31 AUGUST 1944, Page 4

The word " logistics " seems suddenly to have broken

into acne currency in the last few days. Not, of course, that it is a new wet but it has only penetrated the newspapers lately. I admit it fou me at a loss. Clearly it is of Greek origin, like " ballistics." Wh could be more Greek than the root, logos, or the ,terminat istikos? But that, it appears,,is all wrong. The dictionary definin is " art of moving and quartering troops [French logistique (law lodge, + ic)]." This kind of thing ought hardly to be allowe While on the subject of etymology, I am charged with using the wo " necessities " (" rations, munitions and all necessities") whet " necessaries " was required. Once more I invoke the Oxford Dictionary, which expressly defines the two words as interchangeahl

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