h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Frank,
firstly thanks for reading my father's story. I have been off site for some time dealing with pension problems but will give a reply to Peter ASAP.
I'm sorry he is offended. That was why I hesitated to publish the story. Reg was also very concerned.

I'm happy to reiterate that all armed forces from all countries suffered from venereal disease in both WW1 and WW2.
The disease has been around for a few thousand years and like any disease it thrives best when governments and individuals deny its existence.

I'm certain Reg's eye witness observations were correct. I'll state the facts so others can form their own conclusions. I accept these may differ from mine. I hope the end result will be a better story.

I'd appreciate any comments from you.

best wishes

paul

Paul,
I not only read your Dad's story but also enjoyed it until I came to that particular paragraph and it pulled me up short.
Having been on Malta (Not at the time) I would understand if a group of Officers suddenly appeared for treatment. Twenty of so would fill the Annex and make it look like a full invasion.
To overworked medics and you mention only three it may seem like the whole navy had arrived. Imagine the number of Senior Officers in a Fleet and the story begins to cast doubts.
Your Dad probably did see something out of place and recorded it in his mind in his busy schedule then later it took on more sinister implication to him.
It makes me wonder, why spoil a good story by a rather dubious statement that the Italian Fleet surrendered to get treatment for a scurrilous disease.
Every book I ever read on the subject gave very valid reasons for that surrender and the main one was the Italians did not want their Fleet to fall into German hands as it could have done. The Allies were also worried about the same thing so the deed was done.
If after arriving at Malta which is not in dispute, some of those Navy men did ask for treatment alongside many others on Malta, I could understand your Dad registering it in his mind.
What upsets me and obviously Peter is the sweeping statement that the Italian Fleet surrendered because it was poxed to the eye balls and they needed urgent treatment.
All the known facts point to this not being the truth of the matter and it casts a grave slur on a complete Nation.
I mentioned Viscountess Astor in my other reply. If you had been around as we were when she cast the same slur on the complete British Army fighting in Italy, saying they should never be allowed back in to the country when the war was over, you will understand what a touchy subject it is. You will also understand why such sweeping statemnets should be modified in the name of common sense as they detract from a perfectly good story.
I am hoping that my more ballanced appeal to edit the story and present it again in less scurrilous form will make you rethink. Peter is obviously ballistic over it all and I can understand that. I instantly latched on to it thinking "that is a bit far fetched" as will others.
I cannot believe it is dispute you want as that will certainly detract from the rest of a perfectly good story. It will disapear into a mire of angst and vituperation losing all credibility when it does not deserve such treatment A little light editing will put it back on track and where it belongs on these pages.
Regards Frank.

Thanks for that Frank. I have already asked Helen for advice on re-wording.

I don't know if you have seen my latest post but it does make it clear that I don't believe the Italians were different to anyone else. I do want to emphasise that.

I'm quite happy that Reg's observation was valid but have been unable to get any idea of numbers. I'm definitely not talking of hundreds of officers but an unspecified number of cars full. I've no problems with changing this either.

I'm also saying that it may have been a consideration. I think the allies would have been negligent not to point out the benefits of surrender.

I don't want to upset people as life's too short but this is a taboo subject and I can't really help that.

I've presented Reg's observations as fairly as I can.
I'd like some additional medical input as I believe infection rates were much higher than the general population believed.

Once again, your comments are appreciated and Peter has added some excellent information.

There is only one person that it has sent wappy and if you dig a bit you will se why? This subject will always be controversial whatever is said about it.

I have worked with veterans well along in years which have not been diagnosed for many years with syphalis due to it lying in its dormant state.

Eventualy when a veteran experiences problems with their sight and headaches and various other symptoms and all tests are saturated they will do a random VD test but only when they have thought of everything else. Not realising that these guys and women have had a young life in open sexual warfare and low and behold the subject has developing sumptoms of syphalis.

Usualy at this stage it is to late even though they blast the person concerned with penacilin. Statistics say that many years later sufferers usualy die of a blood clot on the brain. Many cases go un noticed because it would destroy many families but i can tell you guys the statistics tell us there is still a lot of carriers out there passing it on, excellent stuff Beniton