6 JULY 1944, Page 13

CHERBOURG

Snt,—Concerning your paragraph at page 594 of The Spectator for June 3oth last, headed Cherbourg. In the Daily Express of to-day's date (i.e., July 3rd, 1944) on page 4, by the Express military reporter, occurs this paragraph: " The enemy made no attempt to block the main entrance to the harbour, but sank the largest ship they had at the entrance to the deep-water dock, where the Normandie ' used to berth, and blew up the quay walls."

This information, judging from the context, appears to have been derived from no less a person than Major-General C. R. Moore, U.S. Army Chief Engineer in Europe, so if Mr. Harold Nicolson has " in fact " committed a " factual error," according to Mr. Arthur Rau, then he has erred in very good company! Who should know better " Where the Normandie ' used to berth " than the Chief Engineer of the United States Army?—

I beg to remain, Sir, yours faithfully, EDWARD SHOOSMITH. Brickhurst, Laughton, near Lewes, Sussex.