Chapter 162 Volume 5, Chapter 7: The Attack on Italy‧Revisiting the White House

Snow Lake Fishing I gave a radio address in Quebec Canada shared more wartime missions Second and Third Battles Africa and Italy campaigns Mountbatten, an all-round expert on amphibious warfare in Washington D.C. and President Roosevelt! !Accepting the Harvard University degree the importance of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Smuts's criticism of war planning and progress He proposes an alternative My answer He proposes delaying Operation Overlord I reject this opinion Attack on the toe of Italy Pound Navy The general resigned due to illness. Our meeting at the White House on September 9th. My memorandum to President Roosevelt. Our two sides reached a broad agreement in principle. I presided over another plenary meeting at the White House. A major event in the history of the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Quebec Conference ended on August 24th, and our eminent colleagues left and went elsewhere.They flew in every direction like splinters of a cannonball.After all this research and debate, everyone wants a few days off.A Canadian friend of mine, Colonel Clark, was sent by the Dominion Government to be at my disposal during the conference.He had a ranch about seventy-five miles from Quebec, surrounded by mountains and thick with pine woods from which the pulp of the newspapers that guide us in our journey through life comes from.In this place, there is a lake of snow, which is a vast expanse of water dammed up with sluices, and which is said to be filled with the largest trout.Brooke and Porter, two ardent fishing experts, had made it up during the meeting, among other plans, that they should go and see if they could show their skills.I promise them I will attend at a later date if possible, but I have agreed to give a radio address on August 31st, and this address is like a goshawk in the sky Like that, always hovering above my head.I continued to live in the castle for a few days, walking on the city wall for an hour every afternoon, facing the magnificent scenery of the St. Lawrence River, and meditating on various stories about Wolf [1] and Quebec.I had promised to drive around the city, and had a pleasant welcome from all the townspeople.I was present at a meeting of the Canadian Cabinet, and told them all that they did not know about the Quebec Conference and the war.

I have the honor to be sworn in as Privy Counselor to the Dominion Cabinet.I received this respect from them on the advice of my old friend and trusted colleague of forty years, Mr. MacKenzie King. 【1】James Wolfe (1727 | 1759), Englishman, defeated the French at Quebec and was killed in this battle.translator There were so many dos and don'ts in this broadcast that I couldn't think of anything else except those.So often my heart turns to Snow Lake, where tempting reports come from those who have reached it.I thought I could combine fishing during the day and preparing broadcast scripts at night.Deciding to take Colonel Clark seriously, I set off with my wife.I noticed that Admiral Pound had not gone to Snow Lake with the other two chiefs of staff, and I suggested that he should now go with us.He had a lot of work to clear up after the meeting, his staff officer said.I had been surprised by his morose attitude when he participated in extensive discussions about the Navy, but when he said he couldn't go fishing I worried that something was wrong.From the earliest days of the war we have worked together in the closest comradery.I know his talent and courage.I also know that when he was at home, he got up at four or five o'clock every morning, and whenever he had the chance, he would kill a few hours fishing before he went to work in the Admiralty.However, he stayed in the apartment all the time, and I didn't see him until I left.

We had a very pleasant day of driving down the valley, sleeping in a rest house on the way, and finally my wife and I arrived at our spacious cabin by the lake.Brooke and Porter were going back the next day, which was fine.Each of them catches one hundred fish per day. As long as this ratio continues, the water level of Snow Lake will gradually drop.My wife and I went out on separate boats and fished for hours at a time, neither of us being experts, but we did catch plenty of good fish.Sometimes people put three forked hooks on our fishing rods, and once, I caught three fish in one go.I don't know if that's a little unscrupulous.Fresh trout was never missing in our hearty and delicious meals.President Roosevelt had wanted to attend in person, but was unable to get away due to other business.Mary, my valet, was invited to Oglethorpe to speak at an important meeting of members of the American Women's Army, and flew there.

President Roosevelt sent me a telegram which read as follows: President Roosevelt to Colonel Worden August 27, 1943 Wednesday, Sept. 1, fits in every way (referring to Washington).If the Chamberlain (Mary) was going to Oglethorpe, she could have stayed longer in Washington if she had come a day or two earlier.I hope Mrs. Worden is really rested now, and I hope you are too.And I hope you've been to a fish's lake. [1] Be sure to catch big fish, and Mackenzie King will weigh them and prove it. [1] During the Quebec Conference, President Roosevelt asked me to go fishing with him one afternoon on a lake he proposed.We had a very pleasant lunch, but I caught only a small fish and he had none, so he called the lake a fish's lake.

I sent him the biggest fish I caught in Hyde Park.The broadcast draft is well advanced, but drafting is more exhausting than debating or fishing. We returned to Quebec on the night of the 29th.I attended another Canadian cabinet meeting.Before leaving for Washington, I made a radio address to the Canadian people and the Allies at the scheduled time of the thirty-first day.Here are some excerpts from which I quote: Canada's contribution to the common effort of the Commonwealth and Empire at such an important time has deeply touched its home country and all other members of our far-flung family of many nations and peoples.

