scouting, etc.) which ends up at the river bank where the 
boys can swim. We'll spend most of the day out there, 
have a lecture right there on the river bank, and march 
back in the cool of evening. Our field kitchen will be sent 
in advance to prepare a good meal right on the river bank, 
which gives the cook staff practice at that sort of thing, 
and the boys will have both a good workout and a good 
time.

All this, my sweet, is part of political work in the bat-
talion. It was the political department which raised this 
question sharply in the battalion military staff, but the 
singular joy of working in this battalion is that the staff 
agreed completely on the whole question. Indeed, frank-
ness necessitates my saying that, hard though I work, the 
best political work in the battalion is still done by Bob 
Merriman, even though he is in a military position. He has 
a political approach to every military question and it is 
that, together with the fact that as a human being he is a 
swell guy, which makes the working relationship with him 
so pleasant. I have learned plenty about political as well 
as military work from him, and am continuing to do so. 

Marion promises to do everything possible for you if 
and when she sees you. I assume that you got my last letter 
in which I said that the answer finally is "yes" and enclosed 
a note to Jack. I am overjoyed, even though I did not go 
into details about that in the last letter, and I can't wait 
to hear your plans. Bill was also swell and said that he will 
do anything he can to help.

Ralph Bates was here this week and made one of the 
finest speeches I have ever heard to the battalion---
on the development of the Spanish People's Army from its begin-
ning to now. It was packed with facts, many of which were 
new (in their details) to me, and was so high-powered that 
many of the guys had tears in their eyes when he recounted

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