1954-09-16 — Page 4

«THEN CHINA - MAIL – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER.

As our air power (not all of it!) goes on show to the world

a man who

knows says...

Britain still leads in the air

TOP

LEPY TO BOTTOM RIGHT ( HUNTER, VICTOR. SRITANNIA

JAVELIN YISCOUNT.

SWIFT

-BUT DON'T BE TOO SMUG!

W

HAT a fine prelude which has been inadequately 're-,

to the Farn- cognised here in Britain,

The engine borough Air Show

WBS

are sold

195

* DON IDDON'S

DIARY *

Britain and France Under Heavy Fire

T

his

rolo' in the..." spectacular

New York, Tuesday. sprinkles.") But since I Maybe this basal meta- At least he got away with THE first person I saw have got back here we have bolism (How's yours?) only light slaps on the wrist for in Grand Central had a deluge, a big wind, affects politics too. Since I McCarthy versuß the Army clr- Station when I got and humid, steamy days got back I have been in- cus carlier in the year. off the Commodore Vander- which have frayed New formed by some ferocious - bilt was an Associated Press Yorkers' thin nerves.

| photographer I've known for

years. He said: "Going on ·

been on one, two months,

a trip?" I said: "I've just

Different look

+

friend that the French are The long holiday Labour Day finished, that Britain is week-end has helped the enters tained business, which hasn't second-rate Power playing had a very good summer Russia Ching off against

the United States, that Two British Bims, “High and

British

but West about 10,000 THE city looked different. Clement Attlee and Nye pappers, have received glow- milea altogether." The

Fifty-first Street be- Bevan are either dolts or ing reviews and have drawn photographer grinned and

scoundrels or both, and that the crowds. said: "We haven't missed where I work, and

tween Rockefeller Plaza,

Sixth only Spain and Turkey are you."

to be relied upon. Avenue is being torn apart. New Yorkers are a

won- The. sidewalk cafes such as I have raid: "Is that:so? A derful people. You can go

"The Little Cottage" and most balanced, moderate view, old-fashioned, I am sure," and have longed for away for a year and your "Moriarty's," next-door neighbour in the dim-lit saloons and bars the comparativo sanity of Holly apartment house won't know where newspapermen and wood and Beverly Hills. whether you've been to radio people have hung out China or just slipped out for years, are being de to take the dog for A molished to make way for

yet another towering groy the other night, and almost publicity, stone Rockefeller bulld-

**

Red in face

WAS with a group of people I am finding New York ing. pretty hard to take after

everyone was getting red in the face about Red China, but only the vast spaces · of Cali-

thrue out

a dozen of about The city says it is pro- people could spell Premier Chou fornia and Nevada. The gress, but I say it is a sad En-lal's name weather is unpleasant. For business. two months I had not seen

They use our engines in their undisputed lead. This is, in the own aircraft. They build them production of privately-owned which ultomises in their own factories, under small aircraft. our current schievement was on ilcence, And re-christen them They have a vast domestic walk. the news show at Farnborough for the with American numbers.

market. Thousands about the Comet,

irst time. It is the Rolls-Royce' In air transport our record every year. For Farnborough is the Sour, a small turbo-jet engine has been chequered. Wo put But in the civil feki as a whole

which has been called "an vur faith

the prop-jel Britain holds

a strong position occasion for national and, W

Viscount and Britannia, with the today, engineering miracle.” Indeed, international e- Although weighing only pure Jet Comet. And the Comet And the true measure of our clamation of British aircraft. 2671b., it gives 1,800 of thrust met a revere initial reverse. growing technical superiority is

power-weight ratio The Viscount, however, is and their designers, to greater

than anything that has been already an established success. Americo is buying our turbo- gother with a modest degree bulli before.