Since the darkest days, the Canadian Army, which has grown stronger every year, has played an important role in defending our British homeland from our enemies.Now it is fighting very well again on the wider and expanding battlefield.The Imperial Air Force training institution that has achieved brilliant results is located in Canada.Its spacious airfields have welcomed the best young men from Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, who have joined Canada's own heroic sons in arms. During this war, Canada had become an important seafaring nation.It built dozens of warships and merchant ships, some thousands of miles out to sea, and manned hard-working Canadian sailors, and sent them to defend the merchant fleet across the Atlantic and our vital lifeline of the ocean.Canada's arms industry has played a very important role in our wartime economy.Last, but not least, Canada has relieved Great Britain of the burden of arms supplies for which it would otherwise have owed no less than two billion dollars.

All this, of course, is not due to any legal requirement, nor is it due to any treaty or any formal obligation.It springs quite naturally from feeling and tradition, and from a grandiose determination to die for the future of mankind. On behalf of the people of Great Britain, I am pleased to pay my respects to the great Dominion, and to do so on Canadian soil.I sincerely hope that the other daunting tasks that are upon me will make it possible for me to travel farther to tell the Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans in person what we have done to them and what they are determined to do , what kind of feelings do you have.

Over the past two years we have heard much talk of opening a so-called second front against Germany in northern France.Anyone can see how such a large-scale combat operation is in line with our wishes.The Russians, who bear the main pressure of the Germans on their fronts, will naturally and continually press us to undertake this task, while they also openly complain and even reproach us for our failure to do so before.I am not surprised by what they said.They fought very well, and they have already inflicted great losses on German military strength, so we do not mind their frank criticism of our strategy, or of the part we have been able to play in the war up to now, Nor do these criticisms lessen our admiration for their own heroics and achievements in combat.We had a good front in France, but it was smashed to pieces by Hitler's concentrated forces; it is easier to tear down a front than to rebuild one.I foresee the day when the British and American liberation forces will cross the Channel in large numbers to fight hand-to-hand with the German invasion of France.Personally, Battlefield 2 is on my mind as often as Battlefield 3.I have always believed that Western democracies should be like a boxer, hitting people with two hands instead of one.

I believe that the large-scale detour into North Africa under the authority of President Roosevelt and His Majesty's Government, of which I am the principal executor, will in future generations be regarded as the best policy under the circumstances. .This initiative has indeed received fruitful and remarkable results.Africa has been wiped out. All German and Italian troops in Africa have been wiped out, and we have taken at least half a million prisoners of war.In a brilliant campaign lasting thirty-eight days, Sicily, defended by more than 400,000 Axis troops, fell to us.Mussolini has been overthrown.The motive force for war in Italy has been destroyed, and that unfortunate country is reaping the consequences of allowing itself to be led astray by false and criminal guides.How easy it is to associate with bad guys, and how difficult it is to get rid of them!Large numbers of German troops have lately been drawn from France in order to suppress the Italian people and make Italy a battlefield, while the war is being fought for as long as possible and as far from German territory as possible.The vast majority of the Luftwaffe had been brought back from the Russian front, and the British, American, and Canadian air forces were fighting them day and night and weakening them more and more violently.More important than all this, however, is the fact that we already have the strategic initiative and potential forces, whether in the Atlantic or the Mediterranean, the enemy can neither estimate their weight nor predict their use time.

