1940-04-05 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 5, 1940

STOKING UP THE

There was another censorship mud- dle during the week-end.

Or rather, this time, it was an at- tempt by an outside body to misuse the censorship.

An LNER Press officer tried to brighten the bare announcement of Easter traffic plans by suggesting, "Coal will take a short holiday". to allow trains to carry holiday-

makers,

The story was sent out nationally. Then someone on the Railway Ex- cutive Committee--which runs railway services in wartime saw the story, realised that it would cause public in- dignation, on top of the recent coal muddle. In any case, it was incorrect: coal trains will take precedence over all but military traffic.

The LNER rang the newspapers in haste, begged them not to use the story. That was all right (tho' no reason was given).

But then a member of the Rail- way Executive Committee rang the censorship, asked that stories sub- mitted on this subject be stopped.

This was by no means all right. There was nothing in the story that was censorable. Indeed, no newspa- · per would have submitted it to the censorship.

Neither had the censorship any right to place its machinery at the committee's disposal.

In itself the incident is not parti- cularly important; it was simply a case of officials losing their heads. But it shows what some people think the censorship is, and what they would like it to be.

*

*

*

"One reason why the French & the English understand one another so 'little is that in England you can think anything you like so long as you be- have like everybody else, while in France you can do pretty well any- thing you choose so long as you think like your neighbours."

That is a shrewd remark from Somerset Maugham's booklet, "France at War," published yesterday-a re- adable sketch, tho' I feel that Maug- ham is not quite so comfortable when he is praising continuously as when there are opportunities for satire.

as-

When he has to deal in patriotism, heroism & such, his style sinks tonishingly: in 5 lines we read. that Frenchmen have "set their teeth," are "going to see it through," will fight "to the bitter end.”

The tired phrase "strangely un- canny" occurs at least twice.

Perhaps playwrights like Maugham succumb to cliche more readily than other writers of comparable brilli- ance; for cliches must be used much

BOBBY-FROM 'DOWN UNDER'

(Continued from Page 16)

talk was next to impossible. And how could any girl try to talk when her heart was doing those ridiculous gymnastics?

"I love you, little dear! I love you!" She heard. Not one word did he say of her deceit-only that he loved her. As for Betty well! she had known where her own heart had flown for. several days.

-

CENSOR

in stage dialogue, since we live by living has gone up, them in daily conversation. . . And him ld a week more. what a defence they are, what a shield against serious thought or talk!

But Maugham is at his best when he is tearing some pretentiousness to pieces. Another small book by him- "Books & You"-was also published yesterday. In it he describes lunching at a rich woman's house in Hawaii:-

She received. me in a Callot dress (the sisters Callot being then the most fashionable dressmakers in Paris), wearing a pearl chain which must cost fifty thousand pounds, but

-By-

Hickey

William

no shoes or stockings. "You see," she said, pointing to her bare feet," "here we lead the simple life." I thought it a pity they had bunions on them.

That is true Maugham.

*

**

*

*** *

they are giving

»

I travelled up to Scotland the other night in a crowded leave-train: for the first time this war I heard soldiers singing really full-throatedly.

It was an old Army song—“In the ~ Quartermaster's Store"-which has lately been revived, "decontaminated," marketed with immense success. These words, constantly repeated, drowned the Euston train-noises:—

My eyes are dim, I cannot see, I have not brought my specs with

me....

The tune sounded to me as if it had once belonged to a Salvationist some other Evangelical hymn.

*

*

*

or

Other newspapers have

been gen- erous in their tributes to colleague St. John Cooper, who recently reported having caught a 304lb pike in Berk- shire.

The News of the World called this "a glorious specimen," awarded Coo- per its prize rod. The· Lincolnshire Standard said he had "set the country alight."

*

*

*

Just in time for Easter, a film com- pany has, in the last few days, been sending out its 1939 Christmas present -perhaps the latest Christmas present in history.

Congratulations to R Mursell, Par- ish Council employee at Bembridge: he asked for a rise of wages, got it.

