World-Wandering

Marc. T. Greene Pulls the Tail of II Duce

* I HE world-wandering American press man, Marc T. Greene, well-known in Polynesia, has just completed what must be nearly a record journalistic tour —15 countries, 45 cities and 11,000 miles in seven months. And that does not include his visit, last year, to the South American countries.

Writing to the editor from Brussells, Mr. Greene gives his route thus: “Southampton-Bremen by the Europe, then Berlin, Nuremberg, Lindau and St.

Gallen, Switzerland, by train. Then Lucerne, Lausanne, Geneva, Berne, Zurich and back through Germany to Munich, where I was lucky enough to be at the famous Oktoberfest, or homage to King Beer. This was one of the most jovial, friendly, gay and happy feasts I have ever participated in, yet without the least

sign of rowdyism, intoxication or brawl ing.

“Then I went to Vienna, with a stop at Salzburg, then to Buda-Pest by Danube steamer. Both cities are pleasant and hospitable, but quiet compared to the days of old. From Buda-Pest I went to Szeged, on the Austrian-Yugo Slav bor der, thence for several days to Belgrade, then on to Skoplje, a queer old place still very Turkish. From there I pro ceeded to Salonica, where I took a steamer for Athens.

“I made a long stay in Greece, this being my first visit, going during that stay to Crete and Corfu, and also to Constanti nople, Constanza and Bucarest by Rou manian steamer. About Christmas time I went to Naples by Italian boat by way of Malta, stopped a few days in Naples and quite a while in Rome and Florence.

Thence I visited the Riviera which was cold, rainy, thieving in charges and gener ally repellent.

“From Marseilles, which shares with Shanghai the dubious distinction of the being the worst town on earth, I took a German steamer out to the Balearics, re garding with mingled emotions as I did

so the old Ville d’Amiens about to sail for Tahiti. The Balearics are lovely and, being Spanish, inexpensive now.

“From Palma I went by a good British ship—and what a joy to board one after sailing under a dozen other flags—to Gib., thence visiting Granada, Malaga and Seville. In Seville I boarded a little Ger man tramp, whose saloon contained no less than four pictures of the Fuhrer in various moods, for Lisbon, a bright cos mopolitan town.

“Then I went up to Oporto to see how port wine is made, and had a fine visit to Sandeman’s great plant there. Then to Madrid, a hectic and unrestrained town where nowadays fights start at the drop of the hat. I was nearly in one.

“From Madrid to San Sebastian, a beautiful seaside resort, then to Bordeaux for a look at the largest high-grade wind producing district in the world, to Orleans, Tours and Paris. After a fort night of the high-priced frivolity of that town, I escaped to Brussels —which is pretty nearly as frivolous at half the cost.

“In the course of contributing to many different periodicals, I have had quite a scrappy time. A couple of years ago our friend, O. F. Nelson, out of the keenness of his discernment, advised me to ‘lay off’

Samoa and go over and interfere in the affairs of Europe. I took the advice and have lately interfered, journalistically speaking, in Germany, Italy, Greece and Spain. My Italian articles, not favour able to the Duce, made the biggest row I have yet engaged in. The Samoa episodes were ping-pong compared to it.

In one American city a delegation of the leading Italians descended upon the news paper offices and, as I understand it now, were only placated by the promise that my name should not again appear in that paper. Which is the price you pay when you take any definite stand on anything.

However, that is no new experience for me and out of them all I am quite as intransigeant as ever.

“I see you compare me to ‘a distrubing wind in the Pacific.’ If ever I get to Tahiti, and I am hoping that the coming elections in France will be far enough to the Left to devalue the franc, I propose to subside into a tranquil zephyr across the Papeete lagoon.”

Miss J. K. March, of the Methodist Mission at Vunairima, New Britain, arrived in Sydney from Rabaul by the Van Rees on June 9, en route to South Australia to spend four months’ furlough with her parents. She has been in New Guinea for 11 years, and now is in charge of the District Girls’ School at Vunairima.