A Bridge Too Far Page #5

Believe me.

There.

Splendid view of the Dutch countryside.

Can't see any tanks.

Wait a moment, sir.

It's a lot clearer in the next picture.

If I can just...

Now.

- Next.

- Yes, sir.

I've had this one enlarged.

I shouldn't worry about them.

But, sir, you see

that they are tanks.

I doubt if they're

fully serviceable.

- Still got guns.

- So have we.

But, sir...

if they weren't serviceable,

why would they try to conceal them?

Normal routine, Fuller.

But, sir, we keep getting reports

from the Dutch Underground.

I've read them!

And so has Field Marshal Montgomery.

Now look here.

There have been thousands of photographs

from this sortie and from the others.

- How many of them have shown tanks?

- Just these, sir.

And you seriously consider

asking us to cancel...

the biggest operation

mounted since D-Day...

because of three photographs?

No, sir.

Sixteen consecutive drops have been

cancelled in the last few months...

for one reason or another.

But this time

the party's on...

and no one is going

to call it off.

Is that fully understood?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Waddy.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Do sit down, gentlemen.

Please sit down.

Look after these.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Gentlemen, this is a story

that you will tell your grandchildren...

and mightily bored they'll be.

The plan is called

Operation Market Garden.

Market is the airborne element,

and Garden the ground forces...

That's us.

Now this is our position

on the Belgian border here.

Tomorrow, three airborne divisions

will begin landing in Holland...

thirty-five thousand men

taking off from 24 airfields...

in troop-carrying planes

or towed in gliders.

The American 101st here...

around Eindhoven...

the American 82nd here...

south of Nijmegen...

and our own 1st Airborne boys

and a Polish brigade...

here at Arnhem...

sixty-four miles...

behind enemy lines.

Now, their job

is to take and hold...

all the bridges

in these three areas.

Our job is to punch a hole...

through the German

front line here...

and then drive like hell

up this road...

linking up with each

airborne division on the way up.

Speed is the vital factor.

The plan is to reach Eindhoven

in two to three hours...

and Arnhem in two to three days.

That, gentlemen,

is the prize:

the bridge over the Rhine...

the last bridge

between us and Germany.

Kickoff will be at 1435 hours

tomorrow afternoon.

The Irish Guards, under the command of

Colonel Vandeleur, will take the lead.

- Christ, not us again.

- What do you say to that, Joe?

Delighted, sir.

Truly delighted.

I've selected you to lead us...

not only because of your

extraordinary fighting ability...

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