Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-19
BY BRENDA HELsER

may nOI appreciate our Hill
itary maneuvers at all times.
but the USS Forrestal and all
her men fascinate them.
What Noel Barber writes in
his column in the London
Daily Mail is typical in essence
Of what has been widely writ
ten recently in the rest of the
British press and that Of
France and Italy. He tells how
Admiral Brown, commander Of
the Sixth Fleet. received q let
ter from the mother Of one Of
his younger men. She wrote
that her sons up-coming
birthday would be his first
away from home and from her;
she asked that the admiral use
the enclosed sum to pay for a
birthday cake for the lad and
then present it to him on the
great day.
Admiral Brown ordered the
cake Barber seemed slightly
surprised that he didn't make
1t HIMSELF. and used the
money to buy a wallet. Then
he put a card, and a penny, in
side. The card read. Happy
Birthday from Your Mother"
Barber unused over the reac-
ton of a British admiral to
such a proposition.
Pet Story
He also retold one of Ad-
miral Browns pet stories: the
one about the night a British
admiral was dining aboard
with him. Also at the table
were several of his staff. Sud-
denly a Filipino steward rushed
in streaming with blood and
holly pursued by another,
brandishing q butcher knife.
"Aghast with horror" writes
Barber, ''the British officer
jumped to his feet-then sat
down in confusion when he
realized he was the only man
who stood up. The Americans
placidly went on eating" Bar
Der used this incident to ex-
plain how well the United
States Navy takes in its stride
"childlike. violent outbursts"
which are likely" to come
from the Nays Filipino stew
ards. One wonders whether
Admiral Brown was pulling
someone's leg. either BARRIERS
or the British admiral he in
vited to dinner.
Barber noticed how popular
the ForreStal is with tourists
and how. fully aware Of it,
Cat" Brown once signaled
this message to Washington:
Your reservations confirmed.
Beautiful ocean view all direc-
tons. Convenient airport i'm
mediately adjacent. Superb
cuisine. Marriage licenses re-
Quired Of all couples"
Barber spoke thusly Of the
men aboard the beautiful
aircraft carrier: The Amer
leans seem to have found q
subtle link between incredible
efficiency and easy going
comaraderie. On duty the on
GERS demand the best the men
can give. But once OF duty
they give back the best that
they too can give" His illus
tration Of how it all works
went like this: The lanky,
likable lieutenant commander
found q neatly printed note
attached to his newly shined
shoes. 1t read: Here's the
score on shiny shoes in the
Navy. It's only for command
ers and above. that rate them.
And If we stewards do it for
you it's only a favor we've
done. But Just between you
and me I do hope you don't
expect much. That much I
am still able to do for you but
not very often.-Your steward,
Bortalome.'"
Not Impressed
1t was just about exactly
two years ago that Sweden's
Princess Margaret came to
Paris. She didn't care for it.
She didn't want to see anyone
who wouldn't speak English
with her. She wasn't allowed
to go out after 9 pm. and
she was then just 81. She was
equally frank about her likes
and dislikes regarding people.
At that time she hero
worshiped England's Queen
Elizabeth. and didn't bother
to conceal her dislike OF
Prince Philip.
She was quite definite about
wanting to marry. some day,
AN English lord" All this
was reported here at the time.
Apparently. Her Royal High
ness has changed very little
In two years. She still prefers
England. and things English,
and has chosen herself a