1956-04-07 — Page 6

* Page 6

UTURVESANÍAprimenemuondoan

The Story So Far PRIVATE ALBERT FOOLEY

1

vowed to avenge his comrades of the Royal Norfolk Regiment who were shot down at Le Paradis In Northern France on May 27, 1940, after surrendering to the Germans. of nearly 100 prisoners,

TWO

WIL

only

privates -- Pooley and O'Callaghan---survived.

Pooley is badly wounded in the leg. and O'Callaghan drags him

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1956.

POOLEY TELLS HIS STORY

AND THE

to a farmyard, where they hide To the private, the massacre at ·

in a pigsty for nine days and

Madame Duquenno-Creion, wife

¿of

of the

.son

nights. While they are hiding, Le Paradis was the most shocking farmer, returns with her and terrible thing that had hap-

screaming pened in his life.

Funs

for the

the first time since the fighting. When atro vers the two woldiers, she towards the village, followed by O'Callaghan, but he reallars how dangerous it is to show himself on the road, and returns to the farmyard.

*To the officer, it was a routine questioning. It had happened years before... and he had never heard

LOWLY, uncertainly, of Le Paradis.

the Frenchwoman turned, and moved back the farm.

Lo Above her cries she must have heard O'Callaghan calling to her and realisedi that he called in English.

Pooley The Frenchwoman si down her basket and knelt to look at the miss the field <ress-

ng barely covered.

Then she took a bottle of milk from the basket and held up some eggs. The Englishmen almost shouted with joy,

Hoiding her son by the hand, she саме towards

Il was odd that now, when O'Callaghan. He said;

fortune smiled at lost, Pooley "English soldat."

and O'Callaghan came near to fils

time. might well quarrelling for the appearance

only Ke have caused alurm.

hud Pooley said he wanted his egg: Anch ü half many days growth on his chin, cooked for three

minutes. O'Callaghan's watch

www

eune to sen

muld, then, they "You

Lell the Germans about us If you think it will save reprisals."

followed by acne, turned into Some time later a motorcycle,

the farm. O'Callaghan, who was

леаг

feraging in the farmyard the woodpile, hurriedly entered thebe first Miding place.

The motorcycle was ridden by » German

A despatch rider. Frenchman and two Germans. of the one in officer-got out

They crussed the court- wand und entered the building where Pontey was lying.

The two Germans were It medical officer oral a medical onderly The Frenchman was an ofeint from the village.

ene.

salci

He was dirty, blood-stained and not working, and he dishevelled.

"Monche," he sale. pointing Pooley must have them as they

For a moment it seemed cape. to his mouth.

there would be angry words, but they realised how ludlerous it would be to quarrel over such a trivial thing after their suffer- ings of the last few days.

Friendly smile

comprends,"

"Je

the woman, with a friendly, if ner-

yous smile. She turned and

hurrfed off with her young son. Half an hour later she returned with a basket in her hand Madame Duquenne-

Creton was one of the innumerable folk of France who proved after the bitter fall of their country that the true spirit of France was not dead. Later she was awarded a

U

So they ate the eggs and the broad, and drank the milk, and were truly thankful.

Her dressings almost certainly

his life.

Said nothing

certificate by Air Chief Marshal Sived Pooley's leg and perhaps said nothing.

The

OFFICER YAWNS

The officer looked at Pooley's wounds......

He

story.

1

lald it open from knee to ankle: und removed the decaying bore. Finally ง neutral medical board examined Pooley and

declared him "unft for further military service."

.

Twice he was put on a train Twice there was a last-minute hitch.

for repatriation.

for

At last, in April 1943, negotia- tions

for the

the exchange ot wounded prisoners went through. Pooley travelled back to England via Sweden. He Loot on British soll three years after the crime of Le Paradis,

Even greater than the thrill and friends was the

of being out of captivity back Among

report the secret at last 10 which he had been forced to keep for

for so long.

Helping hands from friendly

all part of the Polar "Gold"Ruih"

A

COLD WAR

IN AN

ICY

I

CLIMATE

By PETER HAHN

Buenos Aires with the elements--a common HAVE just paid a enemy to all of them. They are visit to Antarctica, almost friends. Ailing British crew members are sometimes that continent of treated in Argentine sick-bays, barren rock, ice and and Argentine soldiers. spice towering mountains, which their canned food with British has recently hit the hend- sauce, obtained as a gift from

the British bare staff, lines.

