gb0551ms-33-20

Transcription

[Page] 20
[continued from page 19]

me this morning in the uniform of an Artillery man
with a riding switch in his hand and spurs
on his heels.

31st October 1915
Still war-time, and no actual signs yet of the
end being in sight, though there are not wanting
signs of economic troubles in Germany, and of
deterioration in the morale of our enemies.
The country is gradually being bereft of all
its young men, and those capable and
still holding back, are to be seriously pressed
to enlist this month: failing these doing so
a resort will be had to compulsory service.
Everyone is economising to meet the increased
income tax, as well as the serious rise in prices
of necessary food stuffs. Margarine has largely
supplanted butter, the drinking of wine is
little done, and simpler diet with one meat
meal a day is being resorted to. Although one
encounters an occasional pessimist, and
though the tide of success ebbs & flows, on the
whole people keep persistently cheerful, and
no one now entertains doubts of the ultimate
issue.The Teutonic powers have sustained
casualties exceeding 5,000,000, the allies
perhaps a trifle less, but while the strength of
the Austro-Germans is waning, that of

the entente powers is steadily increasing both in
men and materiel. In the West all German
offensive movements for months past have ended
in failure; in Russia their victorious advance
has been brought to a standstill without their
having attained any decisive success, and already
the Russian "riposte" has begun; Italy is
pressing forward on the Austrian Tyrol; A
new campaign has been initiated in the
Balkans by the simultaneous attack on the
North & West of Serbia by the Teutons, and on
The S [South] & East by the treacherous Bulgarians.
Greece has refused to implement the terms
of their treaty by aiding Serbia, and stands
neutral; Roumania has not yet shown her
hand. Late in the day French & British troops
have been landed at Salonika & pressing for:
:ward towards Serbia, but the Bulgarians
have occupied Uskut & cut the railway at
various points, and the outcome of this
distraction is not yet clear by any means.
Should the German aims fail here, the end
may be in sight.
A few days ago a young W.S. [Writer to the Signet] called on
me at the Museum with two gold objects
in a card-board box which had been
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  Transcribers who have contributed to this page.

Moira L- Moderator, Jane F Jamieson