LE
41
DID IT HAPPEN?
A Sunday Afternoon
W
"
ELL, I sup- "of those things that will happen pose I shan't in armies. I may have been be shot at mistaken for a politiciso, or my dawn?" I ask- driver for the mayor's driver," ed Lieutenant Vitsu cheer. Or perhaps the number of the fully. To my dismay the, black Cadillac resembled that young security officer did of a local taxi. I never found not even smile.
out. Somebody, it is true, shouted "Stop!" but didn't preIS the "We shoot no one with-"point. A moment later we were out court martial," he doing a steady eighty through said.
Transylvania in the direction of the Axis Powers.
very
He seemed to me obstinate for a Rumanian.
"He lacked finesse.
After all, I wasn't
unde arrrestyet.
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1935,
My Polish driver was thirsty, and suddenly inspired.
"Stick up the fag, sir," he
Soon we came upon the long columns of the Rumanian army, pulling back 250 miles to the even East and on the wet stretch. All suggested.
with the roads were jammed
I weary men, marching under a
transport,
WAS
Drawing by SHOWELL
the
Another story in
this saries of fact, ar
tales" again. yuta
the question-could this
be trus ? The answar wili
be published on Monday.
.
REVOLUTION IN
T
THE DESERT
By ARTHUR MORLEY
Sydney, elements in the soil (minute. HE most unlikely quantities of copper, sine, iron,
looking group of "reanganese, boran and molybde num) offered a clue, C.SIRO. volutionaries" y D scientists tested the Ninety Mile could imagine are ringing Desert solland found the the countryside out here, ace elements missing.
A team of C.S.I.R.O. scientists Their dress is fairly uniform under Mr H. R. Marston began. -khaki overalls and wide reclamation work in 1950. bushman's hat. They are large. Australian Insurance cam mild and peaceful men, and pany provided the funds, for the honoured names in the par- for the machines that broadenst they bear some of the most tractors that drew great gangs of ploughs across the desert and
ticular branch of science in minute quantities (a thimblaful which they are pioneers.
to the acre in some cases) of
..
the
never heard anything resembling from being in uniform. I have the strip which was torn cá
Leutenant Vitsu.
When he came out I patted
As for the revolution they trace elementa on" the shoulder and
are seeking to create, it is a They planted South AfricaD suggested a drink. As soon as
grasses, subterraneza had him at a
cafe table and bloodless one, for the bereft of veldt
and legumes and Lieutenant Visu deposited my sufficiently restored to under- mankind. Eventually in fact, it clever were car of German newspapermen,
may prove to be as important waited, garians. Their villages
as the more spectacular develop. inviting streets decorated with A cur of observers more official driver in the guard-room, put a stand human speech, I said:
"You realise triumphal arches and tables of than 1-with Nazi armbanda. It entry on the car and escorted
that you menis in nuclear' AssÍON, after the me himself to the DPM's house. overwhelming food and wine,
the this mistaken
situation Briefly, the ox-carts, but hand-picked of He wasn't trusting his tame spy continue with
By no means arrest I shall be bound to men-scientists are trying to change is Last year, the first 35 farms established on the lush course. The Rummarians could to anybody else. have put up just as good a show all the military were as incor- tion the delay in finding a res that the world repulation (how were
ponsible officer to interrogate 377,000,000) is increasing at the pastures-grazing sheep. ruptible as he. with their fast Renault tanks.
me?"
trightening speed
"By ot 50,000
this year, scores of raven-haired Humanian,
people a day while the world's families are moving onto "When all Rumania mourns deserts are advancing. As one now *reen "desert," grazing There was how little empty large and handsome as a prize
the door to us. began Vitgu Indignantly, advancing rose, opened
example, North Africa used to flocks of sheep and herds of of space between the
produce the grain that fed the dairy cattle, and planting crops, Hungarians and
angry She was obviously a woman
decided even
Roman Empire; now it is arid,
Tourists. from A mistake
One-fourth of the world's land surface, in fact is now desert, Australia are visiting the Ninety and the scientists here and in Mile Desert and scientists are Professor "Scandalous!" agreed. "But North America Africa and Asia studyng the results.
AEV
noter Richardson, Til de the best I can for you.are to forestall mass hunger by
teels authority,
now that The DPM's house is, as I ob- bringing some of this vast land
Australia could maintais 100,- on the road out of mass back into production, served,
people,
fully you to allow me
They are seeking, no less, the 000,000 town. Were and my driver to call upon his wife on our way to Bukarest. Cesert fruitful and productive just to tell her that it was all not in small irrigated areas of Ninety Mile Desert experiment a mistake and the DMP was in hundreds of
in have been quickly grasped here alone and overseas. Australia thousands of square miles... his office after all..
has 342,808,000 acres of se less" but relatively well-water- ed land awaiting the scientist's magic touch.
