“In other words, roughly speaking, the Americans are sending to England approximately twice as many aircraft as the Luftwaffe can shoot down.”
“What did you say about the Abwehr report?” Muller asked.
“It’s rather delicate,” von Heurten-Mitnitz said. “If I tell the truth, that makes me sound very wise in some quarters. And like a defeatist in others.” “I asked what you said,” Muller said.
“I said that I would tend to believe the aircraft figures,” von Heurtenmitnitz said. “But I added that the Americans could be expected to make a desperate effort to replace the terrific losses inflicted upon them by the Luftwaffe, and that clearly such effort would be at the expense of other war production.” Muller grunted and shook his head.
“I think the next time the Americans bomb Dortmund,” von Heurtenmitnitz said, “there will be five hundred B-17s. And I think the next time we hear from our agent in Newsersey, he will estimate that a hundred B-17s are leaving every day for England.”
“Shit,” Muller said.
“What we are doing, Johann,” von Heurten-Mitnitz said, “is trying to end this unwinnable war before the Americans run out of cities to bomb into rubble.”
“They still call it treason,” Muller said.
“Can you get a radio that will receive the BBC to Fraulein Dyer?” von Heurten-Mitnitz asked.
“You said, or at least suggested, that you think it would be a good idea if it appeared that I was somehow involved with the Dyer woman,” Muller said.
“Yes, I did,” von Heurten-Mitnitz said.
“I just might go see my family again this weekend,” Muller said.
“It should be a pleasant drive, in your new car, “von Heurten-Mitnitz said.
TWO] Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force Arons-or Squan, London 1145 Hours IZ January 1943 “That went well I think, Korman,” Rear Admiral G. G. Foster said to Commander Korman after the award ceremony. “Even Meachum Hope of Carlson Broadcasting.” TKE ITOLDIER SPIES als _.
“Thank you, sir,” Korman said. He did not think it necessary to inform the admiral that he had learned that Bitter was the nephew of the man who owned Carlson Broadcasting. He rather doubted that Meachum Hope would have otherwise come to SHAEF to watch one more officer get one more medal. But that had mushroomed. When Carlson News Service had been ordered to the presentation by the London bureau chief, and word got around that Meachum Hope was making a recording for his nightly broadcast to the States, the other news services and radio broadcasters decided they might be missing something and showed up themselves.
And they were happy, for Eisenhower himself made the award, gave a little speech, and, with his arm around Lieutenant Commander Edwin H. Bitter, USN, smiled his famous smile. Ike was always good copy.
The admiral stepped away from Commander Korman and had a brief private word with General Eisenhower, then he came back to Korman.
“Arrange for Commander Biter to be at my quarters around 1730,” he ordered. “General Eisenhower said he might be able to drop by for a minute.
Ask Mr. Meachum Hope and that woman reporter–What’s her name?”
“Chambers, Admiral.”
“Ask Mr. Hope and Miss Chambers if they would like to take a cocktail with me. And see if you can get Lieutenant Kennedy to be there.”
“Who, sir?”
“Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. ,” the admiral snapped. “Tell Commander Biter I would be pleased if he could arrange it.” “Aye, aye, sir,” Korman said. That was a mixed bag. It would certainly be good public relations for Meachum Hope and the Chambers girl to take a drink on the admiral. If he hadn’t been so leery of the admiral, he would have made precisely that suggestion himself. He wondered who the hell this Lieutenant Kennedy was.
But there was nothing to do but find out who he was, and get him to the Connaught Hotel at 1730. It hadn’t been a suggestion from Admiral Foster, it had been an order.
Three.
London Station, OSICEOLSTRATEGICSERVICEN Berbeley Square “Colonel Stevens would like to see you right away, Major,” the sergeant major said when Canidy walked in.
“He say why?” Canidy asked. When the sergeant major shook his head, he asked, “Fulmar get in all right?”