RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 97, 18 January 1940, Page 6

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events

(By

Kickshaws.)

They call them the Low Countries, •but evidently they have high ideals. The millionth visitor says the Exhibition is a colossal undertaking. Well, we venture to suggest that the Exhibition considers her a woman in a million. * * * News that Byrd is growing green peas at the Bay of Whales makes one wonder if he will find the South Pole itself tall enough for a row of beans. .Mr. A. S. Paterson’s contention that it is hard enough to ski iu peace-time, let alone in the blast of war, is so terribly true those who have tried the pastime are probably offering earnest prayers that they will never have to ski and 1 shoot. Just in case any of our echelons are issued with skis, Kickshaws hastens to assist them. The ski, of course, is a long plank of wood with a place in the middle to put the foot- Usually, one wears two of these planks. Skis have certain habits which make them uncertain in action from a military point of view, when used by novices. A ski goes downhill much better than up. Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to turn once the novice has started the descent. It is almost equally difficult to stop, because one can only stop by turning. The novice advancing on skis has therefore the choice of going Straight on through the enemy—magtnifique mais ce n’est pas la guerre—or falling down at some respectful distance. Once having fallen, however, all the enemy has to do is cart away the entanglement for internment.

Apart from difficulties of stopping and turning, there are other disconcerting habits peculiar to skis. It sounds easy enough to slide down a hillside on two skis. Unfortunately, there is nothing to keep the skis together. As one gathers speed the skis have a disconcerting habit of wanting to go off in different directions. It is alarming enough to find oneself doing an inevitably disastrous splitz when equipped solely for. the sporting side. Such a contortion, complete twith rifle, grenades, and all the other knick-knacks of active service converts the skier into a potential danger spot. (Moreover, even when one is at a standstill the art of turning round on skis is far from simple. The idea is to raise one leg in the air above the head with the ski vertical, letting it fall over in the first movement of a turn for the other sk/. Such contortionists as Buddha and other double-jointed may be able to bear the pain with equanimity, but the average person prefers just not to turn when standing still on skis. From a military point of view this has distinct disadvantages, because one can advance only in the direction one is pointing, which actually might be a retirement. * * *

. News that Luxemburg has mobilized •her army of 180 men if anything underestimates! the military might of this republic. Actually, one must add to this total 30 musicians and 135 gendarmes. Moreover, the war-time strength of this army can be rapidly increased to 250, which, after all, makes a difference. There is at present no •indication on which side this republic will throw its weight, but it remains a tempting morsel for some 'tyrannical dictator to grab when and if he thinks it will assist his cause. One can but sympathize with the woman who rules this little principality at a time when Europe consists) 'entirely of marching millions, aeroplanes and tanks. Her task has never been easy. In fact, she Stepped into ‘the shoes of another woman who gave it up as hopeless. Luxemburg, nevertheless, has contrived, like Switzerland, to continue an independent existence. Her people gather their harvests and mine the iron under the soil.

If Luxemburg has ordered her army of ISO men to be 'instantly prepared for any eventuality, there are other little states which also are sounding their call to anms. One can well imagine the predicament of the 12,000 citizens of Liechtenstein when the bugle calls. Their army died only a year ago, and probably the citizens never realized he had. At one time this state had boasted an army of no less than 58 men. In 1868, however, they were disbanded, and never called up again. The last member of this army died only recently. Admittedly, for a ghort period a private army of 520 farm hands was instituted. This was replaced toy a police force 40 strong, to see fair play in the draws) of the numerous sweepstakes from which Liechtenstein draws it revenues. This little state lies between Germany and Swit-. zerland. The present unrest in Europe must be causing the recently deceased army to turn in his grave. Meanwhile, the citizens must hope for the best, awaiting that glorious day once again when, owing 'to the laws of other lands, Liechtenstein is the only country where sweepstakes are not frowned upon.

In the matter of compact little armies one must not forget to mention Andorra, the tiny republic in the Pyrenees. We understand that every one of tlie 11 men who comprise the army of this state has polished up his flintlock and attended to the drying of his powder horp. It is only comparatively recently that this army abandoned the bow for the bullet. At a pinch the Andorran army can be increased many hundreds per- cent. For example, when General Primp de Rivera threatened to conscript Andorrans their army was hastily mobilized ■to not one man less than 40. That exhausted the entire stock of fairly modern rifles, but we understand that a thousand men could be mustered if the rest did not mind using arquebuses. Each militiaman, indeed, must keep at home in good condition one gun. 24 projectiles and lib. of black powder, as well as 31b. -of explosives. Once a year they attend a parade to prove that they can send a missile a distance of 90 yards. Their buttons bear the motto “Touch me if you dare." adopted in 819 A.D., when Andorra challenged France and Spain, and won. Since ■then the Andorrans have been making up leeway in armament expenditure caused by this little tiff.

“Through your very interesting ami valuable column I shall lie pleased flyon can advise me of the origin ol tlie flag. ‘Blue'Peter’,” says “H.M." [The Blue Peter is a flag with a blue ground and white square in the centre, hoisted as a signal that the ship is about to sail. The origin seems obscure. It hasi heen suggested that Peter is a corruption of tlie French “Partir,” meaning to leave or depart. Another authority says it is. a corruption of “blue repeater,” but neither of these have been substantiated in fact. It is, however, of some significance that Peter was the patron saint of fishermen. He is usually represented as a man with a bald head, while mantle and blue tunic. At bis own request he was crucified bead downward when lie departed this life.]