11/6/16
My dear Father
Many thanks for your letter of the 4th. I was very interested to read Cyril’s letter and have sent it on to George, asking him to return it to you.
We have had a spell of wet, rather cold weather and what with that and recent events it hasn’t been a cheerful time. However the further details of the great naval fight are progressively more satisfactory, and the “German Victory” of a week ago has entirely disappeared. As far as one can tell we are now relatively in a much better position with regard to ships, and probably in morale too, for whatever the man in the street thinks I believe our naval officers have throughout had a genuine regard for the power of the German navy and its men, so the result of the fight between Beatty’s squadron and the enemy is very cheering from that point of view.
Where does Aunt George propose to live? I daresay she doesn’t feel equal to the trouble of furnishing a small house, though that would have struck one as the best course, and probably not much more expensive over a period of a year or two.
Mary tells me she writes fairly often to you so that you keep in touch with the doings of baby Dorothy.
I mean to write to Judy to wish her luck in the exam, but think now it is rather late. I hope she will get through – it may be of service afterwards whatever she takes up.
The Russian push in Volhynia is well-timed – on that side anyway the outlook is better than twelve months ago-at sea also, and at least not less encouraging this side.
Old Mrs Gillespie sent me a box of cigars last week. I am evidently in favour!
I hope some result will come of the fresh negotiations – one feels that the less said the better just now, rather as when one is building a card house.
The more I see of Irishmen out here (and the RAMC is overcrowded with them) the more I realize how impossible they are to handle, bad enough individually, but worse still in a crowd. Nor is there the slightest evidence that they can handle themselves successfully.
I have had a busy week, and am likely to have still more to do the next few months.
With love to all.
Your affectionate son
Arthur F Sladden
