THE DOOMED ISLAND SIR,—The PROs entrusted with presenting the Government
as a fairy godmother will probably find a few crofters to say that South Uist welcomes the prospect of being turned into another Peenemunde. Before writing this letter I have satisfied myself that the proposed outrage is regarded with dismay by the great majority of the inhabitants.
A recently published book of the folksongs and tales of South Uist by Mrs. Campbell, of Canna, will convince any reader that people like Moray McLaren and myself are not 'delirious esthetes'—to quote' the elegant phrase of an Oxford City Councillor who thinks that buses and lorries deserve more con- sideration than the High.
The arguments against the proposed out- rage arc many and obvious. May we be favoured with the arguments for it? Why is the desert land south of Cape Wrath considered unsuitable? The Admiralty already use it for ship to shore firing practice.
Once upon a time public indignation pre- vented the use of Holy Island as a target for the RAF. South Uist is not less sacred, and its desecration will involve North Uist, Benbecula and Barra as well I would challenge the individual who first thought of this cynical crime to reveal him- self if j did not fear he might turn out to he a Scotsman.—Yours faithfully, Edinburgh
COMPTON MACK EN7I
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