RECRUITING
SIR,—You will have gathered from my contributions to your journal that I hold no brief for the fighting Services. There are several important facets of their organisation that do need urgent reform, and in- formed criticism, such as that in the unfortunate Aircraftman Wait's original letter, can do nothing but good. However, the trivial near-hysterics of 'Ex- National Serviceman' will only weaken the case.
Two weeks' detention is admittedly a little stiff. At Chatham Barracks, I was allowed to write to the press unhindered—and although my name was seldom published, everybody knew I was doing it. (But' then the Navy, in spite of its awesome dis- ciplinary reputation, is in many respects the most rational of the Services.) Mr. Wait should have taken heed of the impressive warning given by the Camp Commandant, in my time anyway, to all who joined Crail: 'If you play ball with me, I'll play ball with you, but remember'—with a sinister grimace—'it's my ball.' By signing his own name on the letter, Mr. Wait showed himself ready to accept the con- sequences. I find it difficult to believe that he was really ignorant of the order in question. If he was it was entirely his own fault, for every Serviceman has ample opportunity of acquainting himself with the regulations. Anyway, ignorance of the law, it is almost trite to point out, is no defence in any civil cdurt.
I do not quite know what particular system your anonymous ,correspondent has in mind as needing overthrow or reform if intelligent recruits are to be obtained. Certainly the 'press communications' rule would come low on my list of priorities for Service reform; and the authorities have given no sign that they do in fact seek to attract men of very great intelligence.
Finally nobody is 'forced into the ranks.' Cer- tainly once in they are forced to remain, but it is little inaccuracies like these that help to ruin what is a very good case for a change in Service recruiting methods.
Anyway, I hope Aircraftman Wait enjoyed his two weeks' detention as much as I enjoyed my eight days' (not for writing to the press). There was a refreshing lack, of interference, the meagre diet helped shed some surplus pounds, and the Bible, the only reading permitted, held me continually en- thralled.—Yours faithfully, MICHAEL LEAPMAN Tylden, Warn ham, Sussex
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