It is being built in large numbers prop transports in ever-increas-

ing numbers,

Finally 1 furn

to our military aircraft.

of

self-satisfaction on the

part of the aircraft manu- facturers,

by

Air Commodore

this:-

A. V.HARVEY, C.B.E., M.P..

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, HANOLKY „PADE LTD.

creased economy on long-range aircraft.

the ... Yet recently mosphere has been different, A mood of doubt has crept in. People have been asking: Has Britain lost her lend in the air to the United States? My answer to that is No. Though I must admit there is some danger of America drawing up on us.

What are the reasons for my "super-charged turbo-prop" with confidence about our

prenent a fuel consumption so low that The critics, supremacy 7

with competes

the diesel believe, talk only of the weak- engine.

NCSBC9 in Britain's position, when they ought to look at our aircraft programme as a whow.

And recently the Bristol Com- pany hos announced

ብ new

Two

fighters

wo of our now in production -- the Hunter and the Bwift - can hold their own with anything likely to be put up against them.

are a

Then there ir the Conway, for international use. There are In the Javelin we have one of

designed a turbo-jet

for In- now over 150 on order.

the world's outstanding all- class And the Britannia should be weather interceptors, a In demand soon. Airlines all rapidly gaining in importance as over the world are interested in the threat of the atoin-bomber th, both for its performance and looms larger. operational economy, It was one

As for our of the stare at Farnborough.

ability to strike, the V-bombers

revolu- Many other transport aircraft tionary and courageous break-

production. are in

previous designs. In fact, away from Britain

American bombors, like their can offer a raze ok With them. of course, are airliners covering every possible airliners, represent the logical and highly-efficient development the mighty

requirement. Sapphire and Olympus engines for both

we are not of a well-tried basic type. In this respect foolishly "jet-happy." nighters and bomber.

When a But no nation could

achieve the performance needed

First, the engines, They govern everything. Without the best engines

the supreme fribute to build the best aircraft,

British leadership in the field Here we can claim a record of of jet and turbo-jet engines is outstanding distinction, and one paid by the Americans.

piston engine does a job better than a jet we use it.'

Only in one sphere of civil aviation does America, hold an

Would your watch have kept

time on the sea-bed?

WEARING a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, a profesor of Milan University went for a swim off Capri. But the strap-buckle war loose, and his watch broke from his wrist, and sank to the botiam. Without much hope, the profesor asked some dirers, working nearby, to keep an eye open for his watch. Surprisingly, seven days later, they actually found it, and it was still keeping perfect time.

It is not really so incredible. For this superb watch, completely protected from water and sand by the famous Oyster waterproof case, is automatically wound by the Ferpetual "rotor" mechanism➡ - another Rolex invention.

It is in their ability to stay accurate, under such incredible tests of endurance that Rolex watches prove their immunity from the more normal ills that beset an ordinary watch.

After seven days beneath the sea, a Rolex Ogier Perpetual, brought up by divers, was found to be still shaving the right time! (The priginal letter of Profeuer Cuisis can be Inspected at the Rolex officei, 18 rue du Marche,

Gixera.)

This Rolex Oyiar Perpetual is similar »

the marya - Permanently

ROLEX

In the history of Time mannrey

But how much longer can they

today?

Exacting

Their current bombers have severe operational limitations. They

require longer runways than our own V-bombers, Their. thin swept wings cannot enclose the undercarriage, which takes up useful space in the fuselage, A special lending technique is noedad: the aircraft must be landed within very narrow speed limita dependent upon its weight at the time.

For the rough and tumble of wartime operation this exacting requirement contrasts sharply with the handling characteris- tics of the British V-bombers and, in particular, the self- capabilities of the

Soon the Americans must bring

into servico aircraft designed on entirely new Unes, We have already done so.

In fact we hold the lead. A

convincing lead.

If the British aircraft industry

is criticised, in spite of all its

are more

them,

ment.

when I asked

gentle

irent.

a drop of rain. (In Lox All over mid-town build- It is often fashionable In Angeles it nover "rains." inga which looked spanking some circles to blame the There is merely "heavy new to me two months ago British, but compared to what dow or light moisture are being rent apart and the French are being called we

big

stoné slabs of

and are getting the chromium going up in their place.

