DLA
This telegram must be closely paraphrased before being communicated to any one. (SC)
 
Moscow
 
Dated December 8, 1942
 
Rec'd 11:18 a.m. 9th
 
Secretary of State,
 
Washington.
 
TRIPLE PRIORITY
 
523, December 8, 8 p.m. (SECTION FOUR)
 
     One of the battles reviewed was that fought in the vicinity of Verkhnye-Buzinovka.
 
In this battle Russian tanks, the Russian 51st Guard Division and Russian cavalry participated.
 
The Rumanian forces in this area were constituted almost entirely of cavalry and horse-drawn
 
 artillery.  From the best information we could obtain the Russian cavalry outnumbered the 
 
Rumanian.  The Russian cavalry was better mounted, better armed, better equipped and in every
 
way superior to the Rumanian.
 
     Literally thousands of horses were left dead on this field.  Interspersed among the
 
carcasses of the horses were the bodies of dead Rumanian soldiers.  The field had been swept by
 
artillery; first cold rain, then snow, then bitter freezing weather. The frozen remains of the horses 
 
and Rumanian soldiers in grotesque postures made a weird and hideous impression.