The Bookman

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 15

The Bookman

HITLER, NOT HESS LANDING IN BRITAIN A year or so ago a novel was published under the title of "The Flying Visit." the author being Peter Fleming. It was read and enjoyed as a joke by many, but not one of its thousands of readers regarded it as anything more than an amusing fantasy and as a tale quite beyond the bounds of possibility, while there is no reason to suppose that its author regarded it as anything more than a joke. Yet, in a way, it was extraordinarily prophetic, although the individual who made the flying visit to Britain during the progress of the war was, not Hess, but Hitler himself. Hitler, in Peter Fleming's, story, sets out from Gei-many in a big bombing plane for a reconnaissance flight over England, in order to have a look at the country which he planned to make his. To sustain him on his flight he took several thermos flasks, but in one of them was a bomb instead of refreshing beverage, this being- the work of an anti-Nazi. When over English sQil, the bomb does its work: the plane is shattered, and the only occupant to escape is Hitler. Descending by parachute, his first contact with England is a village pond in Oxfordshire, a watery welcome which did not damp his self-assurance. Extricating himself from this predicament, Hitler makes his way to the village hall where some sort of function seems to be going on. He enters regally, proclaims his identity, and is presented with a pound of English butter. He has strayed into a fancy dress dance, and is unanimously acclaimed as the best character. A close parallel with the true Hess affair then follows in the story. Cotthere is a certain nobleman, once his acquaintance, whom the unrecognised Fuhrer contacts. But his erstwhile friend fails him. Finally there is a bright young lady who has a hunch that the visitor is the great personage he claims to be. Locking him up in the lavatory, she gets into touch with London officials, and the War Cabinet takes charge of the unexpected guest. He is an unwelcome guest too. and a distinct embarrassment to the high officials. In the meantime one of the several pseudo-Hitlers is making speeches in Germany and Britain knows nothing of the arrival of the distinguished visitor. although the American Press is hinting at something in that direction. What to do with their guest is beyond the powers of Cabinet to decide, until a bright suggestion is made that he should be returned 1o Germany to continue that unhappy country's undoing. With a stick nf chocolate as sustenance, the Fuhrer is neatly dropped from a British plane and he parachutes down into one of his own native bogs, after which the war continues as usual. "A Flying Visit" is excellent fooling and, on' the top of the Hess incident, although Hess is not likely to be returned to Germany, will probably bo in great demand. — THE — Qhrisfian Sdm© ioAr (An International DaUy Newspaper). ON SALE IN WELLINGTON AT: READING ROOM, Second Floor, Colonial Mutual Life HlcJgs., (Opposite Stewart Dnwson's) and Courtcnay Chambers, 15 Cotirlenay Place. KELBURN CAR BOOKSTALL. RAILWAY BOOKSTALL. MRS. RICHARDS, 11 Woodward Street. LOWES BOOKSHOP, 65 Molcsworth Street. G. C. STEARN, Booksellers and Stationers, Theatre Bldgs., 24 Molcsworth Street. TE ARO BOOK DEPOT LTD., 64 Courtenay Place. LOWER HUTT:— ACKROYD'S, High Street.