Yet, whenever a British or Argentine vessel makes port

ore

kept

I found that Antarctica usually the same port used by oll competitors--lhe, opposing tremendous rellet of being able in the battlefield of a "colt nation delivers a sterly, worded war," fought with frosty note of protest against instrusion politeness in an icy climate, of territorial waters. The notes,

At the southern hub of the printed in advance, Private Pooley made a pro world I witnessed the bitter ready for such occasions. On Rihinary statement as soon as strugglo for domination over the date has to be filled in. he arrived at Richmond Conva- the wedge-shaped sector of the

GOOD 'RESULTS lescent Camp. He did not know White Continent known as the what the next step would be | British Antarctle Sector, but he was sure that something would be done.

Interrogation

Something was done. He was ordered

but for further Interrogation.

explorers

An Army ofcer was scated most of this

territory.

at a table, another was seated regard Britain as an intruder. on a second table, looking out of the window. His back wES

International

that

►

The daring ventures of the Argentine and Chile are British surveying leans brought Britain's opponents in this quest good results, which ensure Brl- for sovereignty. Both countries tain a considerable advantage in cloim the Graham Land the progress of survoys and ex- Peninsula main part of the ploration. Operating from bases British Antarctle Sector) s on Horseshoe Island and at Hopa to report at a certain their own, despite the fact that Bay, the Colonial Offico

Beitials

discovered plorers achieved an almost com They plete survey of the hitherto in

necessible Graham Land Plateau,

But Jaw requires

Argentine runs a closo on admittedly, ex- was Idly

muy country. claiming second with

survey of the Weddell swinging his legs. He glanced virgin land, mast do more than cellent

ocean of many round when the private entered merely take formal possession See, a frozen

Such and

thousands of square milies in size. then turned away, paring of the urea.

territory his nails.

must be continually Occupier

The struggle for rule in the The first officer asked:

Artorellc Sector 1s in provements Private Pooley?" you

the region In

reality only part of another question (charting surveys, for struggle the mid scramble for example) ensure Validity for

Antarctic territory in general, or, territorial claims.

an veterans of the Antaretle cali 1. "the South Pole gold rush."

The White Continent attracted expeditions than ever

Before they left they govo Pooley was not fit for much to Pooley and he Pooley bread and sausage. interrogation, but he answered, was propped against the wall "its not a cock-and-bull sipeking a German cigarette, It's the truth." at when O'Callaghãn came out of

his cubby-hele.

"What happened to the CO?"

"He got it as well." the sick man.

oi

Private Pooley looked up Makine Creton then used them He said, "Well, are you some hot water to wosh and going to shoot mo?** clean Pooley's wound and

So that was that. to

The game of the Germans. spoke dress them as best she could. good English. "No, only Chur- of hiding was over. Now that On her next visit she brought a whil

and Chamberlain shoot their presence was known to the bottle of hot coffee, some hydro- prisoners."

Germans the sooner they know gen peroxide, and bandages. Puoley thought, " cruid tell what was to happen to then the

you something different," but he better.

looked vAlver

at his Tedder for

Pooley. helping

she A few days later

old wounds and said, "Very nasty." O'Callaghan, and another soldier. them, uning gesticulations

that But he told Pooley

the She knew The risks she was convey whit her words did not. German medical staff were over- running. The Germans had that several people in the village whelmed with their own posted notices threatening the had an idea that they were at wounded

and there was little death penalty for harbouring the farm.

the The village headman they could do for him L British soldiera.

knew and was getting

Pooley and O'Callag- NETVOUS moment. lest the Germans

should take han would be the responsibility retribution on the villagers,

of the villagers until arrange- Pooley and O'Callaghan talked ments could be made to take

over; when The headman them into captivity.

O'Callaghan beckoned to the woman to follow him. They walked through the doorway of the

sty and looked down at it

เก

Second - rate lover, indifferent poet? his

The idol of

fellow countrymen (and Russia's favourite Scot) comes in for a scathing criticism that will rouse controversy all

over the world

BURNS DEBUNKED BY

A

A SCOTS LASSIE

By CUTHBERT GRAHAM

DMIRERS of Barns, ove songs, god or

bad-good. renowned Scottish last and bad-have been flung poet, revered by the with equal ardour at every Scols world at large (including the girl's herd ever since he wrote Russians),

them. The best love songs in

So much for Burns as Javer and love poet. But perhaps Miss Kelth is kinder to him in other

respects?

Does the agree that Burns is, for all his faults, a truly never been national poet, alte who speaks for the whole of Scotland? Not a bit of it.

