Another Korean War? Pay heed to us veterans first
GIVEN the current situation on the Korean peninsula, our younger generation should be made aware of what we went through between 1950 to 1953 in a war fought in terrible conditions, now known in Britain — shamefully — as The Forgotten War.
U. S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson vowed America would hold to account those who commit ‘crimes against innocents’ as he and his officials weighed up action against North Korea. I suggest he and his like take note of history.
The Korean War broke out when the North invaded the South. South Korea was ill-prepared and U.S. President Truman committed forces there.
The North overwhelmed the South, causing the United Nations to enter the war: it was only because Russia was absent from the UN at the time that prevented them from vetoing the decision.
At the end of 1950, China entered the war and after three years of horrendous bloodshed, an armistice was signed.
The war ended where it began, on the 38th Parallel, leaving the two Koreas geographically exactly where they were in 1950.
The outcome wasn’t peace, but a situation in which another war could break out at any time.
North Korea is now a rogue state that might have nuclear weapons — and the U.S. under Trump is sabre-rattling again.
The human cost of the Korean War in military deaths was U.S.: 54,200. UN countries, including the UK: 13,025. South Korea: 46,000. North Korea: 214,899. China: 400,000. North Korean civilians: two million. South Korean civilians — I have no figure but it was in the thousands.
I haven’t included other casualties — the wounded and missing or those taken prisoner in horrendous conditions.
Might I have the temerity to suggest the U.S. and its President take a good, hard look at those events from 1950 to 1953 and use every possible solution to solve the problems with North Korea other than plunging all of us into another Korean War. We Korean War veterans are getting fewer by the day, and I should hate to see our young generation get caught up in another Korean debacle. NORMAN DAVIES,
Horndean, Hants.
Border farce
FoR two weeks running, I’ve noticed foreign articulated lorries travelling up the A3.
Nothing unusual in that, but why would a large pick-up, with the same foreign plates, be waiting in a sleepy Hampshire village for these lorries? And why do Eastern European lorries use Portsmouth instead of Dover, adding 100 miles and much expense to their route?
I thought I’d contact Border Force and let them know of my concerns, but its website suggested unless I wanted to report an actual crime or required help welcoming immigrants to this country, I should contact anyone but the Border Force.
Having drawn a blank, I contacted Crimestoppers, but was told: ‘ Not our problem, guv, contact the police on 101.’
This meant talking to a civilian operator employed to palm off inquirers with prepared answers from a crib sheet. In despair, I searched for ‘Contacting Border Force about suspicious behaviour’ and thought I’d cracked it.
one website stood out, using just those words. I opened it: it was the Australian Border Force helpline!
J. T. CALTON, Headley, Hants.
Student premium
IT’S not the case that thousands of international graduates ‘just disappear into the black economy’ (Mail). International students come to the UK, study for a period, and the overwhelming majority go home after their studies.
Universities take their responsibilities as visa sponsors seriously, and there are stringent requirements to meet when recruiting international students.
The official figures don’t highlight widescale abuse by immigrants desperate to stay in the UK after finishing their education.
The office for National Statistics acknowledges that the current method used to track students is flawed, but Home office research shows levels of visa abuse in the university sector are low.
overseas students make a £26 billion contribution to the UK economy, generating more than 200,000 jobs in every region of the UK. It’s crucial that the official data is improved in order to avoid misleading claims.
ALISTAIR JARVIS, Universities UK, London WC1.
Hidden firepower
SHoUlD we arm our police? Yes — but not in the way many worry about. I, too, don’t want to see Robocop visible everywhere.
There should be many police in among us, dressed as ordinary punters, but armed in such a way that you won’t notice. Just step out of line . . . and there they are, a bit like Serpico.
That tramp over there might be carrying a Glock. The guy or woman might look like the average bank teller or business person: might they be armed? The ‘perps’ wouldn’t know who might appear at any time — and it would be reassuring to us to know they are among us. The hidden guardians.
P. WEBBERLEY, Preston, Lancs.
Banks for nothing
I’M RATHER peeved by the childish lloyds Bank advertising with its black horse.
The voiceover tells us that ‘for 200 years we’ve been at your side’, but with so many branch closures and many more in the pipeline, how can it make such a claim?
It’s certainly not ‘at my side’ now: after 40 years as a loyal customer, I find it is closing branches in nearby Stockbridge, Romsey and Tidworth (on two days a week), leaving Winchester as the only option.
This visit now incurs parking charges every time, but lloyds aren’t ‘at my side’ to cover that.
If, like me, you don’t use online or smartphone banking facilities, then it’s ‘so long and thanks for all the fish’. I fear the black horse has bolted and the stable door is still left open — unlike the branches.
I just plead with all the banks to appreciate that some of us will never go online, not because we’re poor or thick, but because we don’t trust their systems and like to lean on a counter and interact with a human. CHRISTOPHER BROOME,
Romsey, Hants.
Daft? You bet!
I PICKED out three horses in the Grand National because I’d read somewhere that the jockeys were young and were going to be the next big things. one of them had a 50/1 winner the day before.
They were numbered 6, 12 and 30. I was born on June 12, 1930, so that had to be an omen. The tipsters were going on about some Arthur, but what did they know?
Mine were certs and had to be backed in every way — separately, exacta (1st and 2nd) and trifecta (1st, 2nd and 3rd). Hurry up 5.15 so I could start counting the money. What happened? one For Arthur won and mine weren’t in the first ten. I’m 86 and haven’t a grain of common sense! ERIC W. WILLSON, Mundesley, Norfolk.