p.

3.
an Arab soldier who had deserted with his arms & equipment all complete. I got another nice compliment from H.G. about this, as they said it was an important case, & they must have an intelligent & sensible President! It lasted from 10-0 in the morning, until 8-15 at night, & I felt pretty exhausted at the end. I awarded the wretched man three years penal servitude, which was quite a decision to have to make. I must say, I never quite pictured myself having to interfere with men's lives to that extent. It is such a temptation to deal leniently with a man & give a light sentence, & hope that he will amend his ways & appreciate your kindness. but this sort of case has such serious complications, & it is necessary to be very strong minded & even ruthless.

The two cases today were comparatively simple & rather like a pantomine. They concerned two soldiers from Cyprus - Cypriots - who were charged with malingering, that is feigning illness in order to evade duty. They came in shuffling like old things of 85, & said they had rheumatism but the surgical specialist said there was nothing at all wrong with them. I had a long technical x-examination of him, on the subjects of arthritic change & heredity - & finally found them both guilty & gave them each 112 days detention. But their limps were so terrific that either they are the biggest fakes I have ever seen, or else they are very lame men indeed. So I have added a recommendation to the proceedings that the General, before confirming sentence, should have them seen by another specialist & was careful to