RAIDS BRING ARMY UNDER CRITICISM

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27739, 17 August 1955, Page 11

RAIDS BRING ARMY UNDER CRITICISM

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) What is already known as ‘ on the Army camp at ArborfleW followed by-the second raid in 1 of the press and public on Britit

Scarcely a newspaper fails to comment adversely on the Army’s apparent Igck of preparedness to deal with such a situation, and several cartoonists “guy" the Army unmercifully. The “Daily Express," for instance, shows a boatload of securely tied naval men, from admirals downwards, being rescued by a police launch. A disconsolate admiral is saying: “Reporting the theft of one aircraft-carrier—-the I.R.A, again." The ‘’News Chronicle” has a cartoon of a Buckingham Palace sentry, his rifle on the ground, taking a photograph of a' group of Americans posing for him. “The Arborfield affair has . come al an unfortunate moment for the War Minister (Mr Antony Head), says the “Yorkshire Post.” Just when the Prime Minister is beginning to plan a major reshuffle, along comes the I.R.A to make the British Army, and therefore it§ political head, look foolish * ‘Savage Mirth” ‘.‘Apart from the 18 luckless men involved, every serviceman, past and present, must have smiled a cynical smile when he first read of the Arborfield outrage. Second thoughts would quickly point to more serious aspects of the affair, but anyone who has spent many miserable hours on guard duty must have been moved to savage mirth by reading how easily a few civilians were able to overcome the whole elaborate rigmarole which the services have been at such pain to create.” The “Daily Mail" says Arborfield disclosed a state of affairs “which is disturbing; not to say alarming ” It says that a unit stationed in permanent quarters in the Home counties not far from the Empire’s capital was, in effect, made helpless by a handful of civilians. “The ordinary citizen would- have said such a thing is impossible. If he had seen it on the films he would have roared. Eut it has happened and it is not funny. On the contrary, it is a deadly serious matter. “The raiders, it is true, were armed while the guard was not, except for the sentry. He had a pickhandle! “We are not aiming these remarks at the men concerned. If any criticism lies at their door, it will doubtlegs be elicited. The ultimate blame goes higher." The “Daily Express” says the attitude of the Army in not arming sentries in peace-time is understandable. “But the sentry at Arborfield was overpowered without even raising the alarm. Surely every sentry should carry some handy means of rousing his camo? A blank cartridge or a bell would da.” The defence correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says 90 per cent, of the guards at military establishments in Britain are armed at night with

LONDON, August 15. H the Arborfield affair” —the raid |, Berkshire, by an I.R.A. gang— Wales, has focused the attention sh Army administration.

nothing more effective than a pickhandle, a lamp and a whistle. “By day there are no guards at all, except for the sentry at the main gate with a rifle and bayonet, but no ammunition, whose function it is to return salutes and call out the guard for distinguished visitors. “It never seems to have dawned on the brass hats that an enemy could conceivably arrive without warning by car or van or appear from the hedgerows speaking perfect English .and smoking one of the more popular brands of cigarette. So the guards were not armed—except, of with a pickhandle, a lamp and a whistle.”