GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY:- I am not going to attempt t o cover the European ar news tonight, even in brief; for the reason that I don~t know what the latest is. Since earl7 this morning I have been flying oat of the tiae, and have just returned to Paris. Since arri,- iag I have heard the stor1 that Marshal Peta in is coming to France, comi~g from Germany by way of Switzerland, to stand trial. But I hear this has not been confirmed. I also have just heard that the storing of Hitler's mountain redoubt has begun, in fact has been underway for several days. But where I was, farther north at the Front, we heard not one word about that. At the Front you e eldoa know any- thing about anything that is going on anywhere else, and frequently you don't even know what is going on right •h~re you are. Oh yes, and in the few minutes I have been in Paris tonight I ran into a dozen dis- tinguished American editors, who arrived here by airplane, this evening. Just in from the other side of the Atlantic, in response to General Eisenhower and Gener a l a rs hall's sug g estion that they see some of the Ge rm an m urder camps ith th e ir on eyes. so 1 uch for w hat I d on: t now bout t he day's news because I hive just flown to Paris f rom Berlin. Several days a go a group of us heard that the Russians had taken Berlin. e started to fl1 there, then decided to check, and found the Russians were not within ■ ilea of Berlin. Since then my colleagues went on to the Ital·an Front, while I decided to stay and ba,e another tr7 at Hitler's capital. The Rua1ians ar there now. I witnessed so11e of the fighting at B8rlin today, and with m7 own eyes saw the city in fla ■es, saw the bombardment going on between the Russians and the R"zis, and then raced back across half Europe to go on the air here in Paris tonight. With a crack Arm.7 Air Force pilot of the 67t~ Reconnaissance Group of the 9th Air Force, I flew to Berlin in a P-51 Mu tang. It came about th:ia ••1: - For two days I bad been with the ground troops nearest t he advancing Russians, with General Terr1 Allen a nd his 104th Division, the Timberwolves, 01 the Yulde River, with the Rissians about eighteen miles away, and the Germans in between. All along the front the one question has been: When do we joi op •ith the Russians? An artillery spotter fer the th R l ·ans some miles Ti1berwolves brought word that e uss ' to the north of us were driving west at top sp ed. fro where he as in his little plane, it looked as though the S cond Armored Division of the Ninth Aray might be the first to ake the junction. b n I he rd this I decided to try and find a fighter pilot who would like to take a look all up and do• the Front. Back at the 67th Reconnaissance Group the1 had invited ae to do this some da1s before. So there I flew in a light artillery obserTation plane. And in no time at all two fast Mustangs were out on the 1 ine and we were off. In one, alone, was the offi ~ er in o ~ ■ mand of t hi 67th, Lieutenant Colonel Dick Leghorn of - · linchester, Massachusetts. His job, to "fl1 cover,• as the1 call it. Protect us from enem7 aircraft. He · to scan the sk1 for enea1 planes. le to do the looking for the Russians; also for German troops and airfields and, ■ a1be, Berlin. My pilot was Lieutenant Colonel Iarl Iraft of Clarks, Louisiana, lo. 2 in command of the 67th. Both were single-seater f ighter planes. With me, squeezed jn behind Iraft. Piggyback the1 call it. The oat cramped position so fa deTised b1 aan. But that's unim por ant ; here are some of the things •• saw:- Berlin in flames. Althoug not entirel1. Potsdam, and the southern side oft e city seemed aoaparitively undaaaged. The rest 0 f i t in flaaes tr a one end to the oth e r. e swung in over Berlin at about four thousand feet. lluch too low. But we bad to because of the heavy cloud layer above us. Below us an artillery duel was going on. ApparentlJ the heavy guns on both sides going all out. Dens clouds of s oke were rolling over Berlin, concealing auch of it. e spotted a couple of planes several thousand feet lower. Leghorn and Iraft thought theJ ,,re IIE 109' s. All this time, off to the south of us we could hear other American pilots none coming as far north as