Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
German Offensive
On Central Front
Finds Russia Calm
By WILLIAM McGAFFIN,
Associated Press stat Writer.

DIV
Associated Press staff Writer.
MOSCOW, July 14.-This city Is
only about 100 miles from the near
est point to the Russian-held Kursk
Salient where Hitler is unleashing
his ferocious summer offensive.
But it might as well be as far
away as New York for ali the excite
ment that is shown here.
Crowds still flock to see Alice Faye
and Tyrone Power in "V Starom
Schikagom" Gin Old Chicago" to
your. The Soviet government bought
the movie and skilfully dubbed in
the whole dialogue in Russian voices
matching those of the American per-
formers. Only Miss Faye's songs are
In English.
LepeshanSkaya still dances the I'M
epeakably beautiful Interpretation of
Swan Lake" at the Bolshoi Filial
Theater. And the American CORE
spondent is still heroized in the play,
"Bezsmerty," at the Red Army
Theater In English, that means
Immortal" 1t is about a corre-
spondent who goes to cover guerrilla
fighting behind the German lines
and stays on to kill a few Huns
himself.
Has Dramatic Ending.
The curtain line, as the CORE
spondent picks up tommygun:
Now America goes to war"
Any correspondent here would
be glad to give years expense &C
count to emulate the example of
that guy. But, in the opinion of
our Russian hosts, the correspond
entS' lives are too precious to be
rlsked anywhere outside OF fiction.
Obviously, they never heard what
the gang at the police station back
home say about us when we are
breaking in as police reporters SO
we can cover the war from Moscow.
And Moscow is quiet these days.
We know. We see it at all hours.
But don't misunderstanding quiet
does not mean lack of interest.
Watch the crowds gathering
around the bulletin boards. Listen
to the chattering on the subway.
Then you'll see how vitality in
terested they are.
Reflection Of Confidence.
The Moscow quiet, rather, is a re-
Election of calm confidence in the
great Red Army. Those strapping
young kids now out there in Kursk
saved Moscow when the enemy was
rapping at it's very gates back in Al.
This summer, it's not clear yet
whether Hitler intends to take
another crack at the Soviet capital.
But if he does, the Red Army will
be there. The Moscovites know that.
So they placidly go on working and
reading and in spare hours keep
the kitchen and the garden in trim.
The strawberries are coming in
Ylow-and the cucumbers and rad
ishes. 1t Is good to eat Strawberries
and read stirring news of hundreds
of enemy tanks and planes knocked
out with only astonishingly minute
gains to reward Hitler for his pains.
There was time when the cor,
respondents had little to do except
play hearts and moan about the
dearth of news There was a time
when we could go swimming as we
did July 5.
Have Busy Days.
That night I went to bed early to
catch up after celebrating the 4th
Of July. About II 80 pm Thcijoya,
the A. P. secretary, called me.
They just announced the Ger
mans have opened the offensive"
said she.
Since then, we've all been a little
busy.
The main problem is no longer
payne from Jack at the Metropolis
The main problem is how to keep
your mug shaved and set little
Sleep.
The APP cook, maid and mother
confeSsor patiently waits meals till
all hours and takes all telephone
calls vigorously, protecting the
sleeping body from everything but
the most urgent Reluctantly Pasha
swakes me when it's call at mid
night or or in the morning from
the Foreign Office (where they
don't seem to come awake until
after midnight).
No Curfew Passes.
Then get up with a groan, dress
and trudge through silent streets for
another special communique from
the foreign office. It's a 5O-minute
walk from home to the Narkomindel,
as we call it. 1t is impossible to
use a car after midnight, for neither
Pavel, your chauffeur, nor the Ford
that came from Finland five years
ago have curfew passes So you
trudge along, hating at intervals to
show your curfew pass to alert
militiamen who flash a torch in
your eyes and say, Greetings,
Tovarich"
After you've written your Story
you plod up to the telegraph office
and file it. Another 20 minutes,
Then, if your legs are still steady,
you do the 50-minute stretch home
ward. Otherwise, you walk back to
the Metropole Hotel and spend the
night in the Office.
Morning brings fresh problems
unless you remembered to bring
your Army rations with you. For
you're signed up with the authori-
ties to eat meals at your apartment
and hence you're not allowed to
breakfast at the hotel.
It's good. though, to be in Moscow
with the offensive on. It's exciting
even to walk through the streets at
night-to listen to the muff1ed tread
of soldiers as they march through
the blackout to change guard on the
government buildings.
It's thrilling to see the Kremlin
outlined against the sky-against
sky so light they don't blackout the
windows until after 10. It's fan
tast1c to look into the west after II
and still see a few wisps of sun
that seem reluctant to stop shining
In encouragement on these people.
New Excuse for Speeding