THE THIRD SERVICE, By Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert.
(Thames and Hudson, 21s.) THIS is a most uneven work. It is intended both as an unofficial history of the RAF and as a study of inter-Service jealousies. The result is not very satisfactory, for-as a history it suffers from sketchiness, and as a study of political intrigue it is spoiled by emotional prejudice. And neither aim is helped by a style of Writ- ing highly reminiscent of a school magazine: 'So the administrative machine creaked and groaned and its slaves winced tinder the fear of the Treasury lash.'
Although, undoubtedly, the inter-war years of the RAF were not easy ones (some of T. E. Lawrence's letters reveal this admirably), Sir Philip is too partisan to evaluate the scene dispassionately. He displays far too often a general's affable contempt for politicians and for Fleet Street. He sees an admiral lurking in every hangar.
Most of his book can have little interest out- side staff colleges. In his final pages, however, when he turns to today's problems, what he says is of more general concern. He is hotly critical of our present air defences: 'Today, ten years after the war, the Royal Air Force is largely unbalanced and in the main equipped with obsolete aircraft.' He suggests the only sound scheme of defence against atomic 4ttack is a drastic redistribution of the civilian popu- ation throughout the Commonwealth. Con- ferences do not please him: `To attempt to neutralise atomic attack by political methods does not seem a satisfactory solution.' Though few would want to see Britain disarmed, fewer can want to see her future given over to the hands of professional soldiers.
DAVID STONE
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