-2- #523, December  8, 8 p.m. (SECTION FOUR)  f rom  Moscow
 
This battlefield formed  a superb and ghastly picture of the horrors of war.
 
     Russian officers told us that the Rumanian horses had been so weakened by water and 
 
food shortage that they could hardly run. About 8000 Rumanian horses were reported captured. 
 
We saw several herds being taken to the rear.
 
     Although the Russians usually refer in their news releases and in conversation to the 
 
enemy in this area as being German, the commanding officers pointed out that they had chosen 
 
this sector for their offensive because it was held by Rumanian troops.
 
     We were also told that both the Italian and Rumanian troops in Russia showed  a lack of 
 
ardor for the cause for which they were supposed to fight and usually surrendered whenever 
 
opportunity presented itself.
 
     Details of the number killed, the number of prisoners taken and equipment captured have 
 
all been published by the Russians.  The Red Army is at present being led largely by officers 
 
whose military capacity has been developed in the present war.