1960-05-11 — Page 6

Page

ASTE, like taxation

WA

itself, has its origin

in war.

JOPE ATV STAN THE CHINA MAIL,

HAS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1960

PARKINSON'S SECOND LAW 6

|

In the Navy more

civilians than sailors

"Civilians number vastly more than they did before the war, when a far larger Fleet was maintained."

DRAWING BY LESLIE BOWYER.

By C. NORTHCOTE PARKINSON

:

The real contrast is not be- Tween two levels of peace-time expenditure on future war but between the opposite ways in which the money, was spent.

The Germans spent their money on tanks and guns.

The British spent a compar able sum upón a vast officialdom and a huge technocracy.

THE TRUTH..

There is no reason to suppose that the post-war ratio between expense and 1 ult is any better and there are reasons for sup posing that it is probably worse.

The Royal Navy employs body of people of whom 60 per out to be civilians. cent (1958) turn

experts serve a purpose even if administrators do not,

111

A more careful scrutiny of the facts would reveal the truth that an, army of technocrats Britain has served mainly as an obstacle to progress.

It would be serious enough if the result of our sysem Was merely be measted by the. obsolescence of our weapons. But we nowadays add to the old waste a new kind of waste, which ,has been steadily growing since about 1934: the tendency to pro- vide luxuries instead of weapons. The warship of today is insulated with glass fibre, decked with shock - cushioned plastic, and decorated in pastel shades chosen by a psychologist, as restful to the eye.

From the newspaper descrip- -Thèse civilians number vastly tion the reader is left in doubt mure than they did before the as to whether guns are mounted This is the more remarkable

It is argued in defence of the war, when u far larger Fleet was or not. That they are is merely. fires a torpedo, the guile is more warlike in character involves heavy casualties at the ber is not even shown in the comment that the ratings will be in Britain, where the population technique, which admittedly maintained, and their total nun- to be inferred from a sailor's ner who demolishes the than foreign rulers tend to be outset, that the enemy, being Navy Estimates.

able to sleep through a battle. building which masks lieve. Britain presents, in fact, the aggressor, knows when the his field of fire, the air tween governmental ineptitude self accordingly.

an extraordinary contrast be-

war will begin and can arm him- man who bales out from and habitual success. his four-engined bomber,The governmental tendency in

Men whose expecta- United States is the way in tion of life is short have which vast peacetime expendi- their own outlook where leave a country, totally unpre- ure on the Armed Forces can expenditure is -con- pared for war. cerned. The sailor who

the bill..

WARLIKE

The British plan, they insist, is to wait for the war to begin, and then begin to decide upon inspect the conflict in progress,

the sort of equipment that might be useful.

CONTRAST

In mataining this total, trade union rules play an im- portant part. Only a shipwright can paint a flagpole!

At the Admiralty itself there

man afloat.

But for this one reference the casual reader of the dally Press might be forgiven for supposing that the purpose of HMS Tiger is pure recreational.

Whether the ordinary seaman attracted to the Service by pro- mises of security and confort is

these matters is to prepare for cannot worry too much the last war but one. Thus, the To be continually ready for are 6,000 more civilians employ. about the cost.

years immediately

preceding any possible war would be pro-ed than in 1933.

Altogether, of 300,000 people the last war were devoted by the hibitively expensive, 30 Re Economy ceases to be relevant Army to a iraling which would 'might just as well defer the on the payroll, only 15 per cen: exactly the man we want is for! for those who may never foot undoubtedly have won us the whole question of weapons unul are in seagoing ships, so that the expert to decide.

But we shall be ill-served by Boer War had that conflict been we know whom we are to fight there are five ashore for every

the Admiralty if the cost of in- in the future, rather than in the and where.

decoration is met by past.

There would be something n As a matter of comparison the lerior

army of the United States economising in practice ammuni- Troops were cunningly clad in this argument for peacetime employs no fewer than 1,180,000 tion or merely by having fewer. This cheerful disregard of a uniform which blended imper- economy if only it were based on property and expense begins on ceptibly with the veldt or indeed fact. The sad reality is that civilians, a total which would be ships in commission. the battlefield itself but spreads with the Khyber Pass, their British war expenditure in times formidable indeed if wars were back along the supply lines, presence being betrayed only by of peace has been considerable to be won by sheer weight of reaches ruilhead, crosses the sea, the brilliant polish on their and

opponents belter correspondence. and so comes at last to White- leatherwork and brars.

equipped for war have spent far The wastefulness of official- tall.

