Aruba

were built at Aruba and Curacao. The amazed islanders found their rocky and lonely lands transformed into acres of oiltanks and forests of chimneystacks and their countryside overrun by an army of feverishly active white men. They must have felt as we would if the earth were suddenly invaded by the men from Mars.

Approaching Aruba from the sea the eye is repelled by a barren coastline, unrelieved by green—not even a palm tree. A reef standing off shore about 300 yards encloses a stretch of calm blue water, edged at one point by a strip of white sand. This lagoon forms the bathing place for the white population, while the reef-protected water is an ideal place for small yachts which can cruise in safety in the strongest wind.

Sailing lacks variety, however, as the wind blows eternally from the north-east, changing only in strength. The current flows with the wind and never changes direction, but this combination has two great advantages. Smoke and fumes are blown clear of the residential areas, and oil and rubbish, which would ruin the beach for swimmers, is carried clear of the bathing and yachting centre. These considerations are, in fact, directly responsible for the building of the residential area at the eastern end of the island. Rows of bungalows house the married men and their families, and a touch of colour has rewarded the strenuous efforts made to maintain a few flower beds. Single men live in large, square, barrack-like buildings and are content without flowers. Native employees, shopkeepers and others who obtain a living indirectly from the oil business, live to the north and north-west of the installation. This district is clear of smoke and fumes but has no beach or clear view of the sea. The small town of San Nicholas huddles round the main gate of the refinery. It has two shops which approach western European standards. The rest consist of the usual rooms full of junk, with, of course, a large number of hairdressing saloons and a still larger number of saloons where beer and ice-cream may be bought—if not enjoyed. Dutch police, assisted by native constables, are responsible for law and order, but few Dutchmen have other interests there. The population as a whole is made up of British and American employees of the installation, and a large number of West Indian natives, who were brought in to do the manual work. In addition to these there is a small number of olive-skinned descendants of the original inhabitants. They are a well-educated, smilingly courteous people, and both sexes are employed in departmental offices at the installation.

A visit of less than 30 hours' duration does not give the visitor time to obtain more than a vague idea of the vast undertaking which is the installation at Aruba. He learns, however, that the all-powerful " installation " is, for all practical purposes, the real government of the island, and it gets praise or blame for everything which occurs there. It is impossible in such a short time to study the processes used to extract the various grades of oil and he must be content with a catalogue of results.

The first oil to be extracted from crude oil is Casing Head, an oil so light that it is almost a gas. It is used to improve the quality of lower grades. For instance, Casing Head mixed with light gasolene may be used as aviation spirit. Grades shown here follow Casing Head in order of quality :- (1) Light aviation spirit. (2) Heavy aviation spirit. (3) Light gasolene (benzene, petrol, etc.). (4) Heavy gasolene (pool petrol, etc.). (5) Light paraffin. (6) Heavy paraffin. (7) White spirit (used for cleaning purposes where petrol was once used. A form of paraffin.

When the foregoing has been extracted from crude oil the residue is sold as fuel oil, but fuel oil may be still further reduced to provide :- (1) Jute batching (for treatment of jute bags, rope, etc.). (2) Various grades of lubricating oils. (3) Grease. (4) Asphalt.

At the other end of the island there is another installation and the small town of Oranjestad. A twenty minutes' drive along a good road from San Nicholas to Oranjestad reveals an almost total absence of vegetation. There are a few stunted trees, the starved-looking branches of which point stiffly to the south-east, resembling nothing so much as a woman's hair streaming in the wind. These trees are the perfect example of the effects of a prevailing wind. The only animals seen were goats, which seem able to enjoy life on a diet of broken glass and wire fences. Outside the Installation there is little to interest a visitor and he is soon ready to leave the island for a brief glimpse of its more eastern sister.

Curacao reveals its Dutch ownership as soon as the buildings are sighted. Closer inspection show that houses, quays, bridges, etc., all have that orderly cleanliness characteristic of the Dutch people. Even the numerous oil tanks have not dared to look untidy or out of place in this neat landscape. Friendly nature has co-operated with the Dutch by providing a Canal-like entrance to the lagoon, but in addition the Dutch have built a canal, complete with low stone bridges for barges to squeeze under. Every effort seems to have been made to reproduce their homeland in these tropical waters. The climate cannot be reproduced, however, so the people have provided themselves with elaborate swimming pools, etc., while the trade wind assists to reduce the sweltering heat endured by less favoured neighbours. Like Aruba, Curacao is outside the hurricane belt, and unlike Great Britain, the motorist can get unlimited supplies of petrol at 7d. per gallon.

J.T.C. NEWS.

Two field days were held during the term, on May 13th and June 20th respectively, and on both days we were blessed with fine weather. We should like to express our thanks to Captains Watson and Martin, each of whom took charge of a field day. They arranged some most interesting programmes, which we are sure were heartily enjoyed by the Corps. Captain Martin demonstrated a Company attack by using each section of a Platoon as a Platoon, and before doing so issued the various orders to his Commanders. He then made a Platoon in the Corps carry out the scheme, and Cadet J. A. Denison proved to be a good Company Commander, issuing his orders with clarity and confidence.

On June 6th the General Inspection was held, the Inspecting Officer being Lieut.-Col. Davies, Commanding Officer of a local I.T.C. The Corps turned out very smartly indeed and the whole of the ceremonial was very satisfactory. After this the Company was split up into Platoons and carried out normal training. In order that Colonel Davies could see the tactical abilities of the Company, numbers 8 and 9 Platoons staged a mock battle, which we may say was quite unrehearsed, and there is no doubt that the Inspecting Officer was highly pleased with this operation. Colonel Davies' report was good, though it cannot, of course, be published here in full.

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