The Associate Chief of the C.S.I.R.O. Plant Division, Dr J. Grifiths Davies,
intimidating
"Where are your taking me?" pall of hot dust and foilawed by put up the Union Jack on the Rumanians jooking down frown character, but I did my best to
"Down to Vatra Dorne! to the DPM, Northern Carpathian Command"
ox-carts and horse
laden with their baggage and bornet and
barrack furmture, received stores and
saw what he meant. We
the · nexi village the mountains into their lovely US with rcars of lost province. It seemed sime to What go home. Over three days I had Few of their units were motoris- applause, Who were we? ed, and they were not allowed to were we doing? How marvellous collested enough details at the two countries' Order of Battie, My notebook was full of de requisition the civilian lorries to be given. Transylvania and Not that they were
of the tails
Rumanian and the
Bul nobody of the abandoned provinces. It And that the Nazis weren't 20- slightest value! I felt that Hungarian armies.
was like watching the migration ing to have all their own way! Joves a touch of professicalism an chery provost marshal was of a tribe. unlikely to consider this interest
"I am," I said, descending so much as the amateur soldier, as harmless as 1 thought it
with dignity from the car, the myself.
official British observer."
ات
"If I were you, I shouldn't bother him on Sunday after- noon," I suggested. "After all, my documents are in order. Be a sport and let me go back to Bukarest."
"I have no evidence that you left it when you say you did.'
Stroke of luck.
In the evening the last of the rearguard staggered
gallantly
BORM in 1900, Geofiery Household did not produce is
first moval until was 17 Since than A6 201 ICONE SUCruizios of direct hits including Rogue Male and Rough Shoot. His are odventure" story-law Prasangebot an ordant reception last month.
Housebait list weet le Rumania as a bonkme atlar eaming down from Oxford. By the time he returned Fhere es on fatelligence Officer he had also sold bonarar in Spain and nearly starved in the United States.
He now content to stay of home, a charide house at Strand-on-the-Grean, Chinwick, which be shares, with his Hungarion wife, thres children and two cats.
by Geoffrey · Household
empty.
Well, he hadn't. But, I did nct
he should suggest that telephone Bukarest. It wouldn't
They were still fighting I could speak coly Rumaniary help at all. If he or his DPM past.
didn't bother them. were but that get on to the Rumanian General fit, and the ambulances
The villages After long experience of the Staff to inquire about me, the nearly Immediate reply would be that 1 inhabited by Rumanians waved League of Nations, they thought The dust it remarkable that any official goodbyc was a British officer and any
and wept.
abserver should speak either of wvidence against me would be seiled. Transylvania was mine the local languages. And my extremely welcome.
to play in,
Rumanian always flowed beauti- fully on a flood of white wine. September, 1940, and
It was
པ་
in Rumania rembant
was
"
stili the The Friday and Saturday were of a British Military exhilarating nights and days Mission. We wore mufti and were registered as clerks at the of travel in a country with no governmast at all No police, Legation, but had no diplomatic Immunity. The Gremans after no military, no politicians and the fall of France knew our the pubs open all day long, names. From time to time.we forgot that I was, technically, a were poetlessly arrested just to
spy-or, if that is putting it loo satisfy
Gestapo liaison the
strongly, at least a British officer officers in the Rumanian police.
in civilian clothes impudenty, enjoying himself in potentially
nemy territory.
Still, we liked to feel that we were not completely uscicss. When Hitler handed over Tran- sylvania to the Hungarians and ordered the Rumienions to get out within six days, I was delighted to be turned loose if I could get loose-to watch the movement, of the troops.
I had started from Bukarest on Thursday, and by a stroke af luck paisced straight through the cordes of troops guarding the rod to the west. Just one
WC
On Sunday at dawn watched from a safe distance the first cautious advance of the Hungarians into their new, lans
LOND
We drove through Bistritsa, a
of sulky
Saxons and swastikas and began the gloomy climb up through the pine Rumanion forests to the new frontier. At the top was a barrier. I tried to bluff. My driver and each found a bayonet six inches from our ribs. After all that humillation the Bumanian soldiery was eager for blood, I - was evident that cury would do nicely pending anything better.
I
That
Official fate
obstinate young and
of security, police lieutenant intervened in order to reserve us for a more decently official tate. When I flatly refused to return to Hungary and the at-
CER
be gallant. After all, it wasn't her fault that she was married
abruptly to a DPM. Visu cut short the politeness by asking if her husband was at home.
