penings filter along the line from St Omer (G.H.Q.) as
soon as they happen, so we know there's been no real "breaking through"
that hasn't been made good, or partially made good, because if there
had, the dispositions all along the line would have had to be altered,
and that has not happened.

The ambulance trains are collecting the Ypres casualties straight from
the convoys at Poperinghe, as we did at Ypres in October and November,
and not through the Clearing Hospitals, which I believe have had to move
farther back.

_Wednesday, April 28th._--Here everything is as it has been for the last
few days (except the weather, which is suddenly hot as summer), rather
more casualties, but no rush, and the same crescendo of heavy guns. Some
shells were dropped in a field just outside the town at 8.30 yesterday
evening but did no damage.

_Thursday, April 29th,_ 4 P.M.--The weather and the evenings are
indescribably incongruous. Tea in the garden at home, deck-chairs, and
Sweep under the walnut-tree come into one's mind, and before one's eyes
and ears are motor ambulances and stretchers and dressings, and the
everlasting noise of marching feet, clattering hoofs, lorries, and guns,
and sometimes the skirl of the pipes. One day there was a real band, and
every one glowed and thrilled with the sound of it.

I strayed into a concert at 5.30 this evening, given by the Glasgow
Highlanders to a packed houseful of men and officers. I took good care
to be shown into a solitary box next the stage, as I was alone and
guessed that some of the items would not be intended for polite female
ears. The level of the talent was a high one, some good part songs, and
two real singers, and some quite funny and clever comic; but one or two
things made me glad of the shelter of my box. The choruses were fine.
The last thing was a brilliant effort of the four part singers dressed
as comic sailors, which simply made the house rock. Then suddenly, while
they were still yelling, the first chords of the "King" were played, and
all the hundreds stood to attention in a pin-drop silence while it was
played--not sung--much more impressive than the singing of it, I
thought.

We have had some bad cases in to-day, and the boy with the lung is not
doing so well.

My second inoculation passed off very quickly, and I have not been off
duty for it.

X.

With No.-- Field Ambulance (2)

FESTUBERT, MAY 9 AND MAY 16

_May 6, 1915, to May 26, 1915_