I feel particularly sorry for tho French correspondents. Manhattan 18 plagued They walk the corridors, dangling from their with a feverish restlessness cigarettes

in the French which makes the West, with lips.

wrapped in gloom.. the possible exception of Los Angeles, seem solid and calm.

WITH LABY LITTLEHAMPTON!

* THE MIDOLE EAST — I

POCKET CARTOON by OSBERT LANCASTER

"But of course I remember you perfectly!!"

P

Basic reason

manner,

Gr

The most discussed personality, just now is Joon Greenwood, the articulate atom, who is to co-star with Stewart Granger in "Moonfleet." Miss Greenwood, whose voleo is as husky as Tallulah Bankhead's,

has spoken up in

criticism American vegetables (no flavour) and tea-bags, and in praise of American coffee and New York Taxi-drivers, and gained herself useful columna of

Granger and his wife, Jean Simmons, gave me dinner just before I left the West Coast. Granger cooked, the 'steaks and made the salad himself. Both were excellent. › '

Granger said he'd much rather be a doctor than an actor, and

Jean said she'd sooner have a three-roomed flat pad walk in Tain in London that the glitter of Hollywood,

the

Farewell drink

MREER

all

GARSON invited ... for a farewell drink in her Bel Air home, which has fist had a new v

wing and in elevator odded. Her husband, Buddy

One thing I've noticed since tretur,ut not yet fall, of Fogckon, who is an you make decline, Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy hos got fat and Bustered. So long the accuses he is now the accused, and ho

has squirmed as a special com- mittee of Senators has

id: don't your headquarters in Holly- wood?" I would, if I had one his all wells,

I also met Grear's mother, taken who talked about the time when

Greer got £10 a week in Birm Ingham. Now she commands £60,000 a pistarrer party to tak

PERHAPS it is something to do with the climate. My doctor tells me solemn- evidence on whether he should

be censured, ly: "There is a higher hasal metabolism here than any- The hearings have not been where clac, That's why televised or broadcast, and even

Moura Lympany, a wonderful we are always jumping and smoking has been banned in the pianist and ambassador

Robbed of the Britain, called to say goodbye. dithering, can't keep still, grandstand,

Caucus Room

McCarthy hos suffer from Insomnia and rushed to the microphone and Several American producers outside are bidding for Jack Hylton's the shakes, and rush about the television cameras from one place to the other the Caucus Room and let loose "Salad Days," which they are blasts against his erities. So convinced would be a big hit without any good reason." " for his impact has been small, here,

Now Errol Flynn's father

is used to the fuss

ROFESSOR THEO-

DORE THOMSON FLYNN is I dis- tinguished zoologist. A lean, bronzed, successes, I believe it is mainly a 11,

gentle- because we

secret-mannered and modest Aus- tive than most countries about tralian, who has specialised our achievements. For security in marsupial embryology, a and subject that rarely reaches our the headlines. of: guided

cur

aircraft

30

reasons we say very little about

supersonic rocket developments, fearsome Amoury wespons.

America believes in a judicious lifting of the security vell. For the most part, we do not..

But, for all my confidence, 1 am still ter from happy about some of the planning

aspects of our defence programme.

Russia hides many socrets.

Cut Navy

The ex-Professor, who has achieved a share of fame in his own line, remembers the horror of the 'day his son decided to be an actor. "But, we couldn't have had a

nicer boy,” he adds. ;

by HUGH CLELAND

Belfast.

"swashbuckling" as a convenient word for the Errol Flynn way of life, "I don't think I ever did any swashbuckling when I was younger," said the professor. "Never had much leisure for that sort of thing. I always had to work."

In 1948, the professor resigned reached from the university. "I'd have had to sign uċme time," he explains. "I just anticipated the date a bit, because. Errol had bought some estates in Jamaica.

