“During the day our casualties have risen considerably.  They are now twenty-eight, including Corporal Flint, Corporal Pendleton, Corporal Heap, Pritchard, Giffin’s servant, and Critchley, my servant.  There have been heavy casualties all over the city.  The Boche has had a regular harvest if he only knew it!  Over a thousand gas-casualties have been admitted to hospital from this city to-day.  And many who have not yet reported sick are feeling bad.  So much so that the Brigade-Major has agreed that all our working parties, but one small one under Allen, shall be cancelled for to-night.  I feel all right.  I must have a strong anti-gas constitution.  This is a new kind of gas; the effects are delayed; but I do not think I am likely to get it now since I have hardly smelt any yet.

“The Germans are doing the obvious thing—­trying to prevent or hinder our forthcoming offensive.  I notice that they have attacked near Nieuport and advanced to a depth of 600 yards on a 1400 yards front.  I have been expecting an enemy attack here, because it is the best thing the Germans can do if they have any sense; and I have repeatedly said so, but have been told that I am silly, that the Germans dare not attack us because they are not strong enough.  For a day I held the view that peace was coming in a week or two!  But Bethmann-Hollweg’s straightforward declaration that Germany will not make peace without annexations or indemnities, that she is out to conquer, has altered things.  We now know exactly how we stand.  Germany is still out for grab.  Therefore she is far from beaten. Ipso facto, peace is out of the question.  The end is not yet in sight.  There is still a long struggle before us.  I think the forthcoming battle here will be the semi-final:  the final will be fought in the East about Christmas or the New Year.  Constantinople still remains the key to victory, if victory is to be won by fighting.”

* * * * *

My diary of July 13 concludes with the statement:  “Captain Briggs’s A Company—­the remains of it—­are coming to these billets to join with us.  Gas casualties in Ypres (latest) over 3,000.”

* * * * *

It was about this time (in the middle of July) that, in the course of one of my letters to my school-friend, Mr. K. L. P. Martin, then—­having been rejected for service in the Army as medically unfit—­a student at Manchester University, I had remarked that I would probably get a “Blighty” in a fortnight; and I would, therefore, want something interesting to read in hospital:  would he please send me England Since Waterloo, by J. A. R. Marriott, whom I had heard lecturing at the Oxford Union on “The Problem of the Near East,” in February, 1916, when I was a recruit in the 29th Royal Fusiliers?

Mr. Martin, who was staying with another friend, Mr. George Fasnacht, at Clayton Bridge, replied as follows: 

“The Hollies, Clayton Bridge,
“Manchester. 
“July 23rd, 1917.