Meerut British General Hospital
3/11/15
My dear Father
Many thanks for your letter of 30th which came this morning. It looks probable that Cyril has gone to the Balkans unless all correspondence from the Mediterranean has been held up for a purpose. News from that zone is scanty at present, and I don’t fancy that things are going to our advantage there yet. We seem to have miscalculated in every direction in the Near East and I only hope that the Government will initiate very strong action with all possible speed and trust in our own right arm instead of in potential allies who are notoriously slippery customers. The Greeks and the Bulgarians have both let us down badly, and it is my belief that only strong action now and soon will keep the Greeks from joining Germany. Carson’s plain speaking is unpleasant reading but I fear it is the truth without circumlocution; and more direct speech and action on the part of our rulers is becoming more and more urgent. We’ve got the men, the money and the spirit to carry this thing through to complete success if the matter is properly handled, but we can’t expect always to “muddle through” and that’s what has been happening in that region. Fortunately the Navy and the Western Campaign (in most respects) have been free from muddle.
I wonder what the recruiting situation will be by the end of the month; it is I suppose a favourable season for recruiting just now.
I am glad Baby seems to get on so well at home. Mary tells me she has grown quite a lot.
I was very sorry to read about WG’s death. I saw a note of his first attack in the newspapers, so was not very surprised later to hear he had gone.
What a fine crop of Blenheims you have. The orchards will have done very well this year, almost a record year, isn’t it, though I suppose low prices will have kept profits down.
I hear Mr Collier has been under operation, I hope he’s getting on all right.
I am consistently busy here, and so far as I can see am likely to remain with this unit here sine die. I hear from Horder that he is likely to go as physician in charge to the Anglo-Russian Hospital at Petrograd. He and his wife had a narrow escape in a theatre a few weeks ago – a Zep bomb fell at the pit entrance.
With love to you all.
Your affectionate son
Arthur