Judging by the latest news from the Russian battlefield, Marshal Stalin was indeed not wasting his time.The whole British Empire paid tribute to him for this brilliant summer campaign and his victories at Orel, Kharkov and Taganrog.As a result of these victories, Russia regained vast tracts of territory and wiped out hundreds of thousands of invaders. I have highlighted Mountbatten's appointment very prominently. A supreme commander in the Southeast Asian battlefield has been selected, and his name has been praised by public opinion in Britain, the United States, and China.He would act while in constant contact with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.Yes, Lord Louis Mountbatten was only forty-three.Under modern conditions and in the regular military professions, it is uncommon for a person to attain such a high position at such a young age.However, if a soldier who is determined to devote his life to military art still does not understand war at the age of forty-three, it seems impossible for him to make much progress in the following years.Lord Lewis already displayed rare organizational skills and resourcefulness in his command of the Combined Forces.I would venture to call him, whatever the pedants may say, an all-round amphibious military strategist.That is to say, he is a figure who is equally proficient in the three elements of land, air, and water, and is also very familiar with fire.We all unanimously wish this new command and its commander the best of success in their new, varied, and indeed extremely difficult tasks. I left Quebec by train and arrived at the White House on September 1st.Throughout the period of the talks in Quebec, the situation in Italy has moved forward.As already mentioned, President Roosevelt and I directed the secret armistice negotiations with Badoglio's government in these urgent days, and at the same time watched anxiously and closely the plans for the landings on the Italian mainland. military arrangements.I have deliberately extended my stay in the United States in order to maintain close contact with our American friends at this critical time concerning events in Italy.On the day of my arrival in Washington, I received for the first time the clear and official news that Badoglio had agreed to the Allies' terms of surrender.The strategic arrangements debated at the Quarter Conference were, of course, considered in terms of the possible collapse of Italy, a situation which was our chief concern during these days. While in Washington, I attended several American cabinet meetings or other meetings of a similar nature, and kept in close contact with leading figures in the United States.Poor Hopkins was now seriously ill, and had to be admitted to the Naval Hospital for a thorough recuperation.President Roosevelt wanted me to make a long stay and receive an honorary degree from Harvard.This will be an occasion for proclaiming to the world the solidarity and rapprochement of Britain and the United States.I delivered a speech on September 6, the summary of which is as follows: To the youth of America, as to the youth of England, I say: you cannot stand still.At this moment, there is no place to stop.We are on the journey, and now we have reached a stage where we cannot stop.We must move on.The future is not a chaotic world, but an orderly world.Through all these rigors and struggles which characterize our times, you will find the Commonwealth and Empire to be your ideal comrades-in-arms, and that you will unite with them for reasons other than national policy and common need. Origin relationship.For the most part, they are kinship and historical ties.As a descendant of both worlds, old and new[1], I am certainly aware of these relationships. 