1955-07-30 — Page 6

THE

TO

I

N the

Bummer

of

of

1941 an agent the Palestine Jews

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JULY 30, 1955.

ROYAL DOCTOR COMES

WINGATE'S

LE RESCUE

working at

G.IL.Q.,

Middle East Forces, sunt 24 message

to tho

Jewish Agency in Jerusalem. It said: "Ya Hedid is grave- ly ill, and may die. Please inform Weiz- mann and Sher-

tok."

He did

Y a (Hebrow for

Friend ".)

Wingate's

"The

W & B

code-

name in the Jewish

secret army.

Almost Immediately

Shertok (now Moshe Shareht, Prime Minister of Israel) appeared in

Cairo and went the

HE WAS A WRECK, A FAILURE. THEY THOUGHT HIS CAREER WAS FINISHED. AND THEN SUDDENLY HE FOUND THE PATH THAT WAS TO LEAD HIM TO GLORY

15th General Hospital, where Wingate was a patient after try- ing to kill himself by cutting Sherwok took with

hla that,

a friend from Wingate's earlier days In Palestine, o

by

LEONARD MOSLEY

}

Shertok informed him that, so far us anyone in Cairo knew, Wingate had fallen in his hotel und Injured himself.

Sudan and Ethiopia. He knew had been a correspondent in Germany until the outbreak of war and asked me many ques- tions about conditions in con- centration camps, I told him.

"But why don't they commit suicide?" he asked, and when I replied

that this was not so simple if you had neither belt nor braces, knives nor and were

in

You

he was contemptuous.

don't

kill yourself water weapons to

ho said. Ho

lifted up his arm and brought it

to

his mouth. "All you need to do is bito through your veins and bleed to death" : - -

Now here he was, that most pathetic and pitalably of all characters, a failed suicide. He had botched the most desperate decision of his life and become an object of derision to his cavmies and a figure of doubt lo his friends.

LOST PRESTIGE

WITH

one ill-timed und handled cut of a knife, he had dissipated all the prestige which his campaign in

"Nonsense. It is not true. I took a knife and cut my throat, clumsily I intended to kill myself, and I should be dead now if someone had not heard me

great broken down the dooring and Ethiopia had begun to gather for

of a man I am?

young Haluan Jew named Strel, miserable.

Above the who subsequently parachuted

bandage around his neck the into

fur the Allies and Haly

face was pale and the oyes were died in Dachau.

dull

nearer. looked with despair. He

with little interest, Sherlok and his companion Al Sireni forund Wingate propped up shook hands apathetically with

and In Sherlok, bed,

swathed throat bandages. They were greeted him:-

"Shertok, I don't need to tall hospital by Akavia, Wingate's you about me. You know that Jewish secretary, who had just even though I am British my flown north from Ethiopia,

to the

his

waiting-room

MISERABLE

1n

of the

destby with

your

"I believe

whether

then

said to

#

IN DESPAIR

not

and

of his

THE DRAMA IN A CAIRO HOSPITAL Wingate, pale, apathetic, roused himself to say: "I know that one day you will

to be Commander-in-Chief of the Army of liract."

cash me

Kouning

to do 90.

BRITAIN'S STRANGEST HERO-CHAPTER 6

sald again to Kounine:

Owe

#1300C

in

"Ho.

large

his .measure to your help and Initiative and to our mutual perspicactly."

His determination

share the credit with Kounine, was the typical gesture of a very great min.

So. Orde Wingate emerged from the the worst moments of his life, still alive, still in the Army, still a major..

He spent some time with his wife, and slowly his mental con- dition changed from Knowing misery (or its alternative. panic hysteria) to optimism, God wee suddenly on his sido again. Ho was full of hope and optimism, and began busily contacting his friends in politics and the War Omeo to got him a new job,

Now jobs of the kind, ho visualised, in the rank for which he whe obviously. Afted, vero not so easy to come by in the And then, once circumstances. more, General Wavell-a soldier he did not really admire-come to his rescue.

