d so went
out for a blow after breakfast. Found two British T.B.D.'s in dock; on
one they were having divine service, close to the quay. I listened
specially to the part about loving our enemies! Then I found the
English Church (Colonial and Continental), quite nice and good chants,
but I was too sleepy to stay longer than the Psalms: it is ages since
one had a chance to go to Church.

After lunch, now they are all unloaded, one will be able to get a stuffy
station sleep, regardless of noise and smells.

We carried thirty-nine officers on the train, mostly cavalry, very brave
and angelic and polite in their uncomfortable and unwonted helplessness.
They liked everything enthusiastically--the beds and the food and the
bandages. One worn-out one murmured as he was tucked up, "By Jove, it is
splendid to be out of the sound of those beastly guns; it's priceless."
I had a very interesting conversation with a Major this morning, who was
hit yesterday. He says it's only a question of where and when you get
it, sooner or later; practically no one escapes.

Rifle firing counts for nothing; it is all the Coal-boxes and Jack
Johnsons. The shortage of officers is getting very serious on both
sides, and it becomes more and more a question of who can wear out the
other in the time.

He said that Aircraft has altered everything in War. German aeroplanes
come along, give a little dip over our positions, and away go the
German guns. And these innocent would-be peasants working in the fields
give all sorts of signals by whirling windmills round suddenly when
certain regiments come into action.

The poor L. Regiment were badly cut up in this way yesterday half an
hour after coming into their first action; we had them on the train.

They say the French fight well with us, better than alone, and the
Indians can't be kept in their trenches; it is up and at 'em. But we
shall soon have lost all the men we have out here. Trains and trains
full come in every day and night. We are waiting now for five trains to
unload. It is a dazzling morning.

_Monday, November 2nd._--On way up to ----. The pressure on the Medical
Service is now enormous. One train came down to-day (without Sisters)
with 1200 sitting-up cases; they stayed for hours in the siding near us
without water, cigarettes, or newspapers. You will see in to-day's
'Times' that the Germans have got back round Ypres again (where I went
into the Cathedral last Monday). No.-- A.T. was