NEW YORK, Aug. 7 - Another "first" was added to the record of USO camp shows when one of its overseas units made the first visit of American entertainers to forces of Tito's Yugoslav Partisans in southern Italy. Jean Darling, who was a member of this camp shows unit, has recently returned to the United States. Her fellow performers - John Garfield, Sheila Rogers, Olya Klem and Eddie Foy Jr. - returned earlier in the year.
Miss Darling reports that the Yugoslavs, in British battle dress with red stars on their caps, were overjoyed to see them. The Americans were welcomed with a chorus of Partisan songs, and the reception accorded them was something like an ovation. Despite the fact that neither the Americans nor the Partisans understood one another's words, both understood the strong feeling of genuine friendship and sincere admiration that was exchanged during the course of the evening.
The camp shows unit went through its regular routine with little variation, and the Yugoslavs' applause was just as enthusiastic as if it had been given in their own language. Miss Darling, formerly "Baby Jean" of the old "Our Gang" films, appeared in evening dress and sang a number of popular American songs. The audience clapped, cheered and stamped their feet just like an American audience.
For most of Tito's soldiers, it was the first time they had ever seen American girls. It was later learned that the men thought our women "very beautiful and talented."
Show Was Success
The camp show was a great success, not alone for the amusement offered, but for the friendliness that went with it. Following the American entertainment, the Partisans put on an unrehearsed show for the pleasure of the Americans. It, too, was a terrific hit.
On the walls were sketches of Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin and Tito. There were also Allied flags and English and Slavic slogans. Against this background Tito's men and women fighters lifted their voices in a mighty volume of song and broke into a demonstration of their own folk dances. Jean Darling and her fellow troupers thrilled to the undercurrent feeling that ran through all the music and dancing. It expressed sorrow, patience, determination, and, above all, a tremendous vitality, unmistakable and undefeated.
The dinner served to the Americans was not elaborate, but the generosity in which it was offered made it seem a banquet. The Partisans had not much to give, but what they had was given freely. They wanted to give - something.
Before she left, Miss Darling was presented with a complete battle dress as a remembrance of the occasion. It was a wonderful, inspiring experience that could not easily be forgotten.