15/9/17
My dear Father
I was glad to get your letter of 10th and have the home news. You appear to have got the fruit picking well in hand and should do well this season. I returned from the other lab last Sunday after a busy and interesting week, as I had opportunities of seeing some very historic, much battered country.
We are quiet here just now, which speaks well for the health of this army, especially as this is a monthly for several epidemics. The return of finer weather has given the farmers their opportunity and I should judge that things are pretty well ahead in this region.
I am glad to hear Marian is better and that she is getting a good holiday. I hope both she and May will realise that it doesn't pay to work themselves to shadows, nor is it likely to attract people to the school if both the proprietors look ill.
Mary writes cheerfully from Porthcawl and I'm sure enjoys having the care of a house again. They see a good deal of Irene and Hubert, the practice extends into Porthcawl.
I had a letter from Harold Schenk recently. He is busy at the iron-works and unlikely to be called up; the two younger boys are both serving.
I think it is well that Mela has again got some regular employment, and I imagine her post as Assistant Administrator in the WAAC is quite a good one; it seems to be the equivalent of a platoon commander more or less, I don't know what the pay-scale is. I suppose it is "for the duration", most jobs are now, and as Cyril's is also I don't suppose it will interfere with the first chance of their getting married. Anyway I think she has to look at matters from all points of view, and what is practically a commission in the Women's Army is not to be despised.
I don't yet give up hope about Russia, in fact the Korniloff episode looks like a sign of health, and whether he personally succeeds or succumbs I feel sure that his action will have been a big factor in pulling the country together and showing the well-intentioned Kerensky that armies cannot be run by speeches and committee meetings, or rather that such an army would be bound to fall before the Germans. Kerensky has been in power now for several months and only by Korniloff's "revolt" has he been forced to see that real discipline must be restored. It is a revolt, but a revolt against folly and it if enforces a changed to methods of sense it will have succeeded in its object. That, so far as one can judge from news at present available, is the way the business presents itself to me.
Have you any recent news of George? I wonder what region he is in now.
With love to you all.
Your affectionate son
Arthur
