LONDON TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 22913, 22 March 1938, Page 11

LONDON TOPICS

DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP OIL SUPPLIES FOR WAR [From Our Correspondent.] February 17. Anyone concerned about dictatorship’s new challenge to human freedom should read ‘ Constructive Democracy.’ This is a reprint of papers by eminent statesmen, economists, and publicists, read at last summers Ashbridge conference of the Association for Education in Citizenship. It is the more interesting and valuable because the best contributions are not entirely partisan. One writer, for instance, is perplexed by the problem of democracy at grips with foreign policies. There is agreement in general, however, that the crux between dictatorship and democracy is whether the State exists for the community or the community for the State. In tbat lies the whole principle of individual freedom. None of the writers, however, has stressed the fact, proved to-day in Italy and Germany, that dictatorship may for a time be overwhelmingly popular. Sir Arthur Salter tells us “ democracy exposes its sores, dictatorship whitens its sepulchres.” Sir Alfred Zimmern urges that “ the real challenge to democracy is not dictatorship, but the existence of values which the ordinary man must tiptoe to reach.” Notwithstanding the despotic actions of King Carol in Rumania, there can be no doubt that on balance the stock of European dictatorships has slumped heavily during the week. There is, of course, not a line of reliable information obtainable as to how the balance is swaying in the crisis which is now upon Germany. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the Fuhrer, even if he maintains and strengthens his authority, has already been obliged to sacrifice some of tne efficiency of his military machine. That Italy has recognised this, and has possibly a far better understanding than we have of the gravity of the position in Germany, is suggested by her eagerness to patch up her. former good relations with France and ourselves, but there are reasons to suspect that the Duce is also contending with his own pack of troubles. I am told, on well-informed authority, that the unrest in Abyssinia is Italian even more than native in character. It is also probable that his present willingness to withdraw Italian volunteers from Spain is due to the open dissatisfaction now prevalent among those forces. JAPAN’S NAVAL INTENTIONS. The joint questionnaire addressed by France, America, and Britain to Japan regarding her naval shipbuild-

ing policy has evoked a blunt refusal to divulge plans. Since Japan is no longer a party to any naval pact, Tokio is quite justified in this attitude. But it will be strange indeed if Japan, who at the London Naval Conference proposed the abolition of all capital ships, whether battleships or cruisers, is the cause of a general shipbuilding campaign of super-super-dreadnoughts, particularly since Japan, with her existing costly commitments, is least favourably situated to face the consequent heavy increase in naval expenditure. The naval conference broke down owing to Tokio refusing to accept a naval ratio inferior in numbers to that of Britain and U.S.A. Tokio is still protesting readiness to negotiate quantitative equality. The question is whether acceptance of that understanding would be preferable _ to the cost and constant anxiety of building bigger fleets and bigger ships against a conjectural and possibly phantom Japanese Armada. OIL PROBLEM. A good' many people, with some expert Knowledge, are perturbed about our oil supplies in time of war. Oil is vital, ot course, for the R.A.F. Without it they could not show a wing in the air. It is now, too, vital for tho spearhead of our Army organisation. it is also vital for the British Navy. Estimates of the quantity ol sea-borne oil we might need vary. But it would probably be anything between fifteen and twenty-five million tons per annum. Not only would this mean a tremendous anxiety added to other vital strategic ones in protecting our sea transports, but there is the risk of enemy interference, hostile . action against supply sources, or even opposition. by neutrals to supplying the vital juice. The critics of our existing system, with an eye to the new threat to our Mediterranean communications, advocate making our new warships dual-firing—either by oil or coal —and argue that very little extra cost, and not much addition to present tannage, would be necessary. This is essentially a question for Admiralty and other experts, but it is well the point should be given due attention. PROPHETIC. Viscount Esher’s journals show what an astoundingly clear-sighted counsellor he must have been. There is no faking of these entries to suit the after result. Thus, on August 11, 1914, he wrote: “Millions of splendid youths, the heirs of European ages, will go childless to their graves. Monuments of chivalry, of learning, of religious enthusiasm will be burnt, broken, and destroyed. And tho yellow races will gather strength. . . .” Hero the dead diarist clearly foresees both our depopulation problem, the debacle of civilised ethics, and actually the Japan militant of 1938. It is interesting to know from Lord Esher’s journals, too, how Kitchener was victimised by stupid Fate. His besetting weakness, all his later Cabinet critics said, was that he would depute nothing, but insist on shouldering impossible burdens of detail. This was his undoing, and why he was eventually packed off on that fatal Russian mission. But K. found, when he went to the War Office, that all the capable staff men had gone to France, and he was left with nothing but inexperienced officers whom he could not trust. SHIPS, BOMBS, AND PLANES. Tho sinking of merchant ships by aeroplane bombs in the' Spanish struggle raises a new consideration. In the event of another official war, in which this country was involved or even though we were neutral, it might be necessary to arm all merchant vessels with anti-aircraft guns of some useful description. Because it is obvious that tho modern aeroplane can be a deadly implement in attack against surface craft at sea. so long as the bombers aboard the aircraft can fly as low as they like over the vessel. In

