15 MAY 1964, Page 7

No Gunfire : No Troops `I intend to march my

troops towards the sound of gunfire.' In the general derision of Mr. Grimond's adolescent bombast last autumn, no one noticed haw subtle he had been in selecting the word 'troops.' It can, of course, mean any- thing from the army corps that he hoped for to the squad that he has. Perhaps Jo knew, as everyone else did, that the sawdust was already running out of the Liberal dolly. Now it has gone, and four of the seven seats held by Liberals in Parliament may well go too. The species (Orpington man) discovered by the psephologists is becoming extinct. Often where people have tried the brave experiment of Liberal councils they have had second and wiser thoughts. Poor old Jo. No gunfire: no troops.