In the Public Eye

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 24

In the Public Eye

Emil Kleber, who recently commanded the entire International Column in Madrid and later was reported to be captured by the rebels at Malaga, is a Communist. He has known what it is to suffer prison for his beliefs. The story of his life reads like a romance. He was born in Austria (Kleber may or may not have been his real name; identities are not too carefully stressed in revolutionary circles). During the World War he was drafted into the Austrian Army and found himself fighting as an officer against the Russians. He was "captured," and "escaped." The quotation marks are used because he smiled slyly and knowingly when he told about it. Even then his sympathies were with the Communists.

Instead of rejoining the Austrian forces he made his way to Canada, where he somehow maintained a precarious existence until he joined the Canadian fforce which made a part of the expeditionary army sent to Siberia. That was one way of getting to Russia. Fighting what seemed to be developing into a Japanese war of conquest suited him no more than it did many a sincere radical, and by a process whose details are somewhat clouded he was soon to be found fighting for those Russian forces which were fashioning what was then called the Far Eastern Republic. That was more in his line, and his help was no mean factor in the Russian success. When the Far Eastern ■ Republic became merged with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics his work was done, and he left Siberia a soldier of experience and great ability in a peculiar kind of warfare.

Years of obscure struggle in Europe and America followed. Communist circles in New York know him well. During those years he became a naturalised Canadian. The next time the world heard about him he was the "General" in command of a Red Army in China —56,000 men, armed with rifles haying just twelve rounds of ammunition apiece. It was in Kiangsi and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, with 1,200,000 well-armed soldiers, had him virtually surrounded.

If anyone could ever get Kleber to tell the story of what followed it would make one of the most thrilling books that ever was written. It "was truly an epic. He took his men on a retreat back to Szechwan in eight months, during which they marched about 3500 miles in a huge arc, defeating force after force which Chiang threw against them,' maintaining order and discipline throughout, and ending up safe, coherent, and out of the Marshal's reach. The greater part of that force, incidentally, is now fighting against the Japanese-armed expedition in Northern China. His work done, Kleber returned to Canada. A year ago he left Canada for Europe and, when the Spanish civil war started, offered his services to the Government. He and his column threw themselves against Franco's forces on the day the siege of Madrid started. It was the psychological moment, for it coincided with an amazing spiritual and moral reversal of the Spanish militia. Kleber is very modest about it, and refuses to take any credit. He is said to be .an exceedingly attractive character—a fine-looking man with a winning personality. Despite his long career, he is only 41—a big fellow, heavily built, and with a heavy face, high cheekbones, broad nose, thick lips, bushy eyebrows. It is a face that might almost seem brutal if it were not for a boyish and ingenuous smile that keeps breaking out, and a good-fellowship and modesty that are unquestionably genuine. He is idolised by his troops, with whom he has fought in the front-line,trenches, shooting a rifle with remarkable accuracy and demonstrating a courage that provfi contagious. Mr. Wallace Ford. Mr. Wallace Ford, the British actor, has found his long-lost mother living in an automobile trailer and fulfilled her most cherished dream—a little cottage in rural" England. The mother is married to a blind match seller. Mr. Ford read hundreds of letters from women claiming him as their son and finally decided that Mrs. Daniel Maxted, fifty-six years old, of Northwich, Cheshire, was his mother. Her handwriting was examined by Mr. Ford and the actor's aunt, Mrs. Mary Beddoes, of Kirkdale, Lanca"He is my son, Sammy," Mrs. Maxted said. "He has got my family's grey eyes and our mouth. At last we are united like a fairy tale come true." She said her son was born in Bolton, where she was a housemaid,, in February, 1898. Her name then was Catherine Jones. Sammy was placed in a home in London, she said. Mr. Ford, returning to his hotel in London, said he would visit his mother again soon, taking his wife with him to the little cottage outside Manchester.

Wallace Ford, well known for many years on the stage and more recently in motion pictures, was born in 1899. He was left with the Dr. Barnardo Orphanage in London when he was very young and at the age of eleven was sent to Canada as an apprentice to a wheat farmer. The actor's real name is Samuel Jones.

Before he was twelve he ran away from the farm and became an usher in the Theodore Roberts Stock Company Theatre in Winnipeg. He later acted with the company and then joined the Stuart Walker company in St. Joseph, Missouri.

After years in stock he came to New York, where his first important success was in "Seventeen." He also appeared in "Abie's Irish Rose," "Abraham Lincoln," "Pigs," "Broadway," "Bad Girl," and "Young Sinners."

His film career includes parts in "Possessed," "Freaks," "Three-Cor-nered Moon^" "A Son Comes Home," "The Nut Farm," "The Lost Patrol," "Two in the Dark," and many others.