all cases in which planes have successfully bombed ships during the Spanish affair, which is the first test of this manoeuvre, tho attackers were able to fly practically mast-high above their unarmed victims. “ Now, difficult though it is to hit an aeroplane at speed, it is equally difficult for a plane, flying even a few hundred feet up, to hit a moving vessel. The logical answer to the new bombing plane peril at sea, therefore, seems equipment which will compel the aeroplane to keep at a mutually safe distance. OUR AIR STRENGTH. Our air raid precautions are of such a casual and even slipshod nature — through no fault of the officers, who are doing their verjr best to organise them within the limits of their opportunity—that the inference is we are banking on the R.A.F. to hold off serious attack from the air. From this point of view it is not exactly encouraging to hear that at the beginning of this year only about onequarter of our 123 squadrons had been equipped with up-to-date machines. But the estimate is that bv the end of March nearly one-half will be in that favourable position. These new machines are, however, really good ones, and have a speed of over 300 m.p.h. Tho trouble is, though, that air equipment tends to become obsolete much quicker even than either naval or army equipment. There is an expensive vista ot international rivalry in the air. In personnel we are better situated. We now have over 7,000 effective pilots, 6,000 on the cadres of the R.A.F. and its auxiliary, and about 1,100 in the Volunteer Reserve. The latter, who train at week-ends and in the evenings, are youngsters in civil employment, and are showing great keenness. Any doubt as to our latest R.A.F. equipment’s efficiency is dispelled by the Edinburgh-London record. Squad-ron-leader Gillan, flying in darkness in a Hawker Hurricane, made the 327 miles in 48min, an average speed of nearly 409 m.p.h. The world’s speed record, held by Italy at the moment, is 440 m.p.h. But that was set up under stunt conditions in. a freak machine of the Schneider Cup type. Squadron-leader Gillan’s performance, apart from being night flying, was in a normal service plane, and over a considerable distance. It is amazing how air speed'has grown in a brief period. The first Schneider Cup race was won the year before the war at 45 m.p.h. In 1914 it was no more than 86 m.p.h., and even in 1920, after the war, only 107 m.p.h. Even the last contest, a year or two asj, did not exceed 408 m.p.h. It means that in Hying speeds the abnormal is now become the normal. A man stepping off the curb in Fleet Street as a Hawker Hurricane zoomed above London Bridge would not get across before this 200-yards-a----second machine roared over him. 'gillo. The modest hero of this 1 amazing flight, Squadron-leader Gillan, is a personality. Dark and just the slim medium stature which is convenient for flying, he has a disarming smile, a devil-may-care manner, and a most ingratiating way with him. His father in an B.A.F. chaplain, and at Cranwell 13 years ago young Gillan was a star cadet. As adjutant until a short while ago of 601 Auxiliary Squadron he was tremendously popular with all his pilots and subordinates, and he is now in command of 111 Squadron, which is recognised as one of the smartest of all the R.A.F.’s crack fighter squadrons. Indeed, it would be difficult to say which is prouder of whom—Squadron-leader Gillan of his No. 11l fellows or the latter of their youthful chief. Listening to “ Gillo,” as they call him, telling how many thousand rounds 111 can pump off per minute, one feels that any enemy bombers who want to strafe London will have rather a tough time up against the “ Gillo’s ” young enthusiasts. Not quite a year ago Squadronleader Gillan had a rather bad crash,

