THE FOREIGN LEGION
Sits,--In M. Lapie's article the colonel of the Foreign Legion is reported as saying : " Action is sufficient in itself, without regard to its purpose." Dr. Rauschning, in his Germany's Revolution of Destruction, quotes the same phrase as characteristic of Nazism.
I hope M. Lapie in his definition of the Legion's spirit—so alike to that of every professional army—refers only to that professional nucleus. A volunteer for the Czech Army (not having been called up yet, goodness knows why!), I who believe in certain victory do so because I believe I know the purpose of 99 per cent. of those fighting in the present " crusade "; a purpose so singularly well expressed by " A Young Airman " in his last letter to his mother (published in The Times).
Not doubting the value of the Legion—even as expressed by M. Lapie—I just wonder whether the civilian population of this country subjected to air-bombardments and shelling from over the Channel, would maintain their magnificent spirit if they had as their defenders mere lovers of danger (motor-cycle racers?) instead of the present freedom-loving men in the fighting services—all, I should say, lovers of slippers at the appropriate time.—Yours faithfully, zo8 Chapman Crescent, Kenton, Middlesex. T. A. SCHUR.
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