Bre going to the werid," avers her swain task living roundly...But are they the best?

at last a For Scotland has has rebelled much of leye-making try..... cult of the

have quite a this down For Scotswoman

against the

Bard na "grant lover."

it.

ever

con-

According to Miss Keith he was far too deficient in imagina-

replied

"Are "Yes, sir."

"I have heard a story about But the officer,

unconvinced, some men of the Norfolks being suld, "The Germana would not shot by the enemy after they do that sort of thing," and, un- had been taken prisoners. Do willing to worry Pooley any you know anything about this? of further, turned away.

Did I really happen?"

"Ye, sir. I did happen." "How do you know?”

I was there, sir." "Were there any other vivers?"

officer The

al the yawned.

"Yes, sir, there was one other survivor."

Ponley was badly in need The flesh proper treatment, his leg was discoloured, and It looked as if gangrene might rob hon of the limb. He could not

My without O'Callaghan' assistance, Any moverment of the leg was torture.

alt

On twe things they Were agreed. It was their responsi- bility to report the massacre of British prisoners

to someone senior to themselves at the first possible moment. On the other hand, they must

not Jet the Germans discover that they were survivors of the atrocity. Eye-witnesses would be popular.

un-

The next afternoon an ambu- tance drove into the farnybird. Two Frenchmen took a stretcher Into the plasty where Pooley. and O'Callaghan had lived for nine days and nights.

They carried the sick man to the ambulance and O'Callaghan

got in too, Madame Croton

This was the first line the iwo

had mentioned the men crime to anyone. They were angry and resentful at the recep- tion given to their story. They were not to know that this was

THE

VENGEANCE

OF

PRIVATE POOLEY

stood on the grass verge waving ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK and crying "Bon voyage,“ ›

Too weak

hospital at Bethune, a

They were taken the civil mining town about six miles from Le, Paradis. The French doctors operated on Pooley's leg is soon

was

admitted They eleaned the wound and took out two bullets

that were fairly accessible, but he was too wenk for them to do more.

O'Callaghan was out of bed within

days. He dis-

ט

few

separated from

By CYRIL JOLLY

best

What was his name?"

sur window

Only such occupation, and Im British

of

MERE CLAIMS

On the other hand, as long more

merc

ar Do ccccpted ruling by in.er- before this year. Seven countries national tribunal on the dispui- sent scientists and workmen to ed Antarctic regions exisis, the blaze new tralls for geophysical question of ownership remains operations during the year 1957- The United States, Britain, a matter of

National 08. claims-unrecognised by anyone New Zealand, Argentine, Chile and every Soviet Russia prepared who chooses to ignore them.

bases

for

next year's probe into Therefore,

the virgin continents secret ard In the meantime, hidden treasures. gathering evidence

prove focussed world interta: their particular

country Antarctica.

This suddeut

Pooley began to feel resent-Argentine. Britain and Chile are interest by the major Powers ha?

fo

ment at the very casual manner that In

the questions were has done more than the others which asked and the attitude of the to explore the territory.

other officer in-the room.

I name."

Not entitled

chest

on

Such

There are several reasons for evidence may some day be this, interest. Antarctica. may instrumental in deciding the play a vital role in an ever.tual cose, which is the reoson why

conflict between East and West. all three countries maintain per- It was

States would To Pooley this was the most manent buses in Graham Land was rumoured that the United set up radar shocking and terrible thing that and on offshore islands such Res had happened in his life. To Deception Island, south of the stations near the Polt. The con the officer it was a routine ques-

Drake Passage.

inent was also mentioned as a possible proving

ground fur rioning. It had happened years

otomic weapons, allhough Argentine boasts 22 bases and authoritative before, and he had never heard

the arcs.

Courcey. dis of Le Paradis. It was all far shelters in

The cried this latter theory. from the removed

quiet and British Colonial Office main-

And Antarctica may prove a comfortable routine of his duties talne nine, not courding the ad- treasure

of mineral at Richmond.

vanco base established by this

wealth. Exactly what lies Pooley said: "I am sorry, sir, year's Hillary-Fuchs expedition beneath

the man's Chile has only seven bases in thick loc-cap

hundred-yards cannot give the other

the sams region. O'Callaghan was still in Ger- man hands, and it news leaked In spite of Argentine's superior out that he knew about the number of bases, however, the shooting he might be killed. | Colonial Office's Antarelle teams Pooley did not think he was have accomplished more In entitled to risk O'Callaghan's į terms of tangible results, and

A geologist with the.

their work

compares Argentine Antarcile Expedition That was all.