but he did not allow that to disturb his flying apple cart. ONE OF LAWRENCE’S MEN. The new Governor of Trinidad, Sir Hubert Young, was sent from Mespot. to Arabia to be Lawrence’s double. The latter, in his ‘ Seven Pillars,’ .describes him as a regular of exceptional quality, with long and wide experience of war and perfect fluency in Arabic. At the taking of Damascus it was Sir Hubert who wrestled with the currency problem, which was in a horrible state owing to the Aussies looting millions of Turkish notes and throwing them about. One trooper gave a lad who held his horse for three minutes a £SOO note. On one occasion Lawrence and Young cut the main telegraph wires together. Says Lawrence: “ It was an important network of trunk and local lines. Indeed, the Palestine Army’s main link with their homeland. It was pleasant to imagine Liman von Sanders’s fresh curse in Nazareth as each severed l wire tanged back from the clippers. We did it slowly, with ceremony, to draw out the indigationl” Lawrence found Young at first too regimental. He says of him that he was his own main obstacle, but, once persuaded, would brook no other obstacles in exact fulfilment of whatever he took in hand. Just the man for Trinidad 1 ARTIST PRINCE. The death of Prince Nicholas, uncle of King George of Greece and father’ of the Duchess of Kent, cuts abruptly short the latter’s winter sports holiday at Anton with the Duke. Prince Nicholas was 65, a tall, soldierly figure, and was at one time Military Governor of Salonika. He shared the sentiments of his elder brother, ill-starred King Constantine, during the Groat War, and in his autobiography declares that the exile, bounded like a criminal from his kingdom, died of a broken heart. That view was probably a romantic one, inspired by fraternal sentiment. At 50 Prince Nicholas blossomed out as a serious artist, and, though entirely selftaught, turned out some quite attractive paintings. He had a one-man show of some of his works in Paris a few years ago, and in 1935 held another at a West End gallery in London. He went in chiefly for landscapes and still life and flower studies, and the Duchess inherits this art faculty. Two years ago, being far from wealthy. Prince Nicholas tried his ’iprentice hand at film scenario work, and one of his “ plots ” was purchased by Capitol Films. DINING WITH THE R.A.s. Periodically there are delightful little festivals at Burlington House of which the public hears nothing at all. The Royal Academy Club holds dinners rather on the lines of a military mess affair, at which on special occasions members may bring a guest. There was one last week at which the president of the R.A., Sir David Llewellyn, presided most genially, and the two most notable guests in a company of 40 all told were the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mr Hore-Belisha. Tho latter was the president’s own guest, The dinner is served in one of the galleries at a long table, and only two toasts are given. One is “ The Guests.” which consists chiefly of a recital of their names and vocations, and the other “ To- the Honour and Glory of the Next Royal Academy Exhibition.” This toast is a traditional one, in use_ ever since the R.A. Club came into existence, and was first proposed by Sir Joshua Reynolds. At .last week’s gathering I listened to a very animated though quite friendly discussion between an R.A. pacifist and a commander R.N. Both won. TYNDALE. In celebration of tho 400th anniversary of the English Bible the Religious Film Society has just completed a documentary film based on the life of William Tyndale, the translator. Tho

