page 126 — October 1941

from Daddy and Soviet War Newses [a newspaper-format weekly issued by the Soviet embassy in London]. zfl znw zpg

Friday 10^th

News rather depressing—[Germans] 120 miles to Moscow, decision a matter of weeks or months. I get nasty feelings in my stomach when I think of it. I wish I could help somehow, and I wish England could do something useful. … zru zem zpn

Tuesday 14^th

Russians have evacuated Vyazma—130 miles west of Moscow; advance slowed up. Awful fighting. Both sides exhausted and shoving in reserves. … zru zlb zwc

Thursday 16^th

Position round Moscow deteriorated. … Nothing interesting as usual, apart from the news. zru zlb

Friday 17^th

… News as usual depressing. Rumours of Odessa falling, and fighting on Moscow’s outer defences. I am going to write about 20 sides ahead what the date today is and what I think is going to have happened by then [see 15^th Dec.]. zru zlb zdw zem

Sunday 19^th

… Fierce fighting, Germans held round Moscow. zru

Made a [£5] bet with Smith i (MG) [that there would be no more wars in our lifetime] see inside last cover [31^st Dec.]. zfr zwg

[See note]

Wednesday 22^nd

… Max jaw in evening—he says I’m getting better as I get less shy, and that I must adopt more humble attitudes in periods. ztc zsd zmb