THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 25, 1999
CORRESPONDENCE
THE
REFUGEES OFFER
SERVICEMAN SERVICES IN UNIFORM
I
Sir, The subject with which am going to deal in this letter is one which will occupy the minds, of a large section of the population of Hongkong in the near future.
It is fairly certain that the use of civilian clothing by military will be prohibited soon, and, as a feeler, I asked the manager of a well-known cabaret whether he would lift the ban which at present he puts on uniform. His reply was "No!"
Surely this attitude is unjust. The treatment of soldiers during ordinary times in this Colony is abominable. The mere fact that uniform is worn, even by the members of our finest Re-
RE-
NAIROBI, TO-DAY. GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN FUGEES IN KENYA HAVE OFFER- ED THEIR SERVICES ΤΟ THE GOVERNMENT.
In a petition, they ask to be ac- cepted for military and other duties in the same manner as the King's subjects.
In a letter, they express their grati- tude for the leave given them to re- to live in build their homes and liberty after the "degrading oppres- sion of the Hitler regime."-Reuter.
QUEEN'S VISIT TO
giments (more than one unit in the FACTORY
Colony boasts a member of the Royal Family as their Colonel-in-Chief) is sufficient to bar. the entry of perfectly respectable men to most of the better establishments in Hongkong.
London, To-day.
Her Majesty the Queen yesterday visited a large clothing factory in the east part of London.
She watched hundreds of girls mak- ing clothes for the troops.
The only places of amusement in the Colony who show fairness in their dealings with servicemen ́ are the cinemas, I am, of course, only con- sidering the better class amusemented, there was a large crowd outside the factory and she was warmly cheer-
centres.
Although her visit was not announ-
MR. ATTLEE
Such places invariably charge pri-2d-Reuter. ces which are in themselves prohibi- tive as far as the average soldier or sailor is concerned, but there is a. large number of servicemen who would much rather pay those prices for the sake of the environment. Is there any reason at all why the tastes of such men should not be catered for?
a
From experience I know that the most sensitive part of soldier's everyday make-up is his pocket. He will not pay anything more than what he considers is a fair price for value received. Obviously, therefore, the only men who will wish to pay the prices of the better class amusement centres will be those who think (rightly or wrongly) that they are getting full value for their money, and (again obviously) they are gure to belong to a class who are quite de- sirable as far as their behaviour is concerned.
SEES KING
the
London, To-day. His Majesty the King yesterday received in audience Mr. Attlee, Lea- der of the Opposition. This was the Arst time during the war that King has received Mr. Attlee was arranged so that he could main- tain personal contact with the Op- position.
The new Bishops of London Sheffield were also, received by King and did homage on their pointments.-Reuter.
PERPETUAL ENTENTE
and
and the
ap-
Paris, To-day.
its
I am not going to attempt to in- sinuate that servicemen are angels. Far from it!! No more are those who are at the moment In the front lines, The French press expresses holding back what was known in the appreciation of the work of Sir Eric last war as "The Grey Nightmare." Phipps, the retiring British Ambas- What I do say, however, and empha-sador, who arrived back in England tically, is that the civilian population yesterday. of Hongkong have two very exag- gerated opinions, i.e. (1) of their own importance, and (2) that of the de- pravity of servicemen.
History, of course, repeats Itself. Throughout the ages a soldier been in times of peace, a drunken, brawling wretch. In times of strife, however, his drunkenness. becomes have elapsed, the ban on uniform will "good spirits", and rowdyism becomes be lifted in most of the places, which the enforce that ban at the moment, but "sterling fighting value," and
His statement on retiring is given particular attention and emphasis is laid on his appeal that the entente, so close between the two countries to- day, should be made perpetual after
Reuter. has their common victory.
"wretch" miraculously becomes a that this should have to be forced on
hero.
The lives of civilians in Hongkong at the moment are not in immediate danger, and, consequently service men have not yet graduated to their position of "high spirited heroes of sterling fighting value."
I am certain that before two weeks.
FACTS FOR THE 10 H.P.
MOTORIST
a
The Vauxhall 10-four is the most economical Ten in the world; did 48.4 m.p.h. in à recent R.A.C. Trial. Reliability is unquestioned Vauxhall 10-four covered 2,275 miles in The Monte Carlo Rally, without losing a mark.
The Vauxhall 10-four has in- dependent Springing. Hydraulic Brakes, Controlled Synchromesh, All-Steel Constructio
Vauxhal
them by reasons of finance is revolt- ing, to say the least, and entirely un- worthy of the members of a Colony of the British Empire which is at the interests of moment at war in the
thought, speech, and freedom of action.
SERVIENTIUM.
VAUXHALL
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