scenario has naturally concentrated upon personalities rather than on exterior settings, for much of Tyndale’a life was spent in Germany and Belgium. The producer of the picture, the Rev. S. W. Edwards, has been careful to avoid controversial matters in the biography in the hope that the result may be used by all sections of the Christian Church. The development of the use of the film in religious teaching is providing the churches with what has been described as “ the most effective medium of propaganda in the modern world,” and the value of the appeal to the younger generation—an enormous, almost untapped force—is obvious. The preparation of this new film was greatly facilitated by the help of a Brussels solicitor, who gave permission for the reproduction of prints and photographs relating to Tyndalc’s work in Antwerp. FOUR MEN AND A DOG. Many besides Arctic experts are following with no little anxiety the fate of the four intrepid Russians and their faithul dog adrift on the northern icefloe. This adventure eclipses anything in Jules Verne. We are indebted to these daring adventurers for the first weather reports issued from the North Pole, and no doubt they will, if they come through alive, bring much valuable scientific data back. Their predicament. adrift on an ice-floe that is rapidly breaking up as it nears the warmer water off Greenland, is due to a miscalculation. They expected to reach this stage next May, but the drift of their ice-floe has increased steadily from about a mile and a-half to 30 miles a day, and they are ahead of the arrangements for rescuing them. Their plans were otherwise elaborately complete, including a full year’s food supplies in cube form, prepared by Moscow’s science laboratories so that they got full-course meals, caviare and bortsch included, which could be prepared in five minutes, and contained, besides the correct flavours, the right calories. Presumably the dog subsists on a more primitive diet. All four men have been elected M.P.s since they set out on their strange journey. FIRST BEGINNINGS. The new Waterloo, Bridge is just beginning to take shape. As the electric train emerges from the jumble of old wharves and derelict factories on the south side of the Thames, and 'crosses the river to Charing Cross Station, passengers get a fleeting view of its embryo This consists at present of a frieze of piles projecting above the swirl of the Thames tideway, with one or two platforms on which busy mechanics in overalls swing their hammers ; whilst an officious tug pants energetically below. There is usually a tiny rowing skiff, too, its occupants loitering either as sightseers or on the offchance that one of the artisans may slip and afford an opportunity for a dramatic rescue. Behind the pile frieze looms the facade of the temporary wheel-traffic bridge. It will be something—though frightfully dating— to be able to say, in those uncertain years to come, that one saw the first beginnings of new Waterloo Bridge. Above that flimsy fretwork of piles, in a year or two, London’s latest and most-debated bridgeway will rear its massive bulk. It may be one of, the best—and safest—spots from which to watch the nest enemy air raids on London. Macaulay’s New Zealander, moralising over the ruins from London Bridge, may arrive later! AMUSEMENT KING. Glasgow’s Empire Exhibition, will have a vast amusement park on up-to-date lines. Responsibility for this popular .feature rests with Mr W. E. Butlin. who is a member of the Showmen’s Guild, but has specialised until

now in popular holiday camps m th» North. Mr Butlin is a remarkable personality. He is a native of Cape Town, South Africa, but was brought up m Canada. He served through the Great War, and is said to have been the youngest soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He started his showmanship career 14 years ago in Scotland, when he ran a bird stall outfit which represented a capital, outlay of about £ls. Patrons had to ' throw balls into a glass jar, and, when they succeeded, the prize was a bird.; Mr Butlin’s equipment for Glasgow Exhibition’s amusement park will represent about a-quarter of a million sterling. Which rather points to the fact that there is still room and opportunity for romance in the showmanship business. EQUINE PSYCHOLOGY. A famous racing expert told me today that trainers and owners do not, in his opinion, pay enough attention to the temperamental side of their sport. Horses. according ■to this high authority, and racehorses particularly,' are more temperamental than prima donnas. There was the famous instance of Pretty Polly, the wonder mare wha formed a deep attachment for anothet little mare, and refused to race unlesl .this inseparable chum accompanied bet to the course. That is an extrema case, no doubt, but my racing friend contends that with most racehorses the personality of the jockey is of tremendous importance. They will do their utmost with one rider in the saddle, and apparently enjoy the effort, whereas with another jockey “up’* they will refuse to take an interest in the business. He instanced Spanish State, who won a good race in fine stvle last week, after making a dreadful show in an parlier event of the season. Tn the former case ho was ridden by a thoroughly good jockey, but made no response. But. with Mr Hislop in tho saddle at Warwick, he came home an enthusiastic winner. Perhaps rae-ng stables should have a regular psychoanalyst attached.