【1】Churchill's mother is American, so he has such a saying.translator Law, language and literature are all important factors.The English-speaking peoples on both sides of the Atlantic have common ideas, namely: a common conception of right and wrong, a special value for justice, especially for the weak and poor, a serious sense of an impartial judicial system, especially a love of personal liberty, or As Kipling [1] said, not by anyone's permission, but under the law, to live freely.We hold these ideas as firmly as you do. Fundamentally, we do not fight peoples with these ideas.Tyranny is our enemy.Whatever ornament or camouflage it wears, whatever language it uses, and whether it be external or internal, we must always be on the alert, always mobilized, always on the lookout, and should always be ready to deal with it. Tyranny to death.We move forward hand in hand on all of these fronts. Not only do we march side by side and fight together at this time, under the fire of the enemy on the battlefield or in the air, but we do the same in defending ideas that cherish the rights and dignity of human beings. [1] Rudyard Kipling (1865 | 1936), a famous British poet.translator Next, I talked about our Joint Chiefs of Staff committee. At present, our joint British and American Chiefs of Staff Committee is taking continuous strong action.This committee worked under the direct leadership of President Roosevelt and himself as a representative of the British War Cabinet.It relies on a fine-grained organization of staff at all levels to command all our human and material resources, and it actually employs the armies, ships, aircraft, and munitions of the United Kingdom and the United States as if they were the resources of a country or a people.I cannot say that there were absolutely no differences of opinion among these high professional responsible persons.If not, it would be unconscionable, which is why it is necessary to have a general meeting of the principals every two or three months.All of these people now know each other and trust each other.They express affection for each other, and most of them work together for a long time. When they met, they discussed the matter thoroughly, with great impartiality and plain language, but in a few days President Roosevelt and I would have their pertinent and unanimous opinions. It's a very good system.There was no such organization in the last great war.There has never been such an institution between the two allies.This system took even closer form at the headquarters of General Eisenhower in the Mediterranean theater, where everything was fully consolidated and soldiers were sent to fight by the Supreme Commander or Deputy Commander, General Alexander, with no regard for their status as British, American or Canadian, but only according to the needs of the operation. Now, in my opinion, it would be the most foolish and short-sighted thing for this well-run and extremely powerful institution to be thrown out of service by either or both of our governments as soon as the war is over .For our own security and the stability of the rest of the world, we must keep this institution alive and functioning after the war, and perhaps for many years, not only until we have established some kind of world organization to keep the peace, but Until we know what kind of organization does give us the security we need against danger and aggression, because through two world wars we have been compelled to find such security. What a pity that unwise views are now everywhere! As is customary, I sent the formal summary of the meeting to the prime ministers of the respective dominions.Field Marshal Smuts was disappointed by the scale on which we planned and by the apparently inadequate timetable.As the reader knows, I have always been relieved to see that our desires are completely aligned.The telegrams we have exchanged give a true and detailed account of the main problems of the war at the present critical moment.It is not a burden, but a relief, for me to explain fully to a person whom I know well, from all the knowledge I have acquired in the highest position. General Smuts to Prime Minister August 31, 1943 I wish to raise with you some of my personal doubts about the progress of the war in private.Don't mind my whining if you disagree, but if you still agree with me, you should take the initiative to address this issue. Our Middle East campaign, which began at Alamein and ended in Tunisia, was obviously carried on in a positive spirit, but since then I feel that the operations have become sluggish and sluggish.The landing from Tunisia to Sicily took us several months, and after Sicily, when our operations were very urgent, there were strange pauses.While we have enormous resources, comparing the Anglo-American efforts with those of the Russians at the same time raises embarrassing questions that must have arisen in the minds of many others.The scale of our operations on land is insignificant by comparison, and the speed is also very unsatisfactory.We often boast about