A SPECTATOR 'S NOTEBOOK

ON Monday morning I observed to a squadron-leader attached to the Air Ministry that I could never understand why the Allies had never bombed Ostia,—an operation which, apart from inflicting legitimate damage on the port of Rome, would be calculated to have a considerable moral effect in Rome itself without the material effects which on many grounds might be regretted. An hour or two later jt was announced that Ostia had, in fact, been bombed the previous night. As to attacking the Italian capital, my own view has always been that unless important military considerations were involved, which so far has not been the case, it would be inadmissible vandalism to risk destroying memorials and remains which are the heritage of all the world and by no means the possession of their present caretakers. But in two respects the position has changed. If a determined assault on Italy is part of the Allied plans, then even Rome cannot claim unconditional immunity. Daylight bomb- ing, moreover, in which the Americans are specialising, has now attained a degree of precision—as last Friday's raid on Kid demonstrated—which should make it perfectly possible to attack successfully the industrial installations on the outskirts of the capital without endangering at all the Forum or the Colosseum or the Arch of Titus. Still less need there be anxiety about the Vatican City. Since Flying Fortresses last week bombed Civita Vecchia, apparently by day, from an African base, there would clearly be no difficulty about the shorter flight to Rome. . . . Since this was written it has been stated that R.A.F. leaflets dsopped over the Italian capital include Rome among the cities to be bombed. If that has to happen it will be a matter for regret but not for protest.

* * * * Whoever is responsible for the disclosure that the attack on the dams in Westphalia was suggested by a German Jewish refugee specialist now practising in London, its publication seems a shocking piece of ineptitude. Not only has it given Goebbels invaluable material for his anti-Jewish propaganda, but the Gestapo, even though they cannot precisely identify the particular refugee con- cerned, are perfectly capable of taking reprisals against the relatives of everyone answering to the,general description given in the British Press.

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No one who reads the papers or listens to the wireless can have failed to notice the frequency with which posthumous awards of the Victoria Cross are announced. Statistics are probably against me, but the impression I get as a casual listener is that actually more awards go to the dead than to the living. If this is the case, or nearly the case, I cannot help questioning the wisdom of the principle, and I find I am by no means alone in that view. It is, of course, not to be suggested for a moment that lesser desert in the case of the living should take precedence over greater desert in the case of the dead ; but, in fact, where deeds of such outstanding valour are concerned there can be no nice measurement admitting of precise comparisons. There are beyond question twice as many men who deserve the Cross as have received it, but the number of recipients must be„limited, or the award would not be the signal distinction it was always meant to be. And, everything being so equal, it is surely better that the Victoria Cross should go to a man who survives to appreciate the honour he has earned than to one who can never know of it. Every surviving V.C., moreover, is

an example and an inspiration. The dead—it is sad but inevitable can never be so remembered, except by their closest friends a kin, in these tumultuous days. Where so many more recommend tions are sent in than can possibly be approved some change proportion in favour, of the living would seem to be justified.

* * * * I drew attention recently to the College of Divine Metaphysi a degree-conferring institution incorporated in the State of India and with an English Branch Office at an address at Boscom Bournemouth. In that connexion a question and answer in House of Commons on Tuesday are worth recording. Mr. Geoffr Mander, having made an enquiry regarding the disposal of th funds administered by the University Grants Committee, ask in a supplementary: ” Can my right hon. friend give an assurance that none this money will be allowed to go to a bogus university Boscombe known as the College of Divine Metaphysics, Inco porated, Indianapolis? "

to which the Minister of Health replied; "My hon. friend can assume that any money available be carefully and properly distributed. I noticed that Janus h been looking two ways."

He has—and sees some things that he doesn't tell.

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On re-reading this week part of H. A. L. Fisher's History Europe I struck a term unnoticed before. " The Normans," writ Dr. Fisher, " to the marine skill of the Scandinavians added that was then known of cavalry warfare and the poliorcetic art Historians, however eminent, should really not write so. last word but one is unknown to the Concise Oxford Dictionary the two-volume Shorter Oxford Dictionary. The major ten-vol edition does indeed quote De Quincey on " the poliorcetic engi of the ancients," but that hardly makes the word English. It is English, and not all of us have within arm's reach a Liddell a Scott to enable us to chase down the Greek original and disco that it means pertaining to sieges. Why not just " cavalry warf and the art of siege "?

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I am glad to see that the Cambridge University Press has ru lished in pamphlet form (at 6d.), under the title Prospects Policies, the series of five speeches on national and intematio affairs which Mr. Herbert Morrison delivered on various occaslo between December of last year and April of this. They form coherent and considered programme, and in view of the Ho Secretary's position, both in the War Cabinet and in his own pa obviously deserve serious study.

* * * * Some "readers, it appears, share my dislike of the B.B.C.'s "G j

morning to you if you've just joined us " salutation, some do So, no doubt, it must be. Quot homines. . . .

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I understand that someone (the information is exclusive) has t Hitler he should award a double-damn to the R.A.F. He has be