Wavell had the problemot Burma, about to fall into Japanese hands, on his mind and conseilence. It occurred to him that a man like. Wingate might arrest the flow of the yellow-lide towards India by guerilla methods, and he asked London for him. Almost almul- taneously, a political essage (routed not through Military channels) asked Wavell whelber he could find Wingate a job.

A THREAT

February 28, 1942, a. note

Osaled under my door.

"Am

had

to

East, you know. Do you know

him. He had returned to Cairo soldior whose exploits were, He beckoned Shertok to come ↳

"Do you see what sort so far, unknown and his future I try to kill uncertain. Time, plus the self-

achievements myself and I do not even make evident

have a good job of it. If you still Ethiopian

period,

Would taken care of that, But who want me as the leader of your taket

would continue to employ a man ariny, remember this!"

The report from the whose only answer to criticism, in

doctors tempests that were apt to rage enemies to get him either court- martiailed or sacked. To that Was Cairo

that in in his brain. such

en route to a' now Job. antagonism and stupidity was to South Africa, he Was *taken He admired his patient, but end, he enlisted the aid of Would like to talk to you be cut his own throat, inefficiently? ashore

the distinguished colleague. He ask- fore. I proceed." and appeared before a with something less than

ed King He lay there in his bed' at

George VI's doctor, Unked for all time

Downstairs was Wingate. He had which included adulation that other Jews at medical board, the 15th General Hospital, only mental specialists,

Lord Horder, if he would see ART B

Him. people. 1

been urgently, flown His at Pleter- displayed towards

his patient. Horder read Win Cairo on route for India and the Zionist and I believe in Zionism. Muckest period of Wingate's his fallure

the beginning of the too well aware of the extent of IT was

of maritzburg. The report which atitude to Wingate was that of

ho hod East, and not-too- gate's medical record and agreed Far

not the profound these doctors aubsequently wrote a not-too-indulgent.. one day the Jews

Almost as soon changed a bit. will have

inde- life. For the next few months he consequences their Own

of his mistake. the examination took place on adulatory big brother.

Kounine believes it is almost as he saw me he said "They pendent country. I believe that, was to live in the pit of despair, Only a few of his friends, who October 8, 1941] was forwarded

sympathised with

certain that Lord unjustified loyally visited

Horder's still hate me here in the Middle hin each day, to the War Office in London, AKAVIA Was extremely dis-

which your people have to wallowing in

the religious conflicts knew that he was physically at tressed, and repeatedly said: night to get 11, or whether they self-pity at his situation.

And, as Orde Wingate neared blew so gustily through Win- Personal intervention saved the the lowest

what they have done now?, I If only my pisne had been on

to fight to keep it, the It would be an exaggeration

ebb, his enormous home his dilemma was not as gate's mind.

was flown from London as bave this

reserves would time

not

of energy sapped by he had once hoped, to decide that does battle for your to say

It is almost certainly due that many people st

months

of malaria, cold,

Priority One because Wavell "Orde 'NOT ONLY ME... freedom will be led by me, happened."

Middle East Forces, G. H. Q

dam), which vlotorious forces he would his determination that

neods me badly; but Cairo, con- and that, mentally, command next in the war, but Wingate, "I know that one day you will were appalled at his situation. hunger; They spoke briefly to Chap-

that winter of 1041.

trols the priorities from here on it he was in one Commander-in- and there were some to whom or periods, when evil and the urge martialied for wounding himself forth to win fame as a general THE Britain's ask me to be

of his Satanic man-Andrewn (now

whether he would be court- was kept in the Army and sent

they have deliberately HE frst thing that Wingate and umbassador to the

Lebanon), Chief of the Army of Israel. It represented a good excuse for

was still to escape self-destruction

to Priority Three. dropped me further service or

said to him when he met him when I complain they just 'jeer. hadi campaigned who

In Burmo. with is because I know one day you celebration. The upstart soldier for Wingate

In Ethiopia, and had will ask me to undertake this from the bush who had dared to staking, like a beaten but sti invalided from the Army as a