production achievements, especially about the huge American production achievements.After almost two years of war, the combat forces of the United States are supposed to be very large. However, it was still the Russians who dealt with most of the German troops on land.Difficulties such as shipping accounted for some of the difference, but not all of it. I am deeply troubled by the many shortcomings of our land operations, both in scale and speed.Our Navy maintains its usual high standard, and our Air Force has an impressive record.But the honor due to fighting on land belongs almost entirely to the Russians.They too deserve such honors, judging by the scale and speed of their operations on a broad front, and by their superior strategy. There is no doubt that our operations can be improved and not so inferior to those of Russia.In the eyes of ordinary people, Russia must be winning the war.If this impression continues, how will our position in the postwar world compare with that of Russia?Our world position would change dramatically, allowing Russia to dominate world diplomacy.It's not what we need, it's not what we expect, and it would have a very bad reaction, especially to the Commonwealth.Unless we are on an equal footing at the end of the war, our position will be both unpleasant and dangerous.I don't yet know what the plans for the Quebec Conference are, but I assume it has drawn up and adopted the best programme.But what about the efficiency of implementing the program?There are serious dangers if we act slowly and sluggishly. General Smuts to Prime Minister September 3, 1943 After my last cable criticizing the progress of our war, I must express frankly my disappointment with this plan of Quebec, because I think that, in the fifth year of the war, and especially in our war fortunes, have recently changed dramatically In the future, such a plan will not be enough.This plan only increased my doubts and fears about the future.It does not do justice to our present real strength, and could seriously affect public morale and future relations with Russia.We can and should face the current situation with greater courage. In fact, the plan merely proposed the continuation and enhancement of the present bombing and anti-submarine warfare, the capture of Sardinia, Corsica, and southern Italy, and the bombing of areas to the north from there.We then advance northward in Italy over the impeded mountain country, and the campaign will probably take a great deal of time before we reach the main defensive positions in northern Italy and Germany.In the spring of next year, if the air and land situation on the French side is in our favour, we will cross the Channel in a big way; we may also attack France from the south, but only as a diversionary operation; we will hand over the Balkans to The guerrillas just use air power to encourage them. That's the whole plan for the Western battlefield.As for the East, we are prepared to adopt some island-hopping tactics, which may allow us to attack the main enemy base in the Caroline Islands before the end of next year.While allowing the enemy to control the resources of the Dutch East Indies, we are prepared to work hard to open the way to Burma and to aid China as best we can by air.At the same time, the plan also provides for some unclear amphibious operations against Burma. As far as I can see, the bombing was the only important part of the plan.The remainder is still a small-scale operation, similar to what we have done in the past two years.Undoubtedly, this plan is by no means a major effort for us at this stage of the war, nor does it make proper use of our greatly improved operational position.If by the end of 1944 we had been limited to piecemeal attacks on the enemy's main positions, we might have been violently attacked by public opinion, but this is only natural.Our actions pale in comparison with Russia's colossal efforts and achievements, from which Russia can conclude that her suspicions of us are justified. In the absence of internal staff intelligence, it is difficult for me to suggest otherwise, but I am convinced that we can and should do more and better than the Quebec plan, which would unduly prolong the war, And with all the dangers and possibilities I pointed out in my previous message.Bombing policy, anti-submarine campaigns, and massive cross-channel raids, I agree with them all.But