The Henson Journals

[126]

Thursday, August 2nd, 1917.

1095th day

Rain descended with more or less violence all day long. Deluges are reported from the Front. It is extraordinarily unfortunate.

A letter from Harold reports that he is down with malaria in Greece. That pestiferous country is rapidly earning the reputation of Sierra Leone. I finished the sermon for Sunday, attended Mattins and Evensong, walked for an hour in the cloisters with Cruickshank, read the papers & wrote letters.

The evening paper reports that Brussiloff has resigned the supreme command of the Russian armies, and been replaced by Korniloff. This can hardly have any other effect than a further disintegration of the Army. Brussiloff was the only Russian General, since the Grand Duke Michael disappeared from public view, who had the prestige of victory. Falkenhayn is reported to be in command of the Turkish Armies, & to have been making an inspection of the position at Gaza. General Allenby's only son is reported among the killed at the Front. This is a sore stroke for any man to bear, & will hardly strengthen him for his very difficult task of meeting so formidable an antagonist as Falkenhayn. Belloc in this week's issue of "Land & Water" evidently takes a grave view of the Russian collapse. It has upset all his estimates & calculations as to the course & consequence of the War.

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