INSIDE GERMANY AMBASSADOR'S DIARY It is given to Ambassadors to see more of what is going on behind the scenes than the average author or journalist couid possibly hope to see or hear. William E. Dodd was the United States Ambassador to the German Reich from 1933 to 1937. During those fateful years of preparation he saw and heard much, and he kept a diary. "Ambassador Dodd's Diary," published by Gollancz. is an extraordinarily revealing document, and throws considerable light on the Hitler and Nazi phenomena. Says Charles Beard in an introduction: "As a dossier of evidence bearing on policies, methods, and labours, Mr. Dodd has left this journal covering affairs from the beginning to the end of his mission. But it is more than that. To use a metaphor, it casts a flood of light into the dark passages of the time'now past in which Adolf Hitler was solidifying and expanding his dominion in Germany, from July, 1933, to the close of 1937. Unlike many writers who have dealt with this historic crisis, Mr. Dodd was behind the scenes at Berlin, the strategic centre of the National Socialist movement. He knew personally the leaders in that upheaval, spoke with them, and had an opportunity to form first-hand judgments of their personalities. He was in constant communication with representatives of the German Government, with the agents of other Governments in the diplomatic corps, with international leaders who came to Berlin, with American citizens, high and low, engaged in political, economic, and iournalistic activities in Germany. As a participant in the scenes described, he had opportunities for analysis and interpretation not always granted even to investigators inside the circle of official and social intimacy. "In all these relations, Mr. Dodd was never a superficial observer caught in the clash of ambitions, animosities, rumours, and intrigues which have characterised diplomatic operations since the beginning of official intercourse among nations. He was a lifelong student of great history. European! and American, trained in the school of .Lamprocht and Ranke to seek the! truth of things as they actually had been. Ironical as this may seem, his: acquaintance with German history was wider and more profound, by far. than that of Ihe leading figures who were governing the country. This is not to say that Mr. Dodd's accuracy is to be unchallenged in every detail, or that, the stress of instant decisions never warped his judgment. "Such infallibility is granted to no mortal. But the training and experience in historical study and writing which Mr Dodd brought to boar upon his journal are clearly revealed in it and distinguish it from whole libraries of diplomatic memoirs compiled by ! professional gossips They give the diary a quality which makos U peculiarly significant for an understanding of our own times. "Moreover, when the history of our troubled age is written, in distant years to come, this journal will be regarded) as a priceless source of primary information and a vibrant human document illustrating American character in this period. Although numerous passages will doubtless be supplemented, perhaps modified, by evidence from other quarters, the permanence of this journal seems certain, amid the j uncertainties of life."

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1 VIKINGS OF TODAY Four twentieth century Vikings arrived in the New World not long ago after one of the most exciting ocean voyages imaginable. They were young Norwegians, who sailed from Christiansund to New York in a 38-foot sailing boat. By tricking the Nazis into thinking they wanted to sail up to Trondheim the daring young men secured a permit to sail there through the minefields, but on reaching Bergen they headed west. It was so rough in the North Sea that they did not sight a warship or aeroplane. At the Faroes they turned south-west, and settled down to hope for the best. After 34 days they arrived in New York, and today all these Vikings are working for the Norwegian Government in Canada.

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SAVED FROM THE SEA We don't know the infant's name, but one day a girl or 'boy is going to be told about, the most exciting moment of its life. It is one of the babies on board the torpedoed liner Western Prince, who was hauled from the lifeboat to the rescuing ship in a case like a dog's box, marked "Baby, With Care." When it was safely on deck the captain opened the case, and there, smiling and chuckling at him, was Baby, none the worse for its experience "Oh. you lovely little thing!" said the

Marjorie and Nigel were two evacuees from London who had just arrived at their new home In New Zealand. They had had visions of a Maori pa with geysers spouting all around, and se> (hey were agreeably surprised jnd somewhat relieved when on arriving at their destination they were confronted with » long, rambling brick house, scrupulously clean and tidy, surrounded by stately pohutakawas and pines. | Unfortunately it was just becoming dark and the two energetic adventure seekers were compelled to leave exploring till the next day. In ten minutes they were old friends I with their hosts. The family consisted of Mr. Carol (who had met them at the boat), Mrs. Carol. Niobe, the cat, and Mac, the Scotch terrier. After a good meal Nigel and Marjorie, wearied (though of course they did not admit it) by the long journey, subsided to bed, where they soon fell asleep.

THE WILLOW TREE GHCST

About an hour later Marjorie was startled by a peculiar noise in the trees outside her window. There it was again! She'd never heard anything like it before. It might be a native signal. Perhaps a tribe.of Maoris would rush down and surround the house. Could it be that? She jerked her head up to see out of the open window and her eyes nearly popped out when a dark form slid down the branch of a willow tree which grew just outside. Marjories heart froze. She buried her head in the pillow and did not move till she fell asleep again. In the morning she tiptoed cautiously to the window and looked out. It was light and there was nothing ghostly about the willow now. How Mrs. Carol laughed when the experience was related at breakfast, "It must have been the family of pet opossums living there. I throw food out for them, and they're quite tame now!" she said. "MOTHER BEAR" (12). Lower Hutt.