in the Mediterranean, we should attack northern Italy immediately after taking Sardinia and Corsica, instead of attacking from the south to the north on the peninsula.We should immediately occupy southern Italy and advance to the Adriatic coast, and from there, from a suitable point, launch a real offensive on the Balkans and bring about a growing revival in the Balkans.This will force Turkey into the war and allow our fleet to sail into the Black Sea.We will join forces with Russia in the Black Sea, supply it, and enable it to attack Hitler's fortress itself from the east and southeast.Given the dramatic changes in the situation on the Russian front, I don't think this is an overly ambitious plan of action. After consideration, my reply to Smuts is as follows: Prime Minister to Field Marshal Smuts September 5, 1943 Both of your telegrams have been received. 1. The attack now under way on the toe of Italy is, of course, only the prelude to a much larger attack to be launched, which, if successful, will have far-reaching consequences.We hope before long to open a strong front through Italy, pushing as far north as possible.Such a front would require about twenty divisions to be brought in from the Mediterranean, and we might also need reinforcements if the enemy chooses this line as a site for a counteroffensive. 2. I have been very eager to enter the Balkans, where everything is going well. [1] We should observe the development of the war in Italy before we can decide what other actions may be taken besides sending commandos and agents and providing supplies.But the flames of the entire Balkan peninsula were already burning, and the troops of the twenty-four Italian divisions scattered throughout the territory had disobeyed the command, stopped fighting, and only tried to return home. In this way, the German army may be forced to retreat to the Saff River and The line of the Danube. [1] This statement seems to be at odds with the general policy which I have frequently spoken of in the preceding volumes.When I speak here of entering the Balkans, I do not mean bringing troops into it. 3. I think it is best not to ask Turkey to enter the war at present, since the armies with which we are supposed to fight are now more effectively employed in the central Mediterranean.The issue could be raised with Turkey later this year. 4. Although these urgent needs and various plans in the Mediterranean have used our resources to the maximum extent, in order to form the Overlord Operation Plan in the spring of 1944, we must start from the Mediterranean battlefield after November. Draw seven divisions.For this purpose, all troop-transporting vessels capable of mustering, except those used by the United States in the Pacific, are to be used for the continuous transport of American troops and air forces.None of our ships have been idle this year, but so far there are still only two divisions of American troops in Britain.It is impossible to concentrate more troops according to the date mentioned above in terms of material conditions.We can complement the American Expeditionary Force with British divisions of approximately equal strength, but after the initial assault the formation of the army must be entirely dependent on the American forces, for then I shall be completely depleted, and even now I shall not be able to The Americans are not asked to suspend the movement of combat troops in order to send thousands of engineers to help us build the facilities and camps necessary for the assembly of their troops from across the Atlantic. 5. These plans in Europe, together with the offensive in the air and the war at sea, completely exhausted all our manpower and transport power.We must face this fact. Our situation cannot be compared with that of Russia; Russia is a country with a population of nearly 200 million people. Apart from war losses, Russia has long ago organized all its forces into a huge national army, which has been deployed on the ground for a distance of 2,000 miles. on-line.This is another fact that we must face. 6. I think that after the war it is inevitable that Russia will become the greatest land power in the world; It has been hit very hard by the military power.But I hope that the fraternal union of the Commonwealth and the United States, together with naval and air power, will enable us to live in peace with Russia and maintain a friendly balance of power, at least in the period of post-war reconstruction.I can't foresee the future with my naked eyes. I haven't learned in detail about the clairvoyant eye that can see into the future. 