1 Gore is strong
on the future
rapprochement in
Ireland & points
o the way in
which our men
got on with the
Dublin Fus as
an example. I
should have thought
he had had one
lesson but
suppose he'll
work another.
If it's after the
war I don't mind
but I don't want
a practical one
now. 14 Nov Rather a disgruntled b w. First of all no letters have come
for 3 days, nor what of course I mind much more any papers.
Next you will hardly believe it but I hear that Hicken
after an extra good lunch got round Gin N & has persuaded
him to give Chich more leave & to let him have a chance
of coming out here later. It really is too disgraceful, & it almost
makes me a socialist for undoubtedly Lord Tomnoddy & Lady
are responsible but I find it hardly credible. Phan let
Sir A & Gun P know. Won't they be phases. Next I hear that the Comforts Committee sat & talked
but have not decided much except that they are short of funds.
Apparently £2000 has been promised for the Gunners who are
not Ulster men & who are not out here yet, & £450 for the others,
& then seems to be no plan. I don't fancy Mrs N likes being
bossed by Lady C but surely the Duchess can look after both &
make all play up. It seems to me that this is the best
we can ask for our aristocracy now, N instead of pulling strings for
their protégés. I am getting not only reconciled but quite eagerly
looking forward mow to the quiet life which will be
inevitable after the war. I heard from Sircsay on the telephone
that a letter had come out 4 months ago & that he had returned
to his regiment as junior Captain. He thinks that at the
present rate he will work up to his old place before the war.
Certainly I did not understand this from his letter, & it alters his
case entirely, but I don't intend to follow his example & go back 2 under boys 15 years junior to myself, which is what would
happen in the Gunners! I hope that nothing will prevent one
from regaining one's independence before many months but I don't
want the war to stop till Germany is brat. There are a lot of
unpleasant rumors in the air about this, & one political
personage says the Gov' will one day make peace without acquaint
ing any one. Certainly Squiffy's assertions that he will never
do so till Germany is squashed make this seem quite possible. I
should not like to be the Gov' in that can withespecially when
the Ulster Dir returned! One also heard the senior Genls discussing quite openly that
the New Armies are not 17 out here & showing how thon which have
done will have hardly been noticed whilst other troops who have done
less will have been cracked up to the skies. 2 g 1 Dir the Canadians
I think are described as having captured a first line of trenches
great gallantry, when as a matter of fact these trenches had been unoccu-
pied for weeks. I believe they did quite well but why make them laughed
at out here & arvers bitterness by such complaints. Our Friend Seely
when GSO 2 earlier came breathless to the 2 Army &2 announced that
one of our Dirs was in full disorganised retreat. Then was naturally
a bit of a stir, & up to the present they have not been able to
find out what he saw whether a fatigued party or some more charming
a rat. The GOC to whom he reported, Smith Danin, is now at
home & Seely a Dir' Com^ & wanting a corps! However how
I have let off steam, & I hope not made you quite ill I feel
better tho' I wish Winston Churchill were not coming out here
to join his regiment (? I will bet any our win money that he
won't be in his regiment one month; probably he will be made GSO 1
for a fortnight before becoming a General.