It now appears from my official correspondence with headquarters, that in case of invasion the military people have not yet got their transport in order; they admit that it will not be in order for two months, and they are still 'going to' indent. They want to indent from this coastal division, where transport is already inadequate and any evacuation would be very sudden. I am trying to stop them.
Also, without any corresponding change in the arrangements for evacuation, the direction of the evacuation has been taken out of the hands of the Committees, which organised it, and put into the hands of the police, who know nothing about the arrangements.
Pinker told me that the British Army now held 160 miles of French Front. That new horizontally effective bombs were now perfect. War Office had said that no bombs could be effective at 50 yards away on the level. Inventors said it could. Bomb made and tried. An officer was to let it off electrically at 70 yards. War Office protested that he could not be in danger. he was killed - hit in the breast by a bit of projectile.
Also that great muddle in landing at Suvla, Dardanelles. Troops 24 hours late. Otherwise they might have got right across peninsula. Fearful row. Two generals sent home. I talked somewhat with a Russian (in French). He had great blame for his countrymen's administrators - 'ces voleurs'.
Additionally for august 20th., see 'Rumours of war' - http://earnoldbennett.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/rumours-of-war.html
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