real
motor-bus, painted grey and full of Tommies. I almost stopped
one the other day, near the fire zone, and asked to be taken to
Oxford Circus; it all seemed so familiar.

The news from Russia isn't very inspiriting. It looks as if Riga
and Rovno will follow in the wake of Warsaw and Novo-Georgievsk.
Not that the mere capture of a town means anything in itself, but
the Boches must be getting a store of ammunition and guns through
their successes. Still, it might be that 1812 would repeat
itself, though I fear the Germans have studied history too well
to fall into the pit that destroyed Napoleon. _Nous verrons._

I went down the other day to an advanced Field Supply Depot. I
often think of the steady flow of goods across the Channel from
the home port where I began my Army experience, and the vastness
of the silent work behind the scenes that is needed to keep the
Army going. You would be amazed to find how little is known even
in the A.S.C. itself of that which I have been privileged to see.
It has a spice of romance about it, this moving of vast stores
from England to the trenches. Out here one gets fresh bread and
meat regularly. There are also ample supplies of preserved meat.
As for "bully" beef, it is rare good stuff, and I am by no means
averse from the hard Army biscuit.

It is the chief part of my duties to make local purchases or
requisitions of goods as they are needed. Local resources are
always used to the utmost, though G.H.Q. is careful to insist on
all goods being duly paid for, or an official requisition-note
being handed to the seller. You will realise that in this sort of
work I get a lot of practice in French. The French spoken in
these parts is very thick, quite different from the metallic
French of Paris.

I am told that when we are moving in the field, cavalry go twice
as fast as any other branch of the Service. When we begin to
move, my job will be really most exciting and interesting, as I
shall have to be right on ahead with a store of supplies, bought,
requisitioned, or obtained somehow, to keep things going till the
ordinary service of lorries and horsed wagons adapts itself to
the new conditions. Whatever happens I hope to see some sport.

I get on excellently with the cavalry officers. They have a