There was further proof of the changed relations between Britain and Egypt recently when Sir Miles Lampson presented his credentials to the Regency Council on his appointment as British Ambassador. • This was the first time on record that a British representative had presented his credentials in Cairo or conformed to the ceremonial followed in the case of other foreign representatives. .; As is customary on such occasions, the Abdin Palace provided the transport—consisting of three- glass-sided coaches. The first, drawn -by four magnificent horses, carried Sir Miles Lampson, in Ambassadorial uniform, and Mohammed Hussein Bey, the second Chamberlain. The other two coaches carried the senior Embassy staff. Two Palace cars brought up the rear, conveying junior members. Powdered coachmen in bright costumes held the reins, and flunkeys, similarly attired, stood behind, while bare-footed groomsmen, carrying their wands vof office, ran beside the coaches calling on all and sundry to make way for the Sovereign's distinguished visitors. A full squadron of the Royal Bodyguard, in blue and red uniform and with drawn swords, escorted the leading coach. ' As Ihe procession moved along the sireets, which were lined with-police, it was saluted periodically by the crowds. In the Palace courtyard the Egyptian Guard presented arrhs, and its band played the British National Anthem, both on the arrival of the Ambassador and on his departure. Sir Miles Lampson was conducted up the staircase, which was lined on both sides by a stalwart • bodyguard, to the Throne Room, where he was received by the Regency Council, headed by Prince Mohamed Ali. After the ceremony Sir Miles had coffee with the members of the Council. Mr. Keith Officer. Mr. Keith Officer, who has been appointed Australian counsellor "at the British Embassy in Washington, was born at Melbourne in 1889 and after graduating in law at Melbourne ■ University he became an associate of Mr. Justice Higgins in 1913-14. He served throughout the Great War' and was awarded the 0.8. E. and the M.C. He was an adviser in the Australian Department of External Affairs from 1927 until his appointment to London in 1933. The American Division for Western European Affairs, which deals with Australian matters, is reported to take a very realistic view of the presence in Washington of an Australian diplomatic officer. First and foremost. It believes that such a representative would be in an excellent position to inform his Govment with greater accuracy on the large variety of internal considerations which must influence the American Goyernment in its attitude towards Australia. It is pointed out, for instance, that it is apparently not wholly appreciated in the Commonwealth why the United States did not hasten to accede to Australia's request for the negotiation of a reciprocal trade treaty. The similarity of the agricultural products of the two countries, and the enormous difficulties surrounding - all reciprocal treaties to date which deal with agricultural products, are among the reasons. These facts would be clear to a diplomatic representative, and he could inform his own Government. Government circles are much relieved by the Australian appointment, since they consider it reflects the Commonwealth's desire earnestly to strive for a solution of the outstanding problems of the two countries. The United States wants trade with Australia, not a trade war; and it would be satisfied to know that all danger is past of the destruction of America's very valuable manufactures export business to Australia. It is no secret that the State Department fears action by hotheads in Congress, who, if spurred by too much publicity over discriminations, might take action even more destructive to the trade of the two countries. ' A 'diplomatic official, moreover, would be expected to play an important part in encouraging di>act purchases of Australian products by American importers. The increase of approximately. 700 per cent, in direct purchases of wool in 1936, as compared with 1935, is believed '.o point the way to much beneficial expansion of trade, with a rectification of the Australian unfavourable balance. Mr. James Mollison. It is hard to say when Mr. James Allen Mollison's flying career really started. However, his first step on' the ladder of fame was in 1931, when, in July and August, he made an AustraliaEngland record flight in 8 days 9 hours 28 minutes. His next achievement was in 1932, when he obtained the England-Cape record, flying down the west coast, the first time this had been done. His .training in the Royal Air Force and as a commercial pilot in Australia stood him in good stead. In August, 1932,, he made a solo flight westward, across the North Atlantic, In February, 1933, he flew the South Atlantic, and in July of the same year, in company with his wife, Mrs. Amy Johnson Mollison, he made his first flight to the United States. This remarkable young man, holder of so many records and trophies, including the Britannia Trophy and the Johnson Memorial Air Navigation Trophy, is also author of a book, "Death Cometh Soon or Late." Recently it was announced in the "Sunday Dispatch", that a sum of £10,000 has been offered to him to enable him to fly in the ParisNew York race which is to take placs in August. Mollison has chosen a three-engined Bellanca aeioplane, which has a range of 4000 miles and a cruising speed of 240 miles an hour. M. Mollinier, the French aviator, '■■ has been asked if he will accompany Mr. Mollison. So this intrepid aviator is seeking fresh laurels in the air.