1 15 Nov My dear pr. Only time for a few lines as I
have been out all day with the bombers. On
my return I found Gen' Bols & Col Hudson waiting
to see 'me'. Both very friendly & as usual for
the time I at any rate ( & I think they also)
forgot the difference in our respective ranks, & had a nice buck. We shall stop here at x another week
& then remain in sight of our church spires
or towns. I won't say which for fear of giving
our position away! I wish I could be with you tomorrow but 2 know the p r will make a wise decision. I do not think the Comforts Commitee sounds much
of a success at present but if the p r takes it up know
it will get a better chance especially if Mrs B works
with her. On the other hand if you get a good
offer of work which will not take too much out
of you & is really helpful to the nation I shall
not be surprised if you take this. I won't advise
either way as it is unsafe to do so from this
distance. I like to see the various big doctors chasing
the p v !, but grow anxious sometimes lest they
use her for experimental purposes not to her own
good. I am more than ever convinced that my plan 3 is the right one for the Comforts Committee i e
to help the men to buy what they want & not
to give them presents. We are to get a plumpuddings
from the Daily News ! ! ! which has a fund for
the purpose for the army. This I cannot look upon
as disinterested on their part, & in any case I think
our men can eat them with a quiet conscience. No letter since the 10th which came
last night I am glad to get this, but look
forward to a bumper soon. By the way the
mail seems to be a very uncertain one so
you may expect big delays sometimes, even
if I am good in writing. As regards funds I find that my messbill has 4 every prospect of being by especially as it is won in
the porting system with £180 cook. I very much resent
this as I should like to feel I was doing all I could
to save for the loans. I wish our people would realise
this more, but the Govt don't put an example & the
people have no guides. Rubber has bounced up again I see & this should
materially increase our income this year, but the reason
is done to the sudden demand for rubber trench boots
which will not last after the war, & we must look
to a drop of another £1000 then. I sometimes wonder
if I am justified in not taking a chance of returning
to the army & its pay, but it does mean as
much humiliation in store in future that I do
not want to do it unless the little pr feels that
she could not manage if things got very bad
later. Our right course now is to try & help the 5 loans to our 0utmost extent, so that as soon as
the terms are mentioned I hope you will
send out the pass book to me , but it won't be
much use doing so till we know your future
life. If you wish to furnish a flat I am quite
agreeable to this, but may very possibly look on
that as a capital investment & sell out to
meet it. I do not want to lessen or loan
contributions, tho' there is no hurry about it.
The pinch won't be felt till next year, & I am
not sure it is not better for them who are willing
to subscribe , to hold back till then so that the screw 6 may now be put on the Govt. Best of love. Have to censorfor
the mind Wilfrid BSpender