Thoughts of war

Sunday, May 7th., Comarques, Thorpe-le-Soken.

Reading Marcel Dupont's "La Campagne" this evening and last night. There is no genius in it, but it gives a plain notice of what war is, and some things are moving. Curious sensation lying in bed reading, with a nightingale singing furiously across the road, horses and motors passing at intervals, and the thought that exactly similar scenes might be occurring here at any time as in France. This house might be a ruined chateau, and our furniture might be defiled by German officers. I find it hard to actually make myself believe it could happen. What would I do? Hasty retreat? Defend my property? Co-operate? Who can tell!

Anyhow, the theory of the War Office is that an invasion could happen. A period of extreme vigilance is now on. It is a pity here that at new moon high water is at midnight. If high water was at 6 a.m. at new moon the periods of vigilance would be fewer if there were any at all. One night out of three our lieutenants have to spend at the telephone in the Orderly Room - 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. The defensive works are being increased all along the coast.

Co-incidentally in a way I was reading some of Hardy's short stories the other night in bed. The invasion scare then was of Napoleon. I enjoyed his story which conjectured a secret night-time visit by Boney himself to Dorset to 'spy-out' the land. There is much anxiety about 'spies' here. Also enjoyed "The Fiddler of the Reels", which is beautifully constructed, rather erotic in parts, and could have been written by no-one else.