7. In the East, we British have no shortage of troops, but we have difficulty in fighting, as America has in the Atlantic and Pacific.Shipping exigencies govern all overseas and amphibious operations; besides this, there are jungles and mountains in Burma, and a rainy season for more than half the year.However, a fierce battle was launched.I took the young Wingate to Quebec, intending to promote him from brigadier general to corps commander, and at the same time to form a strong jungle force suitable for this purpose with the highest speed, so as to launch the offensive in January next year.Mountbatten's appointment heralds a new type and wide-ranging amphibious operation which I am doing my best to bring about, and I will tell you in detail when we meet. 8. Please believe, my dear friend, that I don't mind your two critical telegrams.I am convinced that if we are together for two or three days, I will be able to eliminate your anxieties, except those which are inherently unshakable and really worth worrying about.I worked day and night trying to move faster and reduce organizational bloat.I am on this side of the Atlantic, awaiting the impending assault on Italy and its response, but I look forward to returning home when Parliament is in session, and I hope that by then you will at least be on your way to England. Seeing this sufficient explanation, Smuts was relieved to a certain extent. Your telegram, he said, was a great comfort to me.It clearly shows that an expeditionary force of twenty divisions sent to Italy could spread over the whole peninsula and establish another real front.But a day later he telegraphed again: September 9, 1943 I suggest that, after our victory in the Mediterranean, we should attack Italy and the Balkans, instead of adopting a plan of crossing the strait as we are doing now, because this plan means moving to a new battlefield, and if there is no more To weaken the enemy's strength by an air offensive, such a diversion requires enormous numbers of troops and entails serious dangers.Preparations for the Straits Project should be slowed down, or put in cold storage for the time being, while bombing should be intensified in preparation for the final military assault. This last suggestion must be corrected immediately if the two of us are to continue to work harmoniously from our separate perspectives.Smuts, far from Washington and alone, could not understand the atmosphere and the harmony that governed our common thoughts. Prime Minister to Field Marshal Smuts September 11, 1943 We must not interrupt the deployment of the Overlord combat plan that we and the United States have drawn up.Thanks to the detente of submarine warfare and the Italian mutation, we now get additional transport capacity, which may allow us to increase the force size of the avalanche plan (expedition to Italy).I want you to understand that British loyalty to the Overlord program is a major cornerstone of the edifice of Anglo-American cooperation.Personally, I believe that there is enough strength in place to allow us to do both, and I believe this is the right strategy. Meanwhile, the offensive against Italy had begun.At dawn on September 3, the British 5th and 1st Canadian Divisions of the Eighth Army crossed the Strait of Messina.In fact, our troops encountered no resistance.Reggio was quickly occupied by us, and the troops were advancing along the narrow passes of Calabria.Alexander telegraphed on September 6 to say: The Germans are fighting in the rear, and they are doing more sabotage than they are fighting.Not a single siren was heard or a single enemy plane was seen this morning at Razzo.相反地，在這個可愛的夏季的日子裡，各種類型的海軍艦艇載著士兵、必需物資和武器彈藥往來於西西里島與大陸之間。在這種十分活躍的氣氛中，這個情景與其說是戰時激烈的作戰行動，不如說是和平時期的一次快艇比賽。 在幾天之內，第八集團軍各師部隊推進到洛克里和羅薩諾，當一個步兵旅由海上在皮佐登陸後，只發現撤退中的德軍的殿後人員。雙方沒有發生什麼戰鬥，但是由於當地自然條件造成的困難、敵人進行的破壞以及敵人巧妙指揮的小規模的後衛戰，部隊的前進受到了嚴重的耽擱。 Prime Minister to General Alexander 一九四三年九月七日 關於在意大利趾形地區作戰情況的來電已經收到，十分感謝。請確切地告訴我空降師企圖佔領羅馬的行動會引起什麼情況，而且這一行動如何才能適應你的計劃。我們大家完全贊同你所擬議的大膽的策略，雖然我們只能假定細節都是正確的。 二‧對於你所提到的塔蘭托，我也深感興趣。你看大約何時進攻該港為宜？ 三‧我仍然極其關懷雪崩戰役以後的軍隊編成問題。 當然，如果你能使那不勒斯港恢復正常，你就可以每週輸送兩個師登陸。請告知你所擬定的派遣我們的軍隊進入意大利的先後次序。新西蘭師、波蘭師、第四印度師、第一裝甲師以及其他的真正精銳師將在何時參加戰鬥？