The

Everyone said we ought to feel "made" him. They proud. It was all very nice."

By that time (the early "We never said much about He has another claim to thirties) the professor was being related to him," said Mrs fame, which he is proud to already a big-man in his own Flynn, "but we had big parties

professor and his wife admit. He is the father of ne, with a string of letters after when the films oame

his name. He had reached

sailed off and settled into the Errol Flynn, the lean, Belfast by way of teaching in the situation

One person who did appreciate sprawling "Great House," on his bronzed, not always gentle high school and technical school

the Flynns son's estate. He took over the

then mannered

in his home State of New South daughter, Rosemary, over-modest or

management af 3,000 acres, whose schoolgiri, now the wife of an chief products are cattle,Coco Wales, work on the staff of the American colonel. Having a nuts, pimento and banane. He film actor, who hits the University of Tasmania, headlines frequently, often Hobart (where Errol Flynn was. Mim star for a brother her stock wrote regular reparte to his son. Wwent right Up," said the pro- "He's a good businessman, Errol, with some violence..

born in 1909), and far-flung fessor. She was thrilled. She reacts very 12search. He had been on an has the same kind of charm as about the estate," said the pro- quickly to reports "Antarctic expedition, and was an

Errol." authority on Tasmanian fläherles

fouror:

"Oh, those headlines.

They used to worry

a and on marsupials (mammals

And the whole technique of warfare la changing rapidly. The balance of the British Armed Forces is not being changed at great deal," sald the pro-- which, like the kangaroo, carry the same tempo.

fessor; and his wife, grey-haired, their young in a pouch), grey-eyed, smart and attractive,

Britain's supreme, need penco-is effective bomber. force.

2 tho, primo. shield of

an

sighed emphatic agreement."

Then we saw how to sift.

I belleve Britain should have what the reports from Holly

at least 160 jet bombers actually wood said, and work out what on the airfields. Not one is the truth probably was,” said

the professor,

No theories

Was

Errol Flynn 'married; three times. His

In his spare time the profesor parchis are phillo indulged his hobbies of golf, sophie. "What can you do about -that sort of thing?" Mrs Flynn

fishing cabinet madming

The world of dusty "There's aske, and answers, nothing you can do. But his professor found himself soma..

university dons réceded. Tha Patrice

wife now (notress

rumbustious, colourful world" of

Who's Who carries 22 Inches Wymore) is a very sweet girl where between that and the about the professor, nothing "Comes from a very healthy1 his, són, “ there

about his son. For purposes of sort of background in Kansas, And, of course, it is useless

comparison, a film Who's Who adds the professor. to have the bombers there unless "And Errol always wrote has 1 Inches on Errol Flynn; they have the weapons to carry. lotters, explaining," Mrs Flynn Encyclopaedia Britannica has After the war, "-Hollywood

Britaki should also, lo cutting added. down on the Navy and the Army Estimates, be ready oven to cut

4

The professor is visiting Lon-

would release inside his don to work on some lentile

tion, offort not

not only for the

bbrs""but also for the

apers...

missiles which will provide, the

most effective defence

country in the yours; the

Announcement

114 columns on marsupials.

father

writers seemed to settle · ́for

and.

Errol Flynn's theories about bringing up

children, ""I suppose we weren't stern enough with Errol," says -Mra Flyna "I ramamber 'when he was very small ho used very long words, and from very early

To sum up." I would say, that He was occupying the chair of en, he loved : de

2 dressing up and

Britain le silii, obaad of America, Our engines retain their res raser: Our airliners are replac of becoming a movie actor.

zookary" when his only son an- play-acting." nounced one day that he thought

ing American typez And our thiftery alternfi | are!, in: LINE

#1 wanted; flen

Not sorry

QITTING In the decorous house, in the decorous evenue

and

in Finchley, where he is staying, the professor talked presently produced somq photographs tross Jamaica

He thumbed photogra

limielt on his