e C.C. was well set in. Every department, learning by instinct
what was forward, forthwith discovered what it had long suspected, its own
immediate and paramount importance. Every department appointed a
representative to go round and see the C.C. about it, another
representative to write to him about it, and a third to ring him up on the
telephone, and go on ringing him up on the telephone, about it. The only
departments that kept modestly in the background were those upon which the
execution of the move fell. The C.C., noting the queue of representatives
at his front-door and the agitation of his telephone, slipped out by the
back-door, and went to look for the workers, and, when he'd found them, he
lived with them, night and day, here, there and everywhere.

Humanity is not constituted for such close friendships. As time passed the
C.C. and his accomplices found relations becoming strained. They said
things to each other which afterwards they regretted. Meanwhile also the
departments with the paramount and immediate needs grew bitter and
restless. Only the Highest Authorities remained tranquil.

I'm told it was an A.D.C. who called attention to the difficulty of milk
supply. This was a popular suggestion; it was just the sort of difficulty a
soldier loves. In the bare and arid circumstances of the new camp there was
no milk supply. "Buy one," said the Highest Authority, and again the thing
was as good as done, except for the C.C., who had to think out a cow, so to
speak, with regard to its purchase, equipment, transport, housing,
maintenance and education. A man of infinite variety, the arrival of the
cow (in bulk) found the C.C. nonplussed. He could not even begin to solve
the food question. To him it seemed there were only two alternatives for
the beast: bully beef or ration allowance at three francs a day in lieu of
rations. The cow, he was told, was entitled and likely to refuse both.

We all crowded round the C.C. to help. "As to a simple matter like food,"
said A. and Q., "the Lord will provide. But as to the more difficult and
complicated matters of establishment we will issue your orders." These ran:
"Reference COW: (1) This unit should be shown on your Weekly Strength
Return, with a statement of all casualties affecting same. Casualties
include admission to or evacuation from hospital; change of address;
marriage, and leave to the United Kingdom. (2) To be brought on the proper
establishment of H.Q., it shoul