the trenches. We have now the sum total of our
children's ages [about 20] coming to us to-morrow night, so we shall
have something to do to put them all up. Of course, these are for my
own men only. In our diggings we are constantly turning up the bodies
of Indians or Frenchmen, or of a few Englishmen who have held our
trenches before us, and have been buried at the back during the night.
Very awful, but so is all war. We go in to-night again to our most
objectionable duty. I had a letter from Bertha. Col. Farmar is now
well established on the staff with Gen. Smith-Dorrien. S.D. is far and
away one of the most capable of our Generals, I am told. I am so sorry
to hear of Miss Webb's [of Newstead Abbey] sudden death from heart,
just like her sister, Lady Chermside. Well, that is about all my news.
I am off this morning to inspect our bomb-throwers. No doubt these
nasty weapons are useful on occasions, but they are most dangerous to
those who handle them. So, too, with us--that is, in our Brigade--they
have only blown up four of themselves. None of my men have done so as
yet, I am thankful to say....

IN TRENCHES.
_February 16th, 1915._

Here we arrived peacefully last night; I went through the whole of my
lines in places up to my knees in mud, as usual! There is practically
no news to give you, excepting that to-day the country looks very nice
with a bright sun shining. We have heard heavy firing at Ypres, and do
not know what it all means, but I am fairly ready for them, anyhow, if
they wish to come. I also learnt that the Germans drove the Russians
out of East Prussia, because the latter were short of ammunition, but
that the Russians killed and wounded 100,000 Germans before they went.
A few more such German "victories" ought to about finish these knaves!
How I wish I was back in England and at home!...

_February 17th, 1915._

Am really in full blast now. On Saturday I was summoned to ride 5
miles to a conference. The first person I saw there was Col. Farmar,
who had just returned from a flying visit to England. It was pleasant
meeting him again, though we had not much time for a private talk.
The conference being over, I was whisked off in a motor with a
General. We were driven by a French soldier who had been two years in
London and 7 years in America. After lunch at his bille