LONDON LETTER “OPERATION CROWNING” TIMED TO THE SECOND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27036, 11 May 1953, Page 8

LONDON LETTER “OPERATION CROWNING” TIMED TO THE SECOND

[From K. W. McCOOK, London Correspondent of "The PrWJ

London, May 1.— Lining the route for the Coronation, procession is a fullscale military operation involving the deployment of some 15,000 troops; ana the commander of Coronation troops, Field-Marshal Viscount AtanbrooKe, has approached his task in the manner of a field commander preparing a battle order for a big offensive. Today a 30-page books of ordens, instructions, and maps was issued to all unit commanders taking part in the Coronation Day manoeuvre. The long route has been divided into areas, sectors, and blocks, which will be marked on the roadway, and meticulous instructions have been given so that troops of the three services will be lining the streets at a distance of exactly one pace from the kerb and one and a half paces or 45 inches apart. After commanders’ watches, have been synchronised on the 8.8.C.s time signals, troops will march from their quarters at the rate of 112 paces to the minute to take up their positions by 8.30 a.m. and 16.30 a.m. Only, if it rains will they be wearing oilskins or mackintoshes and these will be taken off when the procession passes, even if it is pouring. ... The orders cover every eventuality that the operational planners can foresee. There are precise instructions as to dress, rationing, soldiers fainting, paying compliments, and the staffing of medical aid posts and reserve squads. Although they point out that it is the job of the police to control civilian crowds, the military planners state that all ranks are responsible for keeping the Royal route clear of people. If cordons are broken by the great crowds lining the route, the soldiers must help constables to close any breaches. The military, however, are excused the task of chasing people who break through on to the roadway. “Persons will not be pursued by troops.” „ , ~ At the precise moment that the Archbishop of Canterbury places the crown on the Queen’s head at about 12.30 p.m., the army fire orders will swing into operation. From an ,0.1 ■ (observation post) in Westminster Abbey, a signals officer will rap out the word “Fire” over telephone and wireless circuits. A split second later, millions of people will hear the crashing sound of the first salvoes of a 41gun Royal salute from Hyde Park, a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London, and a 41-gun salute from Windsor Great Park. “Z hour,” as the Army has described the climax of the Coronation service, will be checked off with military exactness, the gunners receiving “minus five-four-three-two-one” counts as the moment of crowning approaches. With every device, of modern communications brought into play, the military side of the Coronation promises to be a miracle of precision on a great day. The Victory In Danger One ship that the Royal Navy has no intention of giving up or sending to the shipbreakers is Nelson’s flagship, H.M.S. Victory. In her berth at Portsmouth naval yard, the famous ship of the line is kept in perfect condition, and she is given a thorough overhaul by her maintenance crew every few months. * Recently, however, the carpenters, painters, and shipwrights have discovered a new menace threatening the historic ship. The feared deathwatch beetle has insidiously bored its way into the oaken hull and is causing increasing damage that must be halted if the ship is to be saved. The Admiralty has sept a research team of scientists to Portsmouth to examine the hull thoroughly. One of the experts, a London radiologist, has suggested an X-ray method of attacking the beetle, and after further research has been carried out the Navy will take action to “repel boarders.”

Sale of Stamps Post Office executives in Britain who have been examining expert studies on the time it takes counter attendants to serve customers are worried by the valuable time wasted in serving people who buy a few pence worth of stamps at a time. All offices have stamp machines, but frequently if the customer has no change he has to queue for his stamp at windows where the

clerks are already busy handling teU grams, various allowances, and savinn deposits. ‘ To speed up the service i n Offices, the department is advert® the sale of its 5s book of postaon stamps extensively. The books, con. taining id to 2|d stamps, have been on sale in Britain for many year? but are not widely used. The authori. ties hope that the public will chino, its buying habits and purchase stamS in bulk as business firms do, and thus save time and wasted effort at fa counters. Charm School for M.Pj British politicians make regular ao. pearances before television cameras « current affairs sessions and round-the, table discussions. Although the BBC has invited prospective performers to its school at the Lime grove studio, for shbrt courses on how to act j n front of the cameras, some of the performances given by the politicians hay. been very poor. Now the Conservative Central Offict has taken steps to make sure that m members know all the tricks of gesture and movement when facing th. cameras. They have equipped a special room in their Westminster headquarters with dummy cameras and bright lights, and the tyro performers go through their sessions in front of a panel of expert critics. One famous political personality will not need to take his party’s grooming course, however. He is Sir Winston Churchill. His previous appearance on television have been as polished and as expert as any of nig famous speeches in the House of Commons or on the public platform. A Famous Car Honoured A motor-car that ranks with th* Ford Model T as the car that brought motoring to millions took its placa of honour in the Science Museum in South Kensington on Tuesday. Colonel A. C. R. Waite, M.C., a former racing motprist, presented the museum wifi a prototype Austin Seven on behalf of the Austin Motor Company. Built in 1922, the car was the test model for the famous Sevens which first began to roll off the production lines in 1923. By the time production ceased in 1937, more than 300,000 I Sevens were on the roads throughout the world- Only minor alterations were made to the original design during that period. Many thousand* of Sevens are still running and the compay receives letters regularly fron proud owners describing the feats at the famous midget. Goldwyn the Defender Sam Goldwyn, the Hollywood flln magnate, whose well-publicised malapropisms have become world-famous, met the British press in luxuries Claridge’s Hotel this week. He failed to coin any new gems such as his “in. elude me out,” but he revealed hinutlf as_a staunch defender of the press and Charlie Chaplin. His new role was evident when ht learned that reporters and photograph, ers had been sent to his suite by the hotel management in a back-door luggage lift. Sam was furious at ths slight to his guests and threatened is leave until the manager of the hotel apologised to the assembled press. Then Mr Goldwyn turned to the subject of Charlie Chaplin. "I’ve known Charlie for 40 years,” he said. "Hrt a liberal and maybe a little misguided at times, but he’s no Communist. Without mentioning names there an some Senators whose activities we don’t like in America. Believe me Charite Is not finished. Our loss is your gain, fit will go on making great pictures.” From his attitude, it seemed that bi would welcome a subpoena to appear before Senator McCarthy’s Un-Ameri-can Activities Committee. Ballerina Rests After a three months’ reappeanmi at Covent Garden, ballerina Metis Shearer has had to retire from fit ballet company because of a straw tendon. She returned to the stanft January after an absence of 18 nwM for the birth of her daughter, AM Miss Shearer will not be seen now by Covent Garden audiences until Mu in the year. She was to have daOMi in eight more performances before tin ballet season ends on Juns 28.