Berlin we could hear thea talking back and forth, from plane to plane, arguing as to •hether or not the Russians, ne14r Dessau, had actuallJ aet the 2nd Araored Division of the linth Army. So aa1be the junction was effected today. I can't be sure. Before flying north to Berlin, and agaia after we turned south from Hitler's smoking funeral p7re, the bombardment and burning of the world's fourth largest city which we had been watching in awe froa th sk1, we also looked for the Russian armies. Our first landmark as we headed for Berlin was Leipzig or rather, the ruins of Leipzig; then east over the A ■erican First Army Front, and on still farther east towards the Russians. As we crossed the Mulde, with lazi-held territory und r us, we were on the lookout tor a vast multitude of people reported to be heading tor the American lines. They may have aet our troops b7 now. If so, it will b e the largest single mass !Eri 1 24 - Pg.:_2 surrender so f a r in the E u ropean war . An Ame i c an artil l ery observat i on pla n e sp ot ted t h e m y es t erday . The p i l o t , Captain Ke n Morr i s , t o ld me there w ere b et w een twenty thousa n d a nd t h irty tho usa n d Ge r m an s oldi ers, without weap on s an d w it h ou t h el m e ts , flee- in g f r o m t he Ru ss i an s; evi d ently h opi ng t o s urren d er to t h e A mer ic a ns. As we c ros s ed the ulde, at Wurz en, on the eouth s i d e of that town, I sa w a huge encamp m ent. So, they apparen tly h a d gotten that far. As w e flew on to ards the Elbe, we p a ssed oYer sever a l Nazi airfields with dozens of plan e s dis - persed about them. But none took off to chase us; and as we flew on to where the Russians must have been right below us, we encountered neither German norRussian planes. e did see long lines of Russian wotor vehicles howev e r, with their telltale markings. But no special flares were fired. So we fired none of another color -- the way by hich we are supposed to recognize and salute each oth e r. Re-crossing over Bazi territory, and follow- ing the Elbe an d t hen the llulde north to where the two rivers join a t Dessa u, we saw fires every mile or so, •hich to us in dicated that the Russians had advanced to the middle o f t h e German-held corridor between the river s , or th a t the fires had been started by Rus s ian a tillery. And then from Des s au, we headed right up the Autobahn for Ber l in. Be f or e set t in out from the he ad q uart rs of the 67th R conn a is s ance Group we re fully briefed . All pl nes co ing in report on weather, fla p ock ets , enemy planes -- everything they see. So if you are tarting out you have the benefit of all this. As we flew over flak areas Colonel Iraft swung our Mustang fro• side to side. Which meant that e did a sort of aeri a l jazz dance throug h the sky, as we flew to Berlin -- dan cin 6 like that so e w ould ke the poorest possible target for the N az i anti-aircraft batterie s , wh'oh have been famous for their accuracy. The trip was a routine mission, the main purpose to check on the advancing Russians, locate German planes on airfields, and so on. The only part that wasn't routine was our going to Berlin. That ' was beyond the 67th's zone of operation. But the two fl7ing Colonels wanted to go as much as I did. The7 had never m a de it all the ,ay to Berlin. And they wanted to verify with their own eyes the reports coming in that the Russians, at last, were in Hitler's capital, blasting it to bits. They verifi ed this. And so did I. I lJd anothe r reason, an unimport a nt reason, for wanting to get to Berlin in these closing hours ot the European end of World ar Two. Y ea r s ag o, at the end of orld ar One, Twenty- seve n ebb Waldron - then with Collier's, now an editor of the Readers E ------ a e in the c ll adv n Fur h a from r adv, n c r h' ey h V p ro abi :. i y i h th ni i l of ricts o . f t d "o hoist. OU h onev ' ar1Dor i onl y eleven iles «='den . cco r din 6 t o the p i r a io, th e ha ve lre brok n •• ized uhlb · r on e i ' h· · e u i · n h d t&t e c Fi . rm c h s f om oc holm b into h s ubu b s . lbe l r , a n the V C r joined by his time . in r t t:, 1 s f o r· lO up L .A • " _...--- n e lin, . 