Cairo just at dark, having completed in one day the trip which took the children of Israel forty years to accomplish. On the 15th Her Ladyship had arranged for an eminent scholar to show us the sights, which we presumed meant the pyramids. We want to Shepheard's Hotel to pick up this genius, but when I told him I wanted to go to the pyramids he was shocked, and said that although he had lived in Cairo for forty years he had been there only once, and the only thing in Cairo worth seeing were the mosques. I told him that I had seen all the mosques I had wanted to see and would have to dispense with his services. -12- We drove to the pyramids and picked up a fairly fluent but very ignorant native guide. To me the pyramids were quite disappointing. They are not as big nor as im- pressive as those around Mexico City. The Sphinx is in a poor state of preservation and rather smaller than I had expected. However, the rock temple at the foot of the Sphinx is a remarkable construction. Apparently they piled the rocks up and then out the chapels or tombs of them. One of the tombs which we saw there has a slab roof about 20 feet long by 6 feet wide by 2 feet thick which has been slipped into notches and upright walls and very highly polished. This polishing and chipping was all done with bronze chisels, the Egyptians having some method of tempering bronze which has now been lost. It is interesting to think that Rameses II, who lived around 1700 B.C., was out hunting near the pyramids and had a dream that if he dug there he would find the Sphinx which at his time had been buried for 1300 years. The Great Pyramid is 490 feet high and has a base of about 700 feet square. When we returned to Cairo we called on the British Minister, Mr. Casey, who is a very nice man. -13- We then had lunch with Alexander Kirk and six Saudi Arabian princes. These gentlemen, although very impressive looking, spoke no known language being almost unable to communicate with each other. After lunch, which lasted to 3:00 o'clock. I visited some secret installations which seemed to me the height of folly. At 5:30 I made a talk on landing operations to all the officers of the Middle East Command, some 500 in all. I believe that the talk went off quite well, as contrary to the British custom, they applauded and several of them wrote me letters, one of them saying that in all his previous military career he had not learned as much as in my thirty minute lecture. December 16, 1943 Major General Beaumont Nesbitt, in charge of visiting firemen, took me to Shepheard's Hotel where we picked up the rest of the staff and drove for 22 hours along the fresh water canal to the Combined Operations Training Center which is on the shores of the small Bitter Lake. Apparently the British that they asked me to repeat it to some 200 student officers and Lt. Gen. R. M. Scobie who commands the British training there. -14- The Training Center, while not anywhere as large or as good as what we had at Mostaganem, had one or two improvements over our methods. They had mock-up of the size of ships built out into the water so that actual landing boats could come alongside, and the men could have the practice of going down the nettings into moving boats. On the way back we had a regular dust storm, and it was quite hard to see. General Sir Henry Maitland-Wilson had returned and was at dinner. He is a very large man and quite jovial. I was more impressed with him than with almost any other British officer I have met. All of them, including the General, were very much interested in my reaction to General Montgomery, but I was very careful in what I said and refused to be drawn out. On the 17th, General Nesbitt took me to meet General Andrus who commands the Polish II Corps. Accompanied by General Andrus and the rest of our staff, we drove to the Polish camp near Faqus, which is on the eastern side of the Delta. We had a guard of honor of very fine looking group of soldiers. We then had lunch. At lunch, General Andrus pinned on me the insignia of a Polish Lieut. General and the shoulder patch of the II Polish Corps. Not to be outdone, I gave him one of my U.S.'s and the shoulder patch of the 7th Army. -15- He struck me as very much of a man. He was Chief of Staff of a Russian division in World War I. He has been hit seven times and won the Polish decoration for valor twice. His troops are the best looking troops, including British an American, that I have ever seen. He told me, laughing, that if his Corps got in between A German and Russian army, they have difficulty in deciding which they wanted to fight the most. After we had inspected the II Polish Corps, Colonel cunnings and I drove to Alexandria where we had been invited by the Commanding Officer of the Levant, Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Willis. We