His job is to keep a memorial foun- tain clean & tidy. His wages were The present is a motoring map formerly 6d a week; now that cost of of Britain a magnificent sectional

Helen Gilbert and Mickey Rooney In "Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fevar."

The picture starts a run at the Queen's Theatre to-morrow.

NEUTRALS

BRITISH

USE CONVOY RIGHTS

London; To-day. Increasing use of the British convoy Closer yet those warm arms held, system is revealed in figures from the then his lips came claiming, and noth-Government Departments concerned. ing mattered then in the pulsing During the month of March alone, sweetness "of love confessed without 1140 neutral ships had sailed in con- another word being spoken.

voy while from September 3 to Over some things Bobby was a very February 29, only 1,075 had used this greedy young man.

protection. The reason for this vastly It was much later that a starry-increased use of convoys is not far eyed girl said. “But I'm only a to seek when it is remembered that working girl, Bobby."

whereas 161 unconvoyed neutral ships "You're the girl I love," was his have been sunk with à loss of over answer. "That's all that matters to 1,200 lives, of those escorted by the me. Thank heaven, I'm no class snob, Allied Navy only three fell victim to nor are mum and dad. They liked enemy action with a total loss of five

British Wireless.. you, girlie. They want me to win lives. you."

Washington, To-day.

Betty gave a lovely deep sigh of U.S. LOAN TO FINLAND sheer content. She remembered Bob by's parents with a throb of hap piness. She could not understand · Mr. Jesse Jones, the Federal Loan why all this had come to her."

Administrator, announces that he is But as the lips of her lover claim-|usking Congress for authority to use ed again she forgot to wonder. Some part of the $20,000,000 loan to Finland times life was very, very kind to for rec

work in Finland. girl

Router:

WESTSHALL

“So you're a commander în the Board of Trade? I've just been made a colonel in the Ministry of Supply:"

thing which doesn't bother you by having to be unfolded & refolded; instead, you press à magical gadget at the side, & the required section slides into view in a frame.

Recipients' only criticism is that it would have been more useful if do- nors had sent out small cars too; with some petrol.

Nature-note, from reader Ann Thomas, Bright's Cottage, Christian Malford, Wilts:-

*

*

*

I found first primrose March 1, and yesterday the first coltsfoot, almost my favourite. Rooks are building. Beaufort Hunt killed a fox two fields away from this cottage...

Nature-noter Ann is daughter of nature-poet Edward Thomas, a few lines by whom those of you who live near London should by now have read on an attractive new Underground poster. "I wish I could come to Lon- don," she says, "and feel the thrill of seeing it about in tube stations- no-one knowing that he was my father who wrote those simple lines!”

Mussolini to Hitler, perhaps: "You've brought us to a pretty pass!"

ANDY HARDY WANTS TOŊ GET MARRIED NOW, FOLKS!

He's 17...and the love bug's really' bitten him! It's a riot! It's swell!;

THE LUCKY SEVENTH

HARDY

FAMILY

HIT

Andy

Hardy SPRING

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") London, To-day. "It is impossible for Britain to re- linquish her rights as a belligerent and it must be fully understood that she will exercise them when occasion arises," declared authoritative quarters commenting on the statement of the Japanese Admiralty spokesman that the Japanese Government was strong- ly opposed to extension of the blockade to the proximity of Japan and that-it considered undesirable the movements of British cruisers In Far Eastern waters,--Havas.-

WEATHER REPORT

The Royal Observatory reports that

the anticyclone has merged into an- other which has rapidly developed over North China, pressure being now highest over the Yangtse Valley.

-- Yesterday'a depression has probably Into the Pacific, and another is fed over the south part of the Sea of Japan, moving north-eastward.

GETS

LEWIS

CECÍLIA

FEVER

NG FE

MICKEY

STONE ROONEY PARKER

FAYL

HOLDEN

TO MORROW

QUEEN'S & ALHAMBRA