Lavourably with Chilien effor.s, told me that in all probability Three moro

Antarctica is a potential source years of bitterness and frustra- tion were to pass before Pooley

British discipline and morale of rare

coal metals, was told that his statements had seem to be considerably better. uranium. The region is sur-

ounded partly by an been "ost In the fog of the For instance, it was my impres..

belt. This sion that the Post,"

crews manning volcanie Argentine detachments, mostly

Lostre reems to unply that a rent were

of married,

morose whh variety

mineral wealth undiscovered yearning for their fumlites. The slumbers yet British bases, on the contrary

under the eternal lec,

Five years

advance,

men

معلة

only

of its 6,000,000 square miles is only a matter of informed speculation,

RARE METALS,

Russia's appearance

and

active ‚ngain

the

scene

the stresses

growing importance of the White Con- tment. The strateglo value of Antarctica stems to be Russia's

only a foretaste of the disbelief Mist Keith's anxiety to Phow

and Indifference to come, why this is so, why it was im

They discursed the situation, It had to come! After one possible for Burns or any other tion to speak for the Highland covered that an offler and about never

and agreed it would be and a half centuries of Scot in the last four hundred half of the country of Scotland. ten men from his battalion were again while they were in Ger- better. He spent five years in whose

to refer to the atrocity

Private O'Callaghan fared nojare staffed with unmarried meis ndulation as the greatest years to write the best kind of Only in one song, "Auld Lang also in the hospital.

As they man hands.

work in the Antarctic writer of love songs

Their own officer love poetry,

did he create the kind had been in C Company, which had not believed it. The French of a prisoner of war, In 1954, obsession. leads her into

a Syne," the

be their the deadly, monotonous routine seemed to world

vitriolie attack on Calvinism and of poetry that could valce the had በዩ

become Robert the Scottish kirk and the sub. feelings of all Scotsmen.

were not in a position to take his camp was evacuated in the Battalion HQ, they could know any netion. To let the Germans face of the Russian Burns is being put in his jection of women in general. "Burn"," she admits, "did nothing of the fate of their know would be to sign their and O'Callaghan was one of a

ODD STRUGGLE

main attraction here. This view place by one of the "lasses,"

Indeed prize come basic features ( comrades.

own death warrants.

is strengthened by gentle Rus- who just refuses to believe Shackled Thoughts aplight them interest

of the Scots character and

column of prisoners that Hero Was the opportunity

marched and countermarched, solchen of als de struggle for claims to the territory, possibly front-line alon backing of Latin American O'Callaghan had been waiting determined to

Pooley was more than evm religion, hypocrisy, national

get back to turning and doubling on for.

their supremacy. They live in wooden intended to fell Western plang One of the most scathing.

aggressiveness and facile senti-know some way of getting a re, He knows that, as our Ung Reich from late in January twelve. The houses are well tarcica in some way into the Perhaps the officer would England as quickly as possible. tracks, through the disintegra barracks, in groups of ten or for eventually bringing An- acaring books. on

Sir Walter Scott, the Scotland's

says, mentality... Bu these national bard that have over

ar port back to England.. "could no more write a love only some basic features-not

were to be avenged, he must until early May.

adapted to the requirements of general picture of a Western been written has Just been SCOO than fly,"

Robert all. And, in spotlighting them. O'Callaghan found the officer

they halted In the extreme cold climate and the defencɑ system. published "The Russet Coat," by Louis Stevenson was just as bad, he has isolated them from and a sergeant whom he know. During the whole of 1941

Silesian brickworks.

There the howling, blizzards that sweep all because of his Presbyterian others equally

'But Russin's expedition to the fundamental But he sergeant said his story 1942 and the beginning of 1943 American army found them. The the rocks and glaciers. upbringing,

ambition, love of sounded unreal.

he made the round of French

Antarctic has had another dis scholarship, love of roaming... The officer, too,

turbing influence on the men in Back in England, O'Callaghan German hospitals, under- "M. Angellier, that acutest of Burns was bom," says she, "into many would hold it to be the O'Callaghan there and then that The two remaining bullets-ona fe was given a form on which beings but their Argentine or Antarctica had been a continent the bases around the Pole. Until "It was into narrow Ayrshire For that side of Scotland and bones of his disbeller, and told going operation after operation. had the chance to which he from February to November

too, had long looked forward. these men see no other human Thin French critics, is speaking the an

this year's Soviet expedition, air fetid with Calvinism. nobler side he does not speak he did not. believe truth when he asserts fally that Over his porridge he heard of a at all."