Defenders of this traditions less on their weapons than we dom is generally known, but All this had been known system explain that to train or have chosen to suppose. This is the size of the technocracy has elsewhere and before. What is equip oneself for the next war especially true of Germany prior tended to escape notice. It has more peculiar to Britain and the is not really feasible.

also been assured that technical

"

NAZI MAJOR WAS HOMESICK FOR ISLAND HE RULED

HER

ŢERR HANS GIES explained last week why he is holiday-making in Guernsey-the Channel Island where he was Hitler's commandant during the Occupation.

Children go

Herr Gies, then a German Army, major and a Nazi, now a 65-year-old tourist, "said:—

"I was homesick "

The last time he went to

on smoking rages was in Buster 1941.

despite

the scare

LTHOUGH many

Behind him came 10,000 troops.

He was commandant, until July that year, then went to Aderner and left the Channel Islands in 1943.

on

This time he arrived with his wife, and while they are chil-holiday they will celebrate their chi fortieth wedding anniversary.

The island will celebrate the Efteenth anniversary of its Won't be taking part. He feats too much publicity.

smoking causes Tung

cancer, as many as evoruberation soon, but Herr Gles

aro smoking cigarettes

some

week.

more than 40

the

Fluted with nostalgia, Herr Gies told of his arrival 19 years ago as coromandant,

the rhododendrons

"As we came ashore I saw camellias. They were so large azid the

and so lovely that I stopped dead in yonder d

mu

'Better_type".

loved the island from the start, It was so pretty. And the

thai

to the war,

IT LOOKS LIKE

An interior-sprung mattress is: of only limited use to the sailor whose squadron is outnumbered, outgunned and ouffought.

SATURDAY:: Torrent of words

(London Express Service).

44 an

A LE MANS START BUT IT'S.......

Cummings

RULES

Make your own

MEMBERS

5 royal democracies 2 dictatorships. 1 native monarchy 2 oligarchies 1 republic

SOUTHR

AFRICA

"But, gentlemen, as there are no rules how can you accuse me of breaking any 1

BASSROOM | 865. VODAI Imdi dot ti

Five dron i mað

„Landon, Express Service

by Patricia Lewis

The Aristocracy of the Turntable!

kasräkán ak

FOURTEEN months ago, when Larry Parnes invited me to look over his "stable" of rock 'n' rollers, I discovered Messrs Wilde Fury Enger and -Pride intent on racing model cars round and round the dining-room table.

"I've had my go with sports

I drove off (in a two-tone

Herald, borrowed) wondering how soon, with Marty's example

This finding emerges from “a survey Involving more than 3,000 boys and girls at four big Edinburgh schools,

About two-thirds of all

boys and one-third of the girls were smokers. Most of Them bought their cigarettes

reckon a two-seater's a knock-cars-they're all right for the out for the first month but then enthusiast, but now I want a from shops but some relled

family car.

before them, the rest of Mr on friends to supply

you get to see the disadvantages them,

Parnes's hot-blooded string will like with driving too fast.”

Yes, I do like American simmer down to quiet conven- JOE BEOWN, 18, driving models. They've got comfort. tionality. 5. the Ford belonging to one acceleration, and style, and Who knows? We may yet see of Larry Parnes's employees with, a baby on the way- the same line-up entered, for '(his

C:Barrives spon)

solid four-seater is what we some concours d'elegance. PETER WINNE, 20 driving with white-blond hair looking need,"

-London Express Service). 1. Me Farnese Din Vauxhall, like a when held after ("He's only just joined the "Bin driving down on my unde's. school. Been with as a couple of farm since I was 12, I 'ave. months. Only been singing about but motor-bikes

bin my

Many of the children, who wer

aged 11 to 13, said their

people were nice too."

wrote to the island's tourist

Before his latest visit he Now several successes and new discoveries later-Mr Parnes's star committee to find out how it "stable" is almost completely mechanised. them from smoking although would be received, Back came

parents did not discourage

they had been caught at at, a "Welcome to Guernsey" re- On a recent drizzly morning.