Kounine was determined to was: "You know, Lard Horder, at me". helped to

get him to hospital task that I want you to know all criticise them had proved not hopeful dog, through the dark meatal case in need of psychin- rout the attempts of Wingate's I am not the only great soldier It was true that some

at the about me,

but incompetently alleys of his mind. after the entastrophe

coinmit Exactly what sort only weak. "How Continental Hotel.

is of a man I am. What kind of weak. Ho had made such a

His wife was, a great comfort to him, and gave him unfailing "You will find him in a very He touched the bandage that, it must be admitted, even

encouragement, but there were his

were: Chapman-Andrews around his neck and pulled at some of friends bax! state,"

even his most IS worst momentin Cairo few people, HIS replied.

contemptuously. "This, for surprised.

fervent admirers, who imagined: came when Akavin was with that Orde Wingate Many times I had talked with He was understating. Wingate instance. What have you been

Wingato about suicide in the aim and a nurse brought in his be anything but had never looked more low and told about this?"

mail. There were letters from: wrock.

army

Colonel Wingate?" they asked. things I am capable of doing." clumsy job of his suicide attempt WORST MOMENT

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tric attention.

would ever

ទ nervous

his wife, which he put aside to "He had

moments when read

when he was alone, and

hc. acted Ilke a gibbering one from G.H.Q., Middle East manjac," said one of his friends, Forces.

"It was henri-breaking to be

Until this moment, despite the with him. He was a wreck of a wound in his neck, he had still man." been Colonel Wingate, the victor of Ethiopia;

but the letter addressed him us Major Win- gate. He was back to his sub- stantive rank, without a word warning, once more; and no prospects in sight.

of

NE

ADMIRATION

man, however, who never Tost faith In Wingate's the eventual emergence from The following day, without

slough of despond was hle any of his friends being in doctor, a middle-aged, stolidly- formed, Major Orde Wingate built Jew ramed Ben Kourine, was taken from hospital and Koumine, a man of profound loaded into an ambulance. A knowlage and a deep-senteri few days later he sailed from interest in his fellowmen, hard Suez in a hospital ship by way known Wingate for a long time, of the Capa for home,

and was well aware of the

LORD HORDER

He sympathised, acted.

day.

to

*

mem- bers of G.H.Q., Middle East,

tried to It is sign of Horder's own were having a schoolboy revenge Wingate he did not im- for past insults from

lack of co-operation, and, in by mediately put down Wingate a one or two cases, open derision

who suicide."

has

stature that

his mind as a

megalomaniac, and wash his hands off him.

and contempt. But was the de lay in his forward flight due to Instead, he talked

(and mything but the oxigencies of listened) to him with attention wartime transport? I could not and sympathy. Subsequently he find out. But certainly, after a consulted with Dr Kounino and non-stop flight from London to together -the two of. them

he had to wait oyen, a Cairo, decided on a course of action.

On December 20, 1941, Horder of the journey; and was told, by fortnight to make the next stage

sent a report on Orde Wingate A high offleor in my presence: to the Director of Medical "And don't try complaining to Services at the War Office. That

We'll just stop

report is, of course, confidential; the Old Man. but it did contain Lord Horder your telegram. assurance of Wingate's mental

fitness,

Wingate

,was

martialled

for

was a

Wingate by this time pale, meek man who looked and he had never ..hot

court sounded, as it

insulted a general in his life. self-inflicted wounds. He was not dismissed His neck was scarred from his the Service as a medical case, suicide attempt, and he He was allowed to carry on as a thin and subdued. serving officer.

"Good. I am glad to hear it,"

said Horder do Kourine.

And later, when Wingate wgn

PROMOTION

was

fame as a general in Burma, he ONLY once did we talk about

Who else besides the cunning Cupid knows HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE

TO FALL IN LOVE?

T'S remarkable - the speed at which the Go Slow brigade moves, into action at the mention of a lightning romance.

romance

years.

