"Then the bottom line would seem to be that you don't think Fertig's guerrilla operation is worth much?"
"Think about it," Willoughby said. "There are a number of field-grade officers, professional soldiers, on Bataan, Mindanao, and other islands... professional Naval officers, too, and I daresay some professional Marine officers, as well... who have so far escaped capture by the Japanese. Don't you think it's odd we haven't heard from any of them? From any one of them?"
"Yes," Pickering said. "It is odd."
"They would have the military training and experience to set up guerrilla operations, not to mention the contacts among the Filipino
Scouts, et cetera, et cetera. Don't you think they would have acted along those lines if there was any possibility, any possibility at all, to do so?"
"I can see your point," Pickering said.
"God knows I admire this man Fertig," Willoughby said. "But right now, I just feel sorry for him. I hope he manages to stay out of Japanese hands."
"General, I won't take any more of your time."
"Nonsense, Pickering. My door is always open to you, you know that."
[THREE]
Cryptographic Center
Supreme Headquarters
South West Pacific Ocean Area
Brisbane, Australia
1725 Hours 2 November 1942
As he turned to bolt the steel door behind him, Brigadier General Fleming Pickering offered a greeting to Major Hong Son Do, Signal Corps, Army of the United States. "Still here, Pluto?" he asked.
"Sir?" Pluto asked, surprised at the question.
"It's almost five-thirty. I thought you'd almost certainly be over at the Field Grade Officer's Mess with the other brass hats, sucking on a martini and figuring out clever ways to annoy the lieutenants."
"I feel like a whore in church in there," Pluto said. "I've been doing my eating and drinking with Moore and Hart in the Navy's Junior Officer's Mess."
Pickering laughed. "Anything interesting come in?"
"Koffler doesn't have the clap, or tuberculosis, or syphilis."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Is there some reason you felt that you had to tell me?"
"You can't have any of the three and get married here. Everything is fixed. They're getting married next week."
"You didn't mention our other two lovesick warriors."
"They're not getting married. Barbara Cotter was smart enough to ask some discreet questions. The minute they get married, the nurses would get shipped home."
"You're kidding! This doesn't affect Koffler and the Farnsworth girl?"
"Daphne Farnsworth is what SWPOA insists on calling 'an indigenous female.' Indigenous females don't count. And anyway, she's an Australian, she's already home."
"Anything I can do?"
"I don't think so, Boss. And when I asked Howard if I should come to you, he said he didn't want special treatment."
"Maybe there's a reason for it."
"Well, anyway, when you see two nurses weeping loudly at Koffler's wedding, you'll know why. Aside from that, nothing special. I think the Japanese are licking their wounds. Is there something I can do for you, General?"
"Let me at the typewriter," Pickering said. "It's time for me to tell Washington how to run the war... yet again."
Pluto stood up.
"And afterward, you and I will go have a drink, or three, at the Navy Mess. I need one."
=TOP SECRET=
Eyes Only The Secretary of the Navy
DUPLICATION FORBIDDEN
ORIGINAL TO BE DESTROYED AFTER ENCRYPTION AND TRANSMITTAL TO SECNAV
Brisbane, Australia
Monday 2 November 1942
Dear Frank:
I think I have gotten to the bottom of why El Supremo shows no interest at all in this fellow Fertig in the Philippines. I'm not going to waste your time telling you about it, but it's nonsense. Admiral Leahy is right, there is potential there, and I think Rickabee's people should be involved from the start.
If he encounters trouble doing what I think he has to do, I'm going to tell Rickabee to come to you. I suspect he will encounter the same kind of parochial nonsense among the professional warriors in Washington that I have encountered here.
I have been butting my head-vis-a-vis Donovan's people-against the Palace wall so often and so long that it's bloody; and I'm getting nowhere. Is there any chance I can stop? It would take a direct order from Roosevelt to make him change his mind. And then he and his people will drag their feet, at which, you may have noticed, they're very good.
More soon.
Best regards,
Fleming Pickering, Brigadier General, USMCR
=TOP SECRET=
=TOP SECRET=
Eyes Only Captain David Haughton, USN
Office of the Secretary of the Navy
DUPLICATION FORBIDDEN
ORIGINAL TO BE DESTROYED AFTER ENCRYPTION AND
TRANSMITTAL TO SECNAV
FOR COLONEL F. L. RICKABEE
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
Brisbane, Australia
Monday 2 November 1942
Dear Fritz:
Don't tell him yet, or even Banning, but I want you to try to find a suitable replacement for McCoy for the Mongolian Operation.
And put him and Banning to work finding out about Guerrilla operations. I believe that this Wendell Fertig in the Philippines is probably going to turn out to be more useful than anybody in the Palace here is willing to even consider. I suspect that the same attitude vis-a-vis unconventional warriors and the competence of reserve officers is prevalent in Washington.
This idea has Leahy's backing, so if you encounter any trouble, feel free to go to Frank Knox.
If you can do it without making any waves, please (a) see if you can find out where my son is being assigned after the war bond tour and (b) tell me if telling his mother would really endanger the entire war effort. She went to see Jack NMI Stecker's boy at the hospital in Pearl and is in pretty bad shape.
Koffler is getting married next week, for a little good news. I decided I had the authority to make him a staff sergeant and have done so.