The following is a message from Churchill to Roosevelt about the bombing by the Americans of the prisoner of war train on the bridge. It was kept top secret as it contained a transcription of a German message which had been intercepted and deciphered by the use of Enigma. It was eventually declassified by President Clinton in 1996 although even then it was simply indexed as “NR 4639 ZEMA39 16699A 19440214 GENERAL GEORGE C MARSHALL MEMO FOR PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT” (http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/declass/entries.shtml)
TEXT OF SPECIAL ULTRA MESSAGE
From London, 14 February 1944
Following for O’Connor (British Major officer in Washington)
From Bragadier Menzies (British Major officer in London)
Following from ULTRA : -
According to C. in C. South West (German Commander Rome area) about thirty North American bombers attacked train carrying prisoners of war between eleven and twelve hours on the 28th January when crossing the Paglia Bridge ten kilometres North West of Orvieto. Entire train on bridge when first bombs, including heaviest calibre, dropped on it. Sixteen trucks containing prisoners completely destroyed. Half of these fell into the river bed and other half burnt or shattered on the bridge. About five hundred prisoners, mainly English, killed. Salvage and rescue hampered or even prevented by considerable number of delayed action bombs, so that some of the severely wounded, who would otherwise have been saved, also died.
Prime Minister has directed that his information should be given to President with assurance that no feeling of complaint whatsoever is implied.
Delivery to President should be through George Bissell (Has not seen this message) and General Marshall and information should not (repeat not) be made available to any other person.
Assure General Bissell that knowledge here has been confined to Directors of Intelligence, Chiefs of Staff and Prime Minister and will not (repeat not) be passed down to lower levels. T.O.O.140855A/2/44
MEMO FOR THE PRESIDENT
The reason the British authorities are so insistent that no eyes than yours mine and Bissell’s (G-2) see this as a leak would point directly to British control of German Code.
(George) C.Marshall
TEXT OF SPECIAL ULTRA MESSAGE
From London, 14 February 1944
Following for O’Connor (British Major officer in Washington)
From Bragadier Menzies (British Major officer in London)
Following from ULTRA : -
According to C. in C. South West (German Commander Rome area) about thirty North American bombers attacked train carrying prisoners of war between eleven and twelve hours on the 28th January when crossing the Paglia Bridge ten kilometres North West of Orvieto. Entire train on bridge when first bombs, including heaviest calibre, dropped on it. Sixteen trucks containing prisoners completely destroyed. Half of these fell into the river bed and other half burnt or shattered on the bridge. About five hundred prisoners, mainly English, killed. Salvage and rescue hampered or even prevented by considerable number of delayed action bombs, so that some of the severely wounded, who would otherwise have been saved, also died.
Prime Minister has directed that his information should be given to President with assurance that no feeling of complaint whatsoever is implied.
Delivery to President should be through George Bissell (Has not seen this message) and General Marshall and information should not (repeat not) be made available to any other person.
Assure General Bissell that knowledge here has been confined to Directors of Intelligence, Chiefs of Staff and Prime Minister and will not (repeat not) be passed down to lower levels. T.O.O.140855A/2/44
MEMO FOR THE PRESIDENT
The reason the British authorities are so insistent that no eyes than yours mine and Bissell’s (G-2) see this as a leak would point directly to British control of German Code.
(George) C.Marshall