MARY HAMPSON By

his suicide attempt. We had both, by coincidence, bemi rend- ing. Huxley's recently published "Grey Eminence," the biography of Father Joseph, the mystic who sat at the right hand of Cardinal Richelleu, Father Joseph was much concerned with death, and used to walk the roads of France saying Ito himself: "Die, dio, die," hop |ing to drop dead as an not of

contrition.

saw him. He was sitting behind

"It is the nogation of my.own an enomous desk, looking official. He had lovely wavy philosophy," Wingate sud,"I hair, and I thought: 'I'd love to belleve in the Semitic attitude go.behind that desk and ruffle and I say to God: Let me Live, years, she still that hair. I don't think he was live, live. And it is only when Nonsense, you say? I wouldn't After thirty

very interested in me. But he Satan, not God, tempts me that They were quick off the say it too loudly when Ursula thinks it was a fair exchange."

he'd take me out I wish to die." And what about Commander promised

I mildly told him that, as mark when Orlando Sirola, Bloom's around....Miss Bloom

cost. He didn't know what an man who prided Himself as the Italian tennis star, mar has been dispensing fictional Robinson, the man she marriedt when I'd made my first broad-

for hundreds and He remembers the first time he incentive it was! Soon after a master of all sciences, and ried Corise Phillips, the 21- thousands of words. Sho's been saw his wife because

he fell

* broadcast and we went out crafts, he had learned the art of year-old London girl he met lving u real-life romance for 30 for her with a splash!

dinner. A fortnight after that suleido badly. "I know," he “She didn't know it, but the we were engaged, and

six said, "No one told me that three weeks before.

to your "They must be mad," they "I meant to marry the man first time I saw her was on the months later we were married" when you put a knifé

throat and begin to;<

cint, the bald. What can they know of who became my husband the end of Margate pler. I saw this

muscles tense upage wi beautiful thing and stepped back each other in so short a time?” first time we met, I did marry

Francis Lederer told his wife There was a note m my box saw to have another look, and fell What does love, ever know him the twelfth time

right into the sea. It could have eight hours after he met her from him wier He had flown or need to know? I once heard him.

Don't worry. been awkward you know, there You know, I'm going to marry away: "Goodbye,

day." They

were I shall be a general yet.—Malor you one

and Orde C. Wingate." "He was an officer on board was a bit of a swell on at

married six months later, Cung Anloguing the charms of the the Royal Oak, and

when wome?"

Six weeks Inter Wavell had Some women are most the wedding was fifteen years than in her life:

"When you were introduced thought: 'Oh, endearingly honest, I find. They young last month.

Ho know why you love him you my gosh, that's for mo

Geoff Duke' is speed mor don't mind admitting that if don't"

Which could be bores looned so nice, you see, My they don't do the charing, they chant on and off his motor bike. dom lashing cut, but could bo husband im a very handsome, walk a little faster!

Ho proposed to pretty Pat Red man. "It cost me thousands. to Jill Manners, singing star of the wook after he met her and a long time since the marry him£200,000 to be stage, and television, married married her barely two months poet sang: "I did but see her exvel, I was a widow, and the her agent, I'm not telling you after that. He must have held passing by, yet will I love her money was dependent upon my how long ago. But I was 17. the record for lightning romance Lill I ale

remaining one,"

I remember the first time I/before Sirola won it? :

By Lee Falk: and Phil Davis

--SO WILLING SO QUIET--BE LIKES TO HEAR WOMEN TALKJ SO OBLIGING--AND" SO HANDSOME AND

Hmmm INTERESTING **

somebody say to

infatuated woman who was

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN

MANDRARE NEVER TAKES ME OUT |-~HE THINKS WOMEN SHOULD

SLAVE ALL DAY CONTINUES NARDA.

WHEN YOU FINÍCH HERE, SCRUB THE

SIDEWALK.

A

"HE THINKS WOMEN TÁLK TOO MUCH SOMETIMES HE FREEZES ME WITH HYPNOSIS YOU KNOW.

SILENCE/

WOMEN TALK TOO I WON'T MUCHT THE IDEAƒ¦) DISCUSS THAY DIONS--EVER BUT THEN I HIT: YOU!!

MET GURN

THAT SWEET MAN--

the

mado film a brigadier.

(WORLD COPYRIGHT)*

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