he did not agree!  When on the march if I call out a step he washes it out and says that it is the wrong one.  And he is always criticizing one.  Halstead is very different; he does not interfere with one; in fact, he has complimented me on all occasions of these schemes.  After the General had mentioned that the left did so well the other day Halstead said in the Mess:  ’Yes, our left flank was fine, thanks to Floyd; he managed it like a general!’ That is, of course exaggeration in the opposite direction; I make no claim to any talents of that kind:  but it is encouraging for one’s company commander to talk like that, more encouraging than the way the second-in-command, Giffin, behaves.  Giffin is quite agreeable generally, but I do not like his patronizing air.

“We have packed and sent off our kit-bags this evening, as we are returning to the trenches in a day or two.  So if you do not get any letters for a few days shortly, do not get the wind up; I will write whenever I have time....

“I am rather surprised to hear of the change in the Mediterranean Command.  I gather that Sir Archibald Murray, towards whom I entertained such complete confidence, is sharing the fate of his famous predecessor, Sir Ian Hamilton; for I learn that Sir Edmund Allenby, the victor of Arras, is leaving France to take command in Egypt.  Sir Julian Byng has been appointed to command the Third Army in his place, and General Byng is succeeded by General Currie as commander of the Canadian Corps.  Things have certainly been very quiet in Palestine lately; but I think that is the fault of Sir William Robertson in taking Douglas’ 42nd Division away from Murray; but poor Murray gets sacked because he fails to get on when supplied with insufficient troops!  I am sorry.  I had pictured Sir Archibald Murray leading a victorious wing at Armageddon, but that, apparently, is not now to be:  Sir Edmund Allenby reigns in his stead.  Perhaps the new general will have more troops sent out to him; perhaps we shall now get a move on in Palestine, so important a theatre of operations; the arrival of Sir Edmund Allenby in the East may prove the signal for a fresh offensive out there.[3] Sir Stanley Maude has been very quiet lately; but I suppose the weather will be adverse to operations in Mesopotamia at present.  I wonder why something is not done with Sir George Milne’s force at Salonica.  Apparently all is not even yet plain sailing in Greece.  There is still intrigue going on.  I do not think Venizelos is going to have everything his own way, even now King Constantine has gone to Switzerland.  Switzerland is now, I think, the theatre of important diplomatic intrigues.  I think King Constantine’s abdication is only temporary; I think King Alexander only reigns for the period of the war.  Do not fret—­King Constantine knows what he is doing!

“What about Holland?  There seems to be trouble there.  And, as Father remarks, Ireland is troublesome again; but Sir Bryan Mahon ought to be able to deal with the insurgents, even though Lord Wimborne is still Viceroy; and Duke is a better Chief Secretary than Birrell!