看來，你勢必要保持一條至少像突尼斯戰役最後階段那樣寬闊的戰線即大約一百七十哩而且誰也不敢預言，德國人如有時間的話，是否會對我們這條戰線給以真正的打擊。 四‧我在這裡和羅斯福總統一同等待評斷雪崩戰役的結果，事畢便即返國。但是，我希望在十月的上半月能到你那裡去，而馬歇爾將軍也將從美國到來。屆時我將告訴你一些重要情況。 亞歷山大回電說，由於意大利政府不能宣佈停戰協定，他不得不作某些變更。第八十二美國空降師不能空運到羅馬地區，因為意大利人沒有做好接待的準備工作，同時相信德國人已經佔領了飛機場。雪崩戰役按照計劃進行，但沒有空降部隊參戰。第一空降師約有三千名士兵乘海軍艦隻前往塔蘭托，預計於九月九日到達。不能預料他們將受到什麼樣的接待。由於塔蘭托港可能早日打開，他希望向意大利增派兵力。 與此同時，我們為奪取羅得島和愛琴海的其他島嶼所作的努力也已開始。以後各章將會敘述。 羅斯福總統和我晚飯後正坐在他的白宮書房裡閒談時，龐德海軍上將為了海軍方面的一個問題來看我們。羅斯福總統問了他幾個關於戰爭一般情況的問題，我很難受地看到，我所信任的這位海軍朋友，已經失去了他所特有的那種非常踏實精細的作風。羅斯福總統和我都深信他患了重病。第二天早晨，龐德到我的坐臥兩用房間來看我，並且突然說：首相，我是來辭職的。我患了中風病，我身體的右側已經大部分麻木不靈了。我原來以為這種病可以逐漸痊癒，但是卻一天比一天嚴重，我已經不適於再擔任職務了。我立即接受了第一海務大臣的辭呈，並對他的健康的衰退，表示了深切的同情。 我告訴他，從那時起，他便卸去了一切職務，並且極力勸他休息幾天，然後和我一道乘聲威號軍艦返國。當時他完全能夠控制自己，而且一舉一動都充滿了尊嚴。他一離開我的房間，我就電告海軍部，派西弗萊特海軍中將暫代他的職務，直到任命新的第一海務大臣時為止。 九月九日，我們和羅斯福總統在白宮舉行了一次正式會議。帝國總參謀長和空軍參謀長已在幾天前飛回倫敦了，陪我出席的是迪爾陸軍元帥、伊斯梅和英國三軍參謀長駐華盛頓的代表。羅斯福總統偕同李海、馬歇爾、金和阿諾德參加。 關於意大利艦隊向我們投降的一些電報，為我們的會議提供了一個愉快的序曲。我表示了我的希望：不論意大利艦隊到達何地，盟國都應該以禮相待。 為了迎接這次會議，我曾準備了一份致羅斯福總統的備忘錄，在當天早些時候，我把這份備忘錄交給了他。他要我在會上宣讀，並認為它可以作為我們討論的基礎。 一九四三年九月九日 在我們分別之前，召開一次聯合參謀長委員會的全體會議無疑是合宜的。這次會議的目的，是要根據下列一些假定，來判斷即將發生的新的世界形勢，這些假定是：現在進行的那不勒斯戰役和羅馬戰役將取得勝利，德國將退往亞平寧山脈或波河一線。 二‧倘若我們獲得了意大利艦隊，那麼我們所獲得的不僅是那個艦隊，而且還有英國艦隊，因為英國艦隊過去一直是牽制意大利艦隊的力量。我們的海軍力量，在增加了如此雄厚的實力以後，應該盡早用於加強對日本的戰爭。我已請第一海務大臣和金海軍上將進行磋商，以便調遣一支包括巡洋艦與輔助艦的強大的英國作戰分艦隊，通過巴拿馬運河和太平洋，前往印度洋。在明年進行兩棲作戰的時期，我們需要一支以科倫坡為基地的強大的東方艦隊。如果這支艦隊在到印度洋基地駐防以前，有可能在美國太平洋司令部的領導下服役，並在太平洋參加至少四個月的有效的戰鬥，我將感到非常高興。我們不能讓艦隻閒置不用。然而，我不了解，這種增援力量到達以後，如何才能增添美國太平洋部隊所承擔的各項任務。姑且不談戰略問題，即使從最高政策的觀點看來，英皇陛下政府也希望參加太平洋戰爭，以便在它力所能及的範圍內，不僅援助與它結成同盟的美國，而且由於它所承擔的義務，也援助澳大利亞和新西蘭。我們的艦隊開往太平洋和通過太平洋，這一調動無疑將會對日本產生一種瓦解鬥志的影響。日本現在必然意識到我們在對它大大增加海軍壓力；除此以外，這種調動在美國無疑地也會使人們感到滿意，因為它確實證明，英國有決心在對日戰爭中發揮它的積極的和有力的作用，直到戰爭結束時為止。 三‧我們必須逐步使公眾了解我們和我們的聯合參謀長委員會的全部想法，即把意大利變成一個抗擊德國的積極行動者。雖然我們不能承認意大利是一個具有充分意義的盟國，但是我們已經同意讓它將功贖罪；對於它抗擊敵人的有益行動，我們將不僅給予支援，而且給以報酬。如果戰爭在德意兩國之間爆發，公眾的偏見將很快地消失；如果我們能夠因勢利導，意大利對德國宣戰一事可能在兩周左右取得成功。關於意大利船艦懸掛意大利國旗的問題，甚至在英國或美國控制下的船舶中配備意大利船員的某些安排問題，都需要考慮才能作出決定。關於處理和充分使用意大利海軍的整個問題，現在尚需最高一級進行審核。 四‧假定我們在那不勒斯地區獲得一個決定性勝利，我想我們會一致同意向意大利半島北部推進，直到接近德軍主要陣地為止。如果意大利人在各處都對我們懷有善意，而他們的陸軍也投降過來給我們支援，那麼，部署在各地的至少十二個師的意軍，對於我們防守橫貫意大利的戰線以及盟軍的換防來說，都有很大的好處。如果在那不勒斯的戰爭結束以後，我們在德軍主要戰線的南面遇不到激烈的抵抗，那麼我們就不應長期以單薄的兵力對付敵人。我希望最遲到今年年底，我們應該用足夠的力量與敵人對陣。如能更早一點，那就更好。霸王作戰計劃是絕對不能削減的。在這個關鍵時刻，我們不要忘記，我們曾經一致同意從十一月初開始陸續撤走七個師。更重要的是，使意大利各個師與我們一同作戰。我們的國家政策也應該同實現這一目標相適應。 五‧鑒於這些新的可能性，我一直在考慮一九四四年的戰役，我仍堅決相信，我們向北面推進時，應當盡量不要越過意大利半島的狹窄部分。當然，如果德國人退到阿爾卑斯山脈，則會出現另一種局面，但是如果情況並非如此，那麼為了照顧霸王作戰計劃的需要，在倫巴第平原將戰線展寬，似乎不是我們力所能及的事。我們還應當考慮到，在內線作戰的德軍，為了要對我們在意大利的戰線施加壓力，也許會派遣一支比我們在年底駐守在那裡的兵力更為強大的兵力。我們不能排除德軍展開一次強大反攻的可能性。我希望我們考慮這一點：當我們逼近德軍的主要戰線時，我們是否應該為自己修建一條有足夠縱深的、堅強的防線。為了這一目的，可以大批地使用意大利的軍工。意大利的部隊當然可以參加防守這條戰線的任務。這樣，到明年春季，如果敵人力量薄弱的話，我們就能夠在這個戰場上發動攻勢，無論如何總可以威脅敵人；或者是保持守勢，只利用我們在這段期間建立起來的、從我們防線後面起飛的空軍，同時調派一部分軍隊向東或向西，前往其他地區作戰。我希望這一點可以研究一下。 六‧我們兩人都深深地意識到巴爾幹半島形勢的巨大重要性。我們應使全神貫注於目前戰役的地中海最高司令部確實並不忽視巴爾幹愛國武裝部隊的需要。對意大利軍隊的問題，必須立即進行研究。今天宣佈的中東總司令威爾遜將軍的命令，就當前的情況來說，考慮是很周密的，但是我們需要更清楚地看到它的確切的意圖。假定意大利人能被吸收到對德戰爭中來，看來會產生具有深遠影響的後果。我們確實沒有必要從巴爾幹半島的底端向上進攻。如果我們能使巴爾幹半島的愛國者和意大利部隊達成一項協議，這就可能很快地在達爾馬提亞海岸開闢一個或更多的良好港口，使軍需品和糧食能夠用船運輸進去，而服從我們命令的一切部隊，便可以提高到具有良好作戰能力的地步。德國人在這整個地區的處境將變得極其危險，從供應的觀點來看，尤其如此。當橫貫意大利北部的戰線建成時，我們可以將派往地中海戰場的我們自己的兵力抽出一部分，來加強從達爾馬提亞港向北和東北推進的運動。現在應該作出最大的努力，來組織整個巴爾幹半島的力量向德國人進攻，並提供特工人員、武器和發佈正確的指示。 七‧最後，考慮島嶼問題的時機現在已經成熟。我想，撒丁島馬上可以拿到我們手中，不過我們可能還要給意軍一些援助，才能解除當地德國部隊的一切武裝。科西嘉島上的德軍或許已筋疲力竭，但是，那裡當然是法國遠征軍的地方。法蘭西民族委員會即使只能派遣一個師，也可能在很短的時間內解放該島，而我們無疑地可以在該島壯丁中間就地徵集一兩師人。威爾遜將軍的來電談到，對羅得島和多德卡尼斯群島中的其他島嶼的作戰行動，一直進行得很順利，但是，我還不能確信駐在中東的兵力，在目前的情況下已得到充分的使用。我將立即調查所有實力在營以上的部隊的確切駐紮地點，同時希望它們能組成臨時的遠征部隊和衛戍部隊來開展各種小規模的軍事行動。 八‧我們必須期待在保加利亞、羅馬尼亞和匈牙利，將發生影響深遠的反應，這些反應又會在土耳其人中間造成一個運動，而不必由我們提出任何請求或承擔任何義務。所有這一切又需要最高一級在軍事和政治方面進行研究；我感到，如果你同意的話，我們不妨在今天下午進行初步的審核。 按照上面備忘錄所提出的各點，我們兩人在原則上取得了廣泛的協議，參謀長們在以後的幾天中，商定了需要採取的必要行動。 羅斯福總統第二天離開華盛頓，回到海德公園的家中。他讓我使用白宮，不僅作為寓所，而且可以用來舉行我希望召開的任何會議，不管是同聚集在華盛頓的英帝國代表，還是同美國軍事首腦舉行的會議；如果我認為必要的話，我可以毫無顧慮地召集另一次全體會議。我充分利用了如此慷慨地提供給我的便利條件。於是，由於大家普遍希望判斷意大利局勢的迅速發展，以及對那不勒斯展開的激烈而緊急的戰鬥的進展，我於九月十一日在白宮召集並主持了另一次會議。李海海軍上將、馬歇爾將軍、金海軍上將、阿諾德將軍、哈里‧霍普金斯、艾爾‧哈里曼和盧‧道格拉斯代表美國。我率領迪爾和伊斯梅以及聯合參謀長委員會的我方三名代表。 我們對於當前的所有問題都進行了討論。馬歇爾將軍報告了那不勒斯地區的戰況和德軍師團的迅速增援的情形。阿諾德將軍談到，現在我們在意大利上空參加戰鬥的飛機大約有三千架，這個數目比各個戰線上的德國空軍的總數還要多。 我促使大家注意關於在意大利本土增強我方兵力的那個可憐的提案。我說，我發現到十二月一日，我們所能集結的兵力只有十二個師，這個數字令我吃驚。當前特別重要的是，派遣一切可派遣的師，來迅速增加我們在意大利的軍隊。即使一師人早到兩個星期，也可能造成嚴重的差別。馬歇爾將軍完全同意我的看法，並說應該作出一切努力。 他接著告訴我們，美國空軍在南太平洋戰場非常出色地勝利完成了空降著陸。由於他們在馬克漢姆河谷降落，加上從海上展開的襲擊，擁有八千到一萬人的日本衛戍部隊實際上已經孤立無援。美軍正在炮轟薩拉茅阿並逼近萊城。飛機場不久就要被我們佔領，敵人的其他飛機場因此也將無法防守。整個海上形勢勢必要隨著發生變化。日軍在新不列顛島的陣地可能在不久以後陷入絕境，而且，日軍也有從所羅門群島撤退的跡象。 我在白宮會議室主持這次英美聯合參謀長委員會和英美負責當局的會議，這對我是一種光榮，在英美歷史上也似乎是一件大事。