crossed the whole of the Delta to get to Alexandria but unfortunately most of it was in the dark so that we did not see a great deal. December 18, 1943 At 10:00 o'clock, Colonel Mosely, who had ridden in the Grand National four times, called for us and took us to the Yacht Club where we were met by and Admiral and taken in a barge to inspect the harbor. We then visited the British Tank Repair Works which is very imposing in size and uninspiring in organization and maintenance. Among other things, we found gaskets were made by head. -16- We drove back to Cairo across the desert, a distance of about 150 miles. December 19, 1943 We left at 0700 and flew up the Nile to Karnak. General Wilson had provided us with a Major Emory who is a very distinguished Egyptologist in civil life and was number two in the Carter Expedition which dug up Tut's grave. Karnak is on the east bank. Here we took some dilapidated Fords from the airfield to the river and then crossed in a native boat. Here we took three other Fords and drove first to the Valley of the Kings. This was most interesting as Major Emory had many of the excavations there himself. We first entered King Tut's which according to Major Emory is very small. There were originally three sarcophagi beside a stone casket. At the present time only the number two sarcophagus is in place, and in it are the remains of King Tut. The number one sarcophagus, which was of solid gold, the bullion value of which is 7,000 pounds, is in Museum at Cairo. The one in which the King reposes is of wood but covered with gold plating. -17- The third outside wooden one is in the Museum at Cairo. Major Emory stated that the Tomb of the King is built more or less as a replica of his house, and that in each room of the Tomb there were the implements appropriate to that room in the house. He pointed out that whereas an enormous amount of valuable objects were taken from King Tut's Tomb, there must have been vastly greater number in some tombs through which he led us, because in comparison to the tomb of some of the Rameses, King Tut's was just a cubby hole. From the Valley of the Kings we drove to Thebes and inspected the tomb of a Prime Minister who lived in the next reign following King Tut. This was a most interesting tomb for two reasons: first, it had been discovered and opened by Major Emory; and second, it is one of the few places in Egypt where the stereotyped from of bas relief does not exist. On one side of the entrance to the tomb the bas relief is of the old type. On the other side it is quite modernized. The reason for this was during the tour of office of this Prime Minister the reform religion came in so that while half of his tomb was cut before he was reformed, the other half was cut afterwards. -18- Another point which is very interesting was to see how the Egyptians worked. On the wall of this tomb, which had never been completed, you could see the line drawings of the artists who drew the sculptures, next you could see where they had been roughly chiseled out, and finally as they were completed. Another interesting thing is that on the right hand side the tomb they had the rays of the sun coming down on the reformed Pharaoh, but that after he died the priest of the old religion went back and chipped a line across the rays of the sun so that they would not reach the Pharaoh. We then drove the tomb and dwelling of Rameses II. There is a very interesting thing there. During his fighting in Syria, Rameses had come across crenelated battlements and had crenellations on the battlements of his palace. We crossed the river, had lunch, and then visited the Temple of Luxor and that of Karnak. These two templed are about a half a mile apart. Certainly, anyone who is interested in ruins should see all the non-Egyptian ones first because the Egyptian ones make other ones look like nothing. In the courtyard at Karnak there is a Roman Forum which is viewed by itself would quite impressive, but which you have to have your attention called in order to see on account of its being so much overshadowed by the Egyptian monuments. -19- There is still in one part of Karnak the inclined plane which the Egyptians used to move stones for the erection of their buildings. There are several obelisks in the Temple. Major Emory called our attention to the fact that in the obelisks in New York, London, Paris, and Madrid, when our skilled engineers tried to erect the obelisks, they always chipped the bottom base by not having them land perfectly perpendi- cular on the pediment, but these obelisks at Karnak, which weigh at least 75 tons apiece, are in perfect position and ligaments on the bases with know chipping. We returned to Cairo, landing after dark. The next day, the 20th, we flew to Palermo. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.