V The landing strip was eight miles from the town

V
The landing strip was eight miles from the town. Before dusk the procession started. Some had somehow contrived to hire peasant carts. Most went on foot, bowed and laden. At ten o’clock Major Gordon drove out and found them, a dark mass, on the embankment of what had once been a railway. Most were asleep. There was mist on the ground. He said to the Squadron Leader: “Is this going to lift?” “It’s been getting thicker for the last hour.” “Will they be able to land,http://www.rolexsubmarinerreplica1.com?” “Not a chance.” “We’d better get these people home.” “Yes, I’m just sending the cancellation signal now.” Major Gordon could not bear to wait. He drove back alone but could not rest; hours later, he went out and waited in the mist at the junction of lane and road until the weary people hobbled past into the town. Twice in the next three weeks the grim scene was repeated. On the second occasion the fires were lit, the aeroplanes were overhead and could be heard circling, recircling and at length heading west again. That evening, Major Gordon prayed: “Please God make it all right. You’ve done things like that before. Just make the mist clear. Please God help these people.” But the sound of the engines dwindled and died away, and the hopeless Jews stirred themselves and set off again on the way they had come. That week came the first heavy fall of snow. There would be no more landing until the spring. Major Gordon despaired of doing anything for the Jews, but powerful forces were at work on their behalf in Bari. He soon received a signal: “Expect special drop shortly relief supplies for Jews stop Explain partisan HQ these supplies only repeat only for distribution Jews.” He called on the General with this communication. “What supplies?” “I presume food and clothing and medicine.” “For three months I have been asking for these things for my men. The Third Corps have no boots. In the hospital they are operating without anaesthetics,Cheap Adidas Jeremy Scott Big Tongue Shoes. Last week we had to withdraw from two forward positions because there were no rations.” “I know. I have signalled about it repeatedly,Home Page.” “Why is there food and clothes for the Jews and not for my men?” “I cannot explain. All I have come to ask is whether you can guarantee distribution.” “I will see,fake uggs.” Major Gordon signalled: “Respectfully submit most injudicious discriminate in favour of Jews stop Will endeavour secure proportionate share for them of general relief supplies,” and received in answer: “Three aircraft will drop Jewish supplies point C 1130 hrs 21st stop These supplies from private source not military stop Distribute according previous signal.” On the afternoon of the 21st the Squadron Leader came to see Major Gordon. “What’s the idea?” he said. “I’ve just been having the hell of a schemozzle with the Air Liaison comrade about tonight’s drop. He wants the stuff put in bond or something till he gets orders from higher up. He’s a reasonable sort of chap usually. I’ve never seen him on such a high horse. Wanted everything checked in the presence of the Minister of the Interior and put under joint guard. Never heard such a lot of rot. I suppose someone at Bari has been playing at politics as usual.” That night the air was full of parachutes and of “free-drops” whistling down like bombs. The Anti-Fascist Youth retrieved them. They were loaded on carts, taken to a barn near the General’s headquarters and formally impounded.