nd attack the encircling ring of their
enemies at some new point is extraordinary. Where on earth did
they find men for their Rumanian campaign? There can be no doubt
that they are a very stiff foe to beat, and they are not easily
"rattled" by failures or defeats. But it is undeniable that they
were badly "rattled" on the Somme. British achievements there
enable one to look with great hope to the future, when our full
strength will be in the field. Man for man the German soldier is
no match for the British Tommy.

I was amazed to read in the papers that the Dulwich 1st XV have
been beaten by Merchant Taylors'. If that really happened, then
truly it is a case of "Ichabod," and "The glory is departed from
Israel."

_November 17th, 1916._

I am still detached temporarily from Headquarters, travelling
about in a motor-car for the purpose of securing local supplies
of forage and straw in the area about to be occupied by the
Cavalry Division. It is very interesting work, with a large human
element in it; but one has difficulty in getting these French
farmers and dealers to agree to our prices for their commodities.
Almost always they want much more for them than is prescribed in
our schedule of official prices. Taking note of all refusals to
sell to us, because our prices are too low, I have to-day applied
for permission to requisition the goods in these cases--that is,
to take the stuff over compulsorily, handing to the owner a note
entitling him to draw so much money from the British Requisition
Office, the amount being settled by us and not by the farmer or
dealer. That is the way the French Military authorities do
things. They, of course, are dealing with their own people. It is
different with us, and French farmers and peasants think they are
entitled to exact all they can from the English. The French
authorities, acting through their A.S.C. or the local mayors,
periodically call on the communes to supply them with so much
forage, straw and other commodities. These quantities have to be
supplied _nolens volens_ and at prices fixed by the French Army.
I can see ourselves being forced reluctantly to adopt the same
procedure, at least in some cases, though it is much more
pleasant for both parties wh