Spitsbergen Party

The gayest invasion of World War II was Britain's raid on Spitsbergen (TIME, Sept. 15). News which Britain let out last week established that fact and by implication a good deal more about the invasion which was undertaken to thwart German plans to seize valuable mines.

At Spitsbergen the British blew up the coal mines, fired the coal piles, destroyed the coal-loading machinery, burned the oil supplies, killed all the cattle. They also removed the entire civilian population, including the Russians who mined 500,000 tons of coal annually for the Soviet Arctic Fleet, and outnumbered Norwegians in Spitsbergen two-to-one.

Any Britons who were left on the island were evidently only a small observation party to await the coming of the Nazi invasion. For the British were clearly surprised that the Nazis had not already got there ahead of them.

Instead of Boches to greet the Canadians there had been a crowd of bright-faced, happy Russians. Describing the scene on his return to London, 28-year-old Major W. S. Murdoch painted a cheery picture. "Crowds of people rushed towards us along the streets leading from the beach --men, women and children all talking and laughing at once, dogs leaping and barking around them. . . . The locals, madly excited (I always thought the Russians were a stolid race) and continuously laughing, were pressing gifts of chocolates and cigarets on our men."

While experts surveyed the landscape for destruction, Russian men and women formed a long line, cheerfully helped Canadian soldiers unload equipment and ammunition. Later the Russians opened their communal food center to the Canadians. Enthusiastic Major Murdoch reported: "We tasted such delicacies as borsch and cranberry pie for the first time, and were regaled on steaks hung till they were so tender they could have been eaten with a spoon."

Only flaw: There was not a drop of liquor to be had.

As coal dumps were fired and mines wrecked, the Russians made merry. They did not seem to mind leaving their homes. They looked on the whole episode as a "jolly break" in their monotonous lives, a prelude to more fun after they had left.

At night, as the sky glowed red with fire, the Russians gave a monster party near the jetty. Singing Russian songs, dancing to the music of balalaikas and accordions, Canadians, Norwegians and Russians fraternized. As the dim white midnight brightened into dim white dawn, the Russians picked up their belongings and went aboard the ship allotted to them. The British and Norwegians boarded their vessel. Slowly they steamed down the fjord and out to sea.

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