MARATHON
SIR, — With respect to Mr. Hodgson, Thermopyhe would not have done as well. I deliberately rejected Thermopyhe as an example, about equal to, but no better than, the sacrifice of 1st RB and 2nd KRRC 'at. Calais, of a unit for their country. I was seek- ing examples of whole communities facing seemingly overwhelming odds for their free- dom, with total destruction as the consequence of failure. Salamis was good, because of the mass evacuation to €gina which preceded but the odds were more qven. Marathon was better, since Athens was virtually alone. The price of Medising was not at first sight a heavy one, no more, perhaps, than is demanded of any satellite at first. I do not pretend to deny the tactical boldness of the Marathon move, but surely it was crazy defiance for the Athenian pygmy to challenge the 'King of Kings.'—Your faithfully,
HAILSHAM Carlton Club, 69 St. James's Street, S.W
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