1 h i n or r 0 n n o me er in ci i i n . no or ol 0 h ir h n or d an ar n h e on h co ul find, and seizin g an in u , icl di ict in he outh of Ber in, i h tbe po j :- a in no a m 0 p or r . Th f irPmen h v o n .. inc e en u any ffort to check th fla e . hr pa enge ho c ped o n the las plane to st , e ockholm por h y le f t behind ~ • t f comple ¥ c aos, 1 h mob huntin g do n memb r of · he G us tapo. , ss 1 F 0 T _...,,-~--__. _____ C mu or rlin , 0 u ar or 0 --n 0 h u u l by eorg on ' 0 in co pl ly 00 d the G m n . H ap ar n y iming fo C e nitz. B ha as a f int. sudden ~nt he 1 of effectin a hu ng junction i h i ns nd ii ■ ti• off ...ai. he en ir G m n a ricon 10 Cz cho lov ak i . The leveoth NaJr mor d di vie: ion of Pa on ' s rm 0 ed he Nall) iver a t 0 e n'i eve on ou the , by-pa in e ens ur an ppro ching th u i e na. Th V n h rm of G ne 1 1-' ch is 1 o 9riving 0 h a hun re 8. from Germ ans V i · n mile rant. he n V d U p . ln h OU The e r A a poc · t I a vanced·ten miles on n h l onl s enteen i e y ' ch h numbe of a t of Lak Con t a n e . II T e o r i o sin . v ar i , i hr t hey ar e ro ing th Germe n hoe of e in a pr lon ed s a n d in ir mu c h vaunt d re oub. n · i 1 , in h n rth junction between the . . Ninth an he u sin i a l o expected a any moment 1 a ha ha en d al d . - e is i g a e o f st tha the s •~~• • a n•• • corr on d ent ar hardly e o ke p .}I On th orth Sea front, Briti h forces are slam ing h rd at oh Bambur and Br men . ont omer ' ar ill a a « and llied bom er hav turned remen into a urnac . Evidently th e Germ a n ar r ared to see heir se ond 1 r e t port compl ely demoli hed rath r than urr . d r it. The bombin g i ite a lly non-stop , ni ht nd · y. Hu fire li h t u p h hori zo n . Briti h r ille r is h llin the Germ·n i s in he Elbe i er, hi1e ont om r , s 'nk c lo · rand closer 0 0 0 n. o ce c o i , 0 of e he f i C h r 0 i ce r . n n i hic h in ic e a i 0 zi n n i to liz it oom . I h 0 d o i one 0 p on C m J. ~ 1 i n ' n n o dr on n he r . 0 t e e mi he r ep t n 0 a nn o n e h e Gov ment of the Unit d ac e d the 0 e 1 ied plane n g op ed let all over n ing e n 0 ic i n C of i .. oner hat they i l l be he in i V i e fo an n tha h en to th p i on . . Th ning a t P · e ini e C urchil, a In r in r ne · rom t.he e D 0 t t od y a p r t n m of uburb of B rli hi h oul e u kno n 0 mo , 1 n 0 m 1 a V ntu e a ha d her in iI n T 1 nd 'T ir e n, e to n 0 oep nick. T 0 0 Th in 0 ~ ope ic m e C i u a ion of one s ect he G a h ct r · ih 0 0 th to ry crimin 1 ho in so e n er ob ine p os e on of the un i or m 0 capt 0 i n y. raye n ni 0 m, e ut ed 0 n th a of n . C n oon 0 0 1 e oep t le a n o n- o mi i o ic ve h c · o ary lu i i h oo e t o 1 on 'Ve en • T e on y ca a·n h lt he la.toon, th or er, bout rn, n marched he o n 0 h city T e e h 0 r m l n f I C th min ide _ _Jf~ - 1-- - , h . ic 0 t h c i ty i n 0 0 ur e r , an in h n e o f Bis I m e i ,, 1 a j e ·, t ai r , r b b d eve y ce n t th a t , a in t , e c it tr e s u ry . N it h e he no n ~c o m mis s ioned offi c r n r th e p riv a te ev thou h o "' ue t ionr the order of h ma n in t he c t a i ' u ni o r . Having ac q u · red po s s ion o he m oney , h aP. n th e ■ iii& ■ % 1•ri s o l d i b a ck t o b a rr ac , an he n l k c d o f hi mse lf. I 'v a l · y s h ad a sne k in fe ling th a t the C ap t i n o f o e p e ni c k d serve d o e sc p e. B ut unf o rt un 1 h e did no . The po]A..t.zei c u g ht u p ·th him, recove ed m o st of he oepeni c k c i y tre ure, and deposite h e a d venturous la d i n h at e call over here the Bi g B ous e . Th n from tbe Ita ian front ton igh gives the :1m- pr sion th the A lli e d Fif hand Eighth Arm.1 s hav broken th Ger d m . Afte t apture of Bologn, th ifth advanced rom t nty to th1rt -five mil P north d northwe t. Thy r no .u 1n f st to ard the Po Riv r, w 1 t G rmans are f lling k u on the big 1ndustriel citie 1 northern Ital In east, the British Eighth Army 1 advancing o errara, and early this afternoon was not much mor than mil ay. L Th r is a stor curr nt in as ingtou bda y that th n xt cr et ar o f L & bo my Edwar d F. Gr dy, ho held th Job of As s i stant Secr e t a r und r M da P e rkin for four ar . A promi ent v eran in th Am e ri an F deration of L or, cGrady at r sent 1s 1n c r o l a bor lation for th dio C arporation of erica , and on t side giv s his r ic s as special L a or Cons ultant tot Sert ry of ar . H a once President of th P r sm n's Onion. Pr si dent Truman is beli ved to b consid ring him a uc c ssor to M a dam Perkins. Y h tb er th t 1s true or no, storie cc ate in the ca p i al that the Madam ill b t e first of the Roos velt C binet m mber to be r lac d. A . miral m z P 0 ' ~ r p n rr ier b se of '"' P c ic flee e e e n b ri - J pan e po ·.ii 0 Ok 'n fo f i e 0 cl im~ t ~ Jap nee sui i e pl n s 1 fli e e vy los es on acific Flee . imi z m i ome am r. e n s n . one s 11 e 1 . 