"He is at the office," she said, "No, he is not," replied Vitou Impulsively.
Vaguely. very vaguely for when reason has given up hope, instinct begins to work over time--I felt that the situation had taken a turn in my favour,
"How do you know he isn't?'
"We I interrupted. been there yet"
anger.
-all "over
д
revolutionary aim of making the developed.
The implications of the
First
acres, but
On
great
the
Industry
Ever I like the Rumanians. that sters son of duty could of delicate bli a appreciate
Vitsu skulduggery
to began
of the stage
experiment haven't laugh, and then, for the sake of reclamation
the record, put on a pretence of Australia has just been com
pleted successfully Vitsu, stared at me, and the "If you're not out of towh in į Ninety Mile Desert in South says that all that is needed to
the bit perceived
Australia Sandy, arid suddenly which yawned before him. The three minutes" he said,
We wore. end of all promotion. Marching behind
ox-carts Instead of WORLD living in luxury at a holiday resort and arresting harmless citizens on Sunday afternoons!
He mumbled that he just didn't think the DPM. would be at his office, that of course we hadn't been there yet. And then he took me off on a round of the hotels to find him.
..
Beautiful spy
232
In fact it was only interrupted tention of gentlemen with arm-
We ran him to earth at last. by the roar of the Hungarian bands, he jumped into the motorised advance guard coming, and ordered us down to Vatra He was, said the hotel porter,
Dornei for interrogation. At first in conference in Room up the road.
Vits was that zealous sort of officer who sees nothing but his duty. He ran upon his fate. He knocked on the door of 232, and entered. There was a taint shriek-a very odd sound for a DPM
1
We bounded into the Cadillac I chatted with him pleasanuty and vanished over the horizon, and confidently. I felt that But after so much refreshment was out of danger until, that is, this seemed cowardly. Way net found he was laiding me very pee what we could of the actual
seriously indeed, "He didn't fuss occupation?
driver. The about my Polish Rumanians were magnificently generous to exiled Poles.
:
So, at the next little town, we took down the Union Jack and pretended to be, as it were, leading the advance, adopting a
I remained in the passage, 50 I have no idea what was going on at that conference, Perhaps
beautiful Little Vatra Dornei was half
spy was being stern and selfless pose like that garrison town, half holiday Interrogated. But you who were of the mcarted policeman who resort. In spite of all the ex
in the army will bave heard unless your conduct was rides a quarter of a mile shear citement across the border, it of a procession. Then we drew preserved the peace of Sunday. and your. saluting impeccab and, cqually cautious ourselves, off the road alongside the nearest DI DOKITA, ned away in front of them pray-
and cheered the free drinks, #
song of the water rushing that we wouldn't have
That part of Tran-
to the Moldavian plain. placeture. sylvazia- all wooded hills and pasture like the Welsh border was largely inhabited by Hun-
in
could You in the cafes
Arrival.
The
.. Armoured cars. Motorcycliste DPM was not at his office. with leather jerkins and slung sergeant clerk thought he carbines. The brigade staff. A
His was
at home.
hear DPMS in full food. Those and the know spolce cold English and down were in uniform. This DPM Д far less. inhibited spoke language. half Latin and half 1. guessed the Slav. Alsof situation aright -- he was
for
Continuing_ THE ROYAL SUCCESS STORY
HOW THE PRINCESS FOUND
HER
N
SECOND
O member of the Royal
Family has been more
PERSONALITY
By Richard Dimbleby
Sovereign.
visit had been something of a rehearsal. Everywhere she went, to islands often excluded time and distance, her de- With her father's death, the meanour surprised people.
They had expected -by second phase of her life began. The clubs saw her no more, and reason, of the chatter and gossip the theatres infrequently. She from home, a young, gay, high- had
been
They found always
↑ regular spirited girl,
polsed,
almost churchgoer, but now she would woman
manner comfortably able to handle the formalities
discussed in the past gay, high-spirited young woman, protocol as that accepted by the trom royal tours because of two years than Princess who extracted as much fun as Margaret Argument about she could from a life bounded her has taken several forms. by etiquette, into the composed A section of the older and dignified Princess who is the country's generation, composed of the
ambassadors today, narrow-minded who, had
one.
The most significant event in appear, alone and unheralded, solemn,
so, with her. with the Princess noted her re-
they lived a century ago, the life of Princess Margaret in a London church. "would have regarded the ad-was the death of her father, A. Her natural taste for smart of official occasions, vent of the waltz as a public close bond of love and under clothes remained and doubtless Above all, those in contact scandal, has delighted in standing had always existed will always do criticising her fondness for between them, what is sometimes called "high life."