that the wedged in the tibia-wero re- Germans would do such a thing, moved from his leg. A British to describe the details of Burns never was in love...

the Clulean counterparts. The de- without women. Nowa TuIE God-defined in the Shorter

The officer

down coon doctor urged him to have the him And that was

crime. An officer took it from|tachments of competing nations our from behind the Antarctlo "None of the fine ladies Burns Catechism-without one word of

afterwards

the inet are often separated by only a "curtain" claims that 18 women mot...ever fell in love with him.

omputated to see Ponley, who leg His

properly of love. On the

was in a low state.

It may be two, it may be report.

that was heard of O'Callaghan's few hundred yards. But above scientists accompanied, the Red "What's

cock-and-bull

expedition. this

It may be

each hut flies the national fing- five,

"This proved to bài 15 years, atory

(COPYRIGHT) O'Callaghan has been said, "but you'll lose it in the

sign of the claim for sovereignty, a disturbing, thought far) men us about the Germans end." But Pooley decided that

accustomed to spend years, and Argentines, Britons

and yeara

without female. Learn» better than no leg at all. The surgeon

Chileans of those bases are made panionship, Fakin by their constant struggle

Christina Kelib.

Listen to Miss Keith:

and

The only folk who did were the contrary, it was the wrath and barmaids and the village girls curse of God'

that was cown

Cold Douche

went

survive.

mode no and

What, then, has she to say in telling and the corvant lanes of the broadcast. It was not in such an Burns' favour? Or did she write shooting 20 of our men?" he on unreliable, leg was capital (spo

atmosphere of shackled thought this book merely to provide a demanded. (Edinburgh) The explanation is simplicity and horrifying dogma that songs much-needed cold douche for itsar. The fine ladies knew in a of love, either to God or man, over-enthusiastic Burma admir mcond (nothing is easier to could well be written." sense) the value Robin was put-

ing on them and froze at once. She does not diny for a mo- The barmaids, knowing no other, ment tint Burne did write some liked it."

good love songs Corn Rigs," the "Red, Red Rose," "As Fond Kiss" but they are not in the lop class.

|| Vitiolic Attack

true

ers? To put it that way would bo unfair.

Burns us social satirist, though She has unstinted praise of she insiste that satire is no pass- hort to major stature as a poot. In Co other respect sho awards Burns the palm. He had the wit to respond to

the magle of the music of the High- lands and make it the lodestar

They are deficient in Mias Kelth, a former Oxford passion. They are too super- don, who has returned to her clai They cannot hold of his genius. native Caithness, in the north of candle to the love songs of Tone deaf as he was to much Scotland, to live and woric in Sappho or Caluljus, Shakespere of what Scotamen feel, he yet the eighteenth century house in or Donno

And finally, they was alive and tingling to the town of Thurse where she do not see enough in love way they feel. With the wanaborer, and who recently Originality and sweep of thought

Quden are se necessary to the great sense out of him, and h Low-

Highland wrote a history of the

tures knocking the Mother's Castle of May, does not love solige as profundity of feel land hood ruthlessly cutting out atop short at a condemnation of ing. And in his view of love, the Highland rank, Burns is, in

the

BUDD

A lover

Burns intollect was never in that lah and uniquity, Beot» She is equally over on valved. As a poet of love, that land's national poet Burps as a love posis 20Burns is his inal condemnation,"

(COPYRIGHT

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN

HANDS UP-- AND DON'T TRY ANYTHING!

THE MESA

BOMB GANG

IS SEIZED--

1

HOW ABOUT THAT YOU

INSISTED YOU HAD A RADIATION COUNT ON THAT MESA WEKKEN THERE WAS NO URANIUM THERE. SQ. YOU FIND ABOVE-*-*

At

and

war was over.

ho

ATOMIC EN COMMISS

NEXT SATURDAY:

• Pooley's Private War

--PLANTED BY ENEMY AGENTS, WIRED TO BE SET OFF BY RADIO SIGNAL, WHEN. THE TIME CAME!

For ning months a

By Lee Falk and Phil Davin

THANKS

TO YOU.

WE'VE

Gor

THE GANG

| WE CAME FOR A VACATION

**AN AMATSUA URANIUM SEARCH, WE GOT.

MORE THAN WE BARGAINED

FOR.

year

(COPYRIGHT)

ALWAY

US

TALK

ABOUT

MAGIC

Admiral