Know your adversary

Abstract

Abstract J. G. Crowther (1899-1983) was a science journalist and popularizes who seemed during his life to have met every scientist of any note. In his memoir of his life among scientists he tells stories of encounters during the two World Wars. The following, he thought, could be apocryphal but was at all events fully in character. E. A. Milne (1896-1960), the Oxford mathematician and cosmologist, offered his services to the War Office, and received some cyclostyled document informing him that his services would be called upon, if necessary. Milne, in view of his services in the First World War, and his eminence since, was infuriated by what he regarded as a discourteous reply. He used his connections to have his disapproval brought to the attention of the higher ranks of the War Office. He thereupon received an invitation, signed by a brigadier-general, to call at the Office. Milne arrived fulminating with criticism. He told the brigadier, who listened quietly to his harangue, that the War Office ought to know’ that the war would be a scientific one. In that case, was the way they had treated him rhe way to make the best use of science and eminent scientists?