30 JANUARY 1942, Page 4

S.P.C.E. Corner

"The Germans had reportedly only 25 tanks when they passed through Benghazi in retreat."—Times Cairo correspondent, January 24th.

The writer himself may be exonerated. The hideous " re- portedly " is a proper telegraphic abbreviation. The sub-editor in London was no doubt meant to make the sentence read, " The Germans were reported to have had . . ."