0 r n . . e i 0 e e ! Q on u "I ;l n • ty ix mo e 0 t ir pl ne . Our e - Ar m ( i~ 0 on Oki n a are u p ain t e I 0 he '\ e e ce 1n e cifi JJ' eri n ,. r e l efini 1 e n lo e e y n k rec pt u e over e ·ee en en ne e 0 s 1 · . p . ou e O U lines in d r k ne s of "I u ni T e en t l T n -S even an in ' -Si + . , ' Division f cin g six , 0 U~ :) J e R e i l l 0 . o o ps . Ge e 'l C u r or , 0 i i inf n r· o e cut fo ces in t o, c ptu e an impor n ro jun~ i nd are mell on t e a to VO , p rinci of e is l and . n t. e e , n I" :J.f' .. ' e e l n l o-" .,.. resi en of 0.LU i i _r i . l , i PO i e 0 A . i e UC' 9 . .l 1 .., ..,e Q_ ei \.. ee r e f o ur of' ... vice a re!" i e 0 olu i e .t' oue ' .. 1· in p 0 in e fie 1 , of e UC"l .. ion . al 0 n OU s an in fi ~ ure i i X rb een n i or C e ... i en 0 e n p ates in ine ee . i en an nd i e fo f e Pre 1 enti 1 Nomination in ineteen T en n vil of pro i 1 i n - ic ol ~ ur u 1 e 0 1 coll · e Pre C?n •. 0 oppo e ii< n e o u n i . 0 i ~o e ea c o n e 0 0 e .el . f. o _ Uni ~ion e ~ lr re wor:in· or i . e en 0 e i n ut u 0 ou r i ~ eni g t e Forei l s•e 0 i e u i e a es e r i l n Rus l e e il in in on. T re . il r in 0 r C n agreement ut Pol n d . 0 in , on nd an Fr nci co re rife i OU on 'l n :, u 6 e OU , t e iscu sion among . e i T . ee. tetti i Anthon E d en an lt olo o ar ex c . e d o San Fr nci co tomorrow ni g t. bulle inc me in 0 than an our 0 t t e Foreign ini Big hree d been una le 0 g ree. T e t e ir l cussions for t e im ein g n T. V. oon g , t e Forei n ini e of ta in in Soong t e Big T .. ree bec'lme et bout d.r ftin pl n fo bhe 11 nc i e in in on le s e s of t e ro e of C 11 cl in n . ! •• ig our n ' n pr, C - ---- · - proc u e o n r nci co Conferen e. T OU a.nnou ce discussion of e o is ouestion i l l . !'eaureeo t t e Golde G e . T 1ill 1 e olo ov i e to ge fres ins ructions from h~ _•r••?•••••a t e .re li n. .... Be e is the story of c · ti t ho be l ieves that on e of the ap Teaching menaces to civilization ia ' too u ch lei ure. r. Lucas Kyrides of the staff of a lar e ch mical cop ny s a ys that many peep e ho need the at en ion of psychia rists t that way becau e they u th ir leisure time un isely. Too many people talk of retirin at an e a rly a g e, littler alizin that only a healthy mind and a sound body c n preserve us from bo edom. Id eness, he point . a out, is ood for chickens and many other animals, be c a us~ it improves the flavor of thei meat. The same proc e ss applied to man brin s about fat y degen eration of both mind and body. In other words, a good dose of hard work is a human necessity. 0 we'll hear from a man ho does plenty of a d ork , Hugh James cps obi g with a 1 message from S11aaoe 1 ,., COAL --- o ni g ht i t loo k s a s t ho ug h ou r or r i e over oal i gh t be over f o r the ti me be i ng t any rate. T h e a La or Bo ar ha a pp roved the ontract, which will i ncre a . e the pay of the orkers · bout a dollar an d thi ty ce nt s a day. Before E c onomic S tabilizer William H. Davis final can ~ake a decision, he will have to have a report . ':« fro m O.P.A., estimating how m~ch the increase in wages will boost the price of coal. 1 h C n e si n a l ed 1 o 0 h 0 conferr d on an sp pe n for h i r in bi o h t e s ap e r an i ' 0 c u se , h at le . h e dal ill be •iua.aaiJxx posthum ou sly. Bill s h ve been introduced in oh he H o us an the Bena e to t hi end. epublic a n I ,z••••t•s Repre F entative R ay mond Spri n er of Indiana is ou of th pons ors for th bill in the low e r House. Hee id today that Pyle left a~ indelible impression on th h a rts of the Ameican people, and th a t is one statement by a Con ressman which nobody will dispute.