ISLE OF MAN: Trouble in Camp

The Isle of Man, famed for rumpless chickens, tailless cats and interned British Fascists, had trouble with its Fascists last week.

Three Fascists escaped in a boat from Peveril Internment Camp near Peel. Paddling their way toward Ireland, they were captured, dunked into Douglas jail, refused permission to return to camp. Their friends at Peveril immediately started a riot in protest. Two hundred odd internees pelted guards with bottles, jugs, brickbats and other loose articles. The riot went on for six hours. Twice an armistice was called for parleying. Each time no terms were reached and the bombardment was resumed.

When mild-mannered Osbert Peake, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Home Affairs, visited the camp next day, stones were hurled at his car. Fascists shouted: “Don’t listen to him, he’s a Jew!” When Peake held up his hand for silence they yelled: “That’s the right salute.”

The Camp Commandant, who was away when the riot occurred, contented himself with chiding the Fascists thus: “I am disturbed at the manner in which you have behaved during my absence. I thought you would play the game.”

Because the British public feels that the interned Fascists have an easy time away from air raids, with plenty of food, bathing beaches and cinemas, there was a stir of protest in London. The British Communist Party used the incident to claim that the Fascists rioted because they have friends in the Government, pointed a finger at War Secretary Captain David Margesson and Minister for Aircraft Production John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon.

The Home Office mumbled: “Only two persons were seriously injured.” To this the Daily Mirror’s indignant Columnist Cassandra roared: “Truly the Fascist disease sleeps easily in our bowels.”