The younger generation has endless found material or gossip in ber
clothes, hair
and the news ability as an attractive young markable powers of conversa. woman to wear them, but she ton and her ability to talk was taking up an increasing intelligently on any subject, number of public duties,
sent from Sandringham in February 1952 was shattering,
Ignored comment
HE Princess had lost a father who understood her complete- section of the whole population, ly, who knew exactly, how she
styles, and shoes. A cross-
led on by one or two irrespon
When she went to Southern Rhodesia with her mother she'
was able to take second place,
Only in theory:
WITH the Caribbean tour over,
to slip off on her own to explore and a pronounced success, we the city of Salisbury or teach a
may expect Princess Margaret
was spending her time, and who, group of young people to dance te voyage abroad again as the behaviour, would have been the
neel
Mean. Queen's representative.
Princess Margaret when
a child--and today.
No one certainly none of
nible newspapers, has intely with his strict code of duly arid a z she went to a "law while, she is now the subject of those who have indulged them- first to intervene if he had hospital to perform the opening controversy which, distracting selves in print at the expense thought that any of his daugh ceremony and name it (most as it is to a proper appraisal of of the ter's actions were iompatible people expected the "Queen her work, cannot be ignored, truth behind the gossip, Ner,
the position and respon. Elizabeth Hospital") she drew
devoted itself to speculation about her private life and the likelihood of her marriage,
Bound by etiquette IN writing about work of the Royal Family, I have devoted
shiites of
Princess knows the
2. royal Princess. back the velling to reveal a From the welter of in whatever people may say, is it tion, and vulgar tetame Princess Margaret - Eas» set one hard fact emerges Prin. aside a life of freedom and cess Margaret can marry, it she galety to devote herself to wishes. No one can stop her royal duties as the loyal sup was a secret that the marrying, the man she may porter of her sister and a repre
Of course they were not tablet inscribed "Princess Mar formed grip, baseless specula. any business of ours, of course, they were not: gares Hospital"
myself so far to the Queen, the other girls born into "society"
Duke of Edinburgh, and the enjoyed themselves.
'Poised'
Queen Mother. It seems high. She played hard, and wil Princess had kept with some choose, providing that she is sentative of her country, She
time that someone cast aside the energy and zest of youth, the idle chatter and examined worked hard as well, enjoyment; to the observant, prepared to renounce her right is entitled to happiness, the contribution that the young She ignored the comments It was also the sign that she of succession to the throne WORLD COPYRIGHT BEECEVED
the This is an obstacle only Frincess has made to the work of those who wanted to was now ready to represent the of her family.
organize her life for her and Queen in her own right, in theory, since it is exceed. who believed that junior Her frat major work in this ingly unlikely that she would But first I is necessary members of the Royale Family zale has been the Caribbean ever be called-upon to become to trace the development of a should be bound by the same tour for which the "Rhodesism Chuma
i
NEXT SATURDAY:
The Golden Rule of King George VI.
COPYRIGHT" RESERVED
DID IT REALLY HAPPEN?
YES
NO
Put your tick in the space abere and keep this panel by you malli Monday when the answer will be given--with smot story in this series by
Val Gielgud
actualy
CPA
turn this area
vast "desert” area"
that from time immemorial has into farms is to find what com
bination of Soli elements St own only sunted and useless seeds and supply thems scrub. It measures 6,500 square miles.
Huge projects of this nature Selentists
of the Federal have already been put in hand. New South Wales Government's Commonwealth Government has begun reclaim-
and Scientific
Industrial Ing the soll of the eastern table- Research Organisation under Sir Ian
Clunies Ross have been lands of that State an area of
14.500.000
acres running from considering the puzzle of the the Queensland border south- N-aety Mile Desert since the wards to Victoria, Results of war. It received a tolerable pilot farms are already 'specta- rainfall (18 to 20 inches yearly) cular-the value of wool pro- but remained sterile. Why? duction has jumped from £4-
Recent worldwide discoveries 3-0 per acre to £14-8-0 the importance of trace acre on improved pastures
announce the inauguration of the
HONG KONG and
per
Fastest Service between
ONLY 2 hrs. 40 min. flying time
by new Douglas DC-6 Service
Commencing 2nd. July
enjoy Quick business trip or quick holiday trip. this comfortable, speedy travel now offered by C.P.A. Fully pressurized cabin. Air-conditioned. Attentive service. Departing every Wednesday and Saturday from 2nd July.
Cathay Pacific Airways Leil
Pessages, call 56260, 34149, 27160 Freight, call 58948, 54833 BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE (ILR) LTD., and, major tourist · MEZEITEN.
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