have collapsed under fire are cared for. The treatment is to put them   
under complete narcosis for 2 to 3 days . After a week 80% are cured and   
return to the front. They never know what happened to them and there is   
seldom a recurrence. Near Portofino, now a large evacuation hospital  
about lO00 beds, 40 surgeons, and internes all of whom operate in   
emergencies. This unit has handled 50,000 cases since it came overseas,   
has been bombed and strafed-only one case has lost both eyes. I visited   
the Port, taken from the enemy 8 days before. So skilled are our Army   
Engineers, that on the 8th day, they had improvised shipping and unloading   
facilities that 7000 tons of munitions and supplies were taken ashore and   
delivered to the dumps preparatory to the attack on Leghorn (which as   
I write is in 5th Army hands today). The steel works at Piombino was   
completely blasted by our bombers and artillery though the Village at one   
side was hardly damaged. I have seen many skillful engineering operations   
in the past but Piombino compared with the best - especially as no   
blue prints of such an operation is possible in advance and all  
is improvised on the spot. Forward planning however makes available the   
heavy equipment at the right moment without which nothing substsantial   
                       could be done.                       
 
                                                            
 
 
I have met Prince Doria on several occasions (He is  
now Mayor of Rome). He never knuckled down to Hitler or Mussolini, was   
arrested and imprisoned more than three years ago. He asked no quarter. He   
resembles Dante, is very silent and like martyrs does not need to say very   
                        much anyway.                        
 
                                                            
 
 
 I have Just left His Holiness the Pope after a fourth audience,   
one each week since arriving here. We discussed again the four major   
                         questions:                         
 
                       I. Communism.                        
 
              II. Religious freedom in Russia.              
 
III. Surrender of the German Army. Consequent disarmament, i.e., as   
              recounted in my previous letter.              
 
              IV. International organization.               
 
                                                            
 
 
I believe these continued discussions are helpful to  
the Pope. His interest seems unabsted. I have not let him grasp our whole   
program for Germany or world organization but have led him along our   
           avenues of considering these matters.            
 
                          I called