Confident

ply.

when they.. lined up for men

He has wandered around the Hyde Park, the stars and cars island, a churify - man, with together represented the aston- In hundreds of cases mothers steady blue eyes and a quick|ishing total, of £660,084,

found out their children strike for everyone. Mostly c Mr Parties broke this down:

"Well, ysee, the cars them

smoked but kept it from the tothers.

money.

has gone unrecognised,

But one islander who remem-selves are worth 10,184. bered him said: "He didn't 'Course Marty's American job, a bad fellow. I don't costing £2,660, bumps up the

Bgure."

seem

Most of the children were

confident that they would mind him coming here." give up smoking when they

This is the majority view. You mean they were worth

i left school mainly to save But Mr James Dear, who did £10,184 new " " "I remarked, Boi Cross work on the island eyeing Mr Dickie Pride's pent- during the Occupation, said

We don't want him here. All Germans have a sadistic streak, although he seemed one of the

But Dr Aim Cartwright and Dr James Thomson who carried but the inquiry, believe that many of them, are already addicted. A few admittel better types.” that they could never give up cigarettes.

Replied Herr Cies: "I was professional*soldier and I did

Some intended to continue my duty without harming any

up Healey Sprite,

이혼

L-PLATES

Jaugh

... and

Mr Parnes's ready conceded the point. then I've just Insured all 10 stars for a sum total of £205,000...

11

"WILDE WITH WAGON .. And baby makes three

make good2445,500," con- cluded Mr Parnes.

...

רומנו

a fortnight. Course he'll get a favourite."

car of his own.") "What car

He shot a quick glance at d'you want, Peter?" "I hope for Mr P. and added: Till now,

a Citroen?! (Blank looks all that is..." round.)

2.

20. 6. Blue Minx convertible “BALLY KELLY; 20, driv-

JOHNNY GENTLE, 20,

driving a two-tone Consul and wearing a fur-trimmed coat -his first car. (He wore a sult with the aplomb of a deb, or

, dowager.

and collar and tie too!)

BILLY FURY, 10, driving DICKIE PRIDE, 18,

3. a brand new blue M.C. He

a

driv

• Ing the, aforementioned beat-up red Sprite and wearing

had an expression of dazed de- light,

a not-aforementioned but simi- "It's a marvellous car-the larly beat-up pork-ple hai. needle goes right round to the DUFFY POWER, 18, driv red bit. No, I haven't taken my Osing a cream Consul with driving lest yet a friend's red and white upholstery. giving me lessons. Crackers JULIAN “X” 20, driving loves driving fast."

V• z blue and red Gazelle with. leopard-skin - (fabric) "Beat

"Crackers?. Your girl friend?" "No, my boxer dog."

-covere

A:

moking because It would civilians.**

I said how well one could i was impressed, horribly so make them more "grown-up". He added: "Everyone has appreciate his concern-the as always when faced with the and sociable. One boy sald been so kind."

death-rate among rock 'n' rollers subject of payment in ratio to he hoped to smoke becaSE, Guernsey has already had does seem strangely high such work-that these nine, 4 VINCE EAGER, 19, driving And latest but mostest.

WILDE “would give him something other return visit by a former (Three in an American air-crash youths and one girl could be so

two-tone

20, MARTY Triumph 10. to pass the time at Work" a German commandant, hat was and one in a car accident on the Lighly prized.

Herald-It was one of the 4de driving a cream and red d. However,; & small tour of the earliest deliveries. Yes it's my American, Ford Fairlane last year, when, former Teut-pad from Bristol,)

with The pulls

gave the informa General Erich Muller went I also felt that the L-plates stable, was suggested and Sext car but I'm

to assurance, of a veterani. This tion on the understanding

on Bully fury's M. Were set stalling, rather, royalty change for Parkare, this the case were back that neither the head masters. He said then: "I know all the calculated to add to the ease of inspecting the entries for a: I've had atx up 'in the Emgaļi When Berk visited.

the nor their parents would be pinces and wanted to see them Mr P

racing-start at Goodwood-we but I really n need a bit more. Parnes menage Marty was the told. 1.

and their overall con- began to move down the room when I take my mother only singer with a real live London Express Service.

[tractuni" valuð-suppusing they line.

and father out iz Grwatban. I horseless carriage outside.

again

undan Express Service).

DPW JACOBY

hand, I'è uuggest you went.

A lin