6 JULY 2002, Page 27

When Patton was powerless

From Mr Robert Davies Sir: James Delingpole's barrack-room lawyer (Arts, 29 June) reminds me of an incident in Italy in 1943. The US general George Patton was inspecting a military hospital. As he entered a recreation room, all the whitegowned figures froze to attention except for one. A young man remained lounging against a window, chewing gum. Patton raced up to him. 'What the.. . ?' he began, breaking off open-mouthed at the lack of reaction. Finally, the young man shifted his gum: 'Run away, ass-hole, I'm in the mercantile marine,'

Robert Davies

London SE3