Proceed to Peshawar. George J. Hill
Zimmermann and his wife Corinne “Teeny” (Chubb) Zimmermann; and Dr. Albert W. Zimmermann Jr. and his wife Lenore Marie (Lisbinski) Zimmermann.
Friends of Al and Barbara Zimmermann contributed much to this story: Mrs. Amelie (Sexias) Kane, widow of Commander (selected) Jack Kane; and her daughter, Sheila Kane; Jack Thayer’s daughter “Dodie” Thayer; First Lieutenant Clarence Lewis, USMC, OSS; Lieutenant Lewis’ wife Mrs. Georgiana “Sam” (Wetherill) Lewis; their daughter Susan Lewis Lillien; and Anne and Crosby Lincoln, daughters of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Freeman Lincoln, USAR, OSS, and his wife Virginia “Ginny” Lincoln.
I am grateful to the Enders family and their friends: Dr. Gertrude “Trudy” (Enders) Huntington, and Dr. Allen Coffin Enders. I thank David M. Hovde, Purdue University, and Sarah Uschak, Office of Alumni Relations, The College of Wooster, for their help in locating records of Gordon Enders; Maynard Creel, who shared his memories of Gordon Enders; the descendants of Cornelius and Sara Engert: his son, Roderick K. Engert and his granddaughter, Jane Morrison Engert; and Colonel “Tony” Streather, who served in Pakistan in 1950 and recalled his experiences there.
Thanks to the staff of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library; Amanda A. Hegge of the Patrick J. Hurley Collection, Oklahoma University Library; staff members of the New York Public Library; Georgetown University Special Collections; and Nate Patch and Paul Brown, Military Archive Section, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA II).
And most of all, I thank my wife, Helene “Lanie” Zimmermann Hill, Ph.D., who was so patient and helpful during the writing of this book.
The trip began simply enough, but many details can be teased out of the letter asking for a U.S. Naval intelligence officer to go on the trip, and from his orders. These two documents are the earliest that mention the trip:
EXPRESS—SECRET & PERSONAL—NO. 9732
INTELLIGENCE BUREAU
QUETTA
26TH OCT., 1943
Dear John,
I have just heard from Major Sir Benjamin Bromhead of the N.W.F.P. Public Relations Bureau that with the blessing of the Governor N.W.F.P. he is taking Major Enders, U.S. Military Attaché, Kabul, on a personally conducted tour of the Frontier and Baluchistan from Chitral to Quetta with the idea of making it clear to the American Legation in Kabul what are our frontier problems and our ideas and policy in dealing with them and the Afghans.
I promptly asked him whether he could also take one of the American officers from the U.S. Naval Liaison Office if they would like to send one. He replied in the affirmative subject to the Governor’s sanction which he said he thought would certainly be forthcoming.
Would you put the offer to Smith and ask him to telegraph me a reply so as to reach me by 1st November, just saying whether they would like to send an officer and if so whom.
Bromhead’s dates are:
10.XI.43 leave Peshawar for the Kurram (Parachinar)
15.XI.43 return Peshawar.
18.XI.43 leave for Chitral.
25.XI.43 return Peshawar.
29.XI.43 leave for Waziristan.
10.XII.43 finish tour in Quetta or Peshawar.
As you can see, it means a month away from H.Qs.
I don’t know if Smith would be interested in this somewhat unique opportunity of getting a first-class background for his own office and Naval H.Qs. at Washington to use in connection with any reports emanating from U.S. sources in Kabul or Delhi, or whether he could spare an officer for so long. You will readily appreciate the necessity for carefully picking the officer so that he does not get hold of the wrong end of the stick or miss important points.
How Smith would explain to Enders and Engert the presence of this officer would be Smith’s headache and not ours!
If Smith’s wire contains an affirmative reply I will wire Bromhead in Peshawar to get H.E.’s sanction and convey same direct to Smith, including instructions regarding date and place where the officer should report. After wiring Bromhead as above I fade out of the picture and negotiations between Smith and Bromhead are then direct.
Smith will realize that the weather will be bitterly cold with the possibility of snow in Waziristan and Chitral, so warm clothes are essential.
Bromhead’s address in Peshawar is:
Major Benjamin Bromhead, OBE, IA,
Deputy Public Relations Officer,
Frontier Tribes, PESHAWAR. (N.W.F.P.)
Will you please convey this message to Smith?
Yours sincerely,
/s/
J. R. Harris, Esq., I.P.
Central Intelligence Officer, Karachi.
Copy to Major Sir Benjamin Bromhead, OBE, IA, in continuation of our conversation of yesterday’s date.
The designation and address of the American Naval Liaison
Office in Karachi is:—
United States Naval Liaison Office
254 Ingle Road, KARACHI, and the telegraphic address is ALUSLO,
Karachi. The Commanding Officer is Lt. Com-mander F. Howard
Smith, U.S.N.
As will be seen, the trip was a dream of one of the travelers for a long time. How that came to fruition will become apparent in due time. We next see the document that sends AZ on the trip. The time between the message to Harris on 26 October 1943 and the issuance of the orders on 8 November was but two weeks. It is clear that AZ got the nod—he was the man who could be trusted not to get hold of the wrong end of the stick.
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL LIAISON OFFICE
KARACHI, INDIA
CABLE ADDRESS—205065—8 NOVEMBER 1943
“ALUSLO”
EN3–11(KA)P16–4/00/A-1/JAH
SERIAL 558
| From: | The United States Naval Liaison Officer, Karachi |
| To: | Lieutenant Albert W. Zimmermann, I-V(S), USNR. |
| Subject: | ORDERS, Temporary Additional Duty |
| Reference: | (a) SecNav letter to all Ships and Stations dated April 30, 1943. |
1. Upon receipt of these orders and when directed by proper authority, on or about 11 November 1943, you will proceed via transportation furnished by the United States Army, to Peshawar, North West Frontier Province, India, and such other places as may be deemed necessary for the proper performance of the duties assigned you. Upon completion of this temporary duty you will return to this office and resume your regular duties.
2. Transportation to Peshawar, North West Frontier Province, India, is to be furnished by the United States Army and you are authorized to defray any additional travel, including transportation by military or commercial aircraft, subject to reimbursement by the government.
3. Per diem allowances while traveling in obedience to these orders is authorized in accordance with reference (a).
Francis H. Smith
FRANCIS H. SMITH