Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in ixedsog1's Blurty:

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Saturday, May 1st, 2010
3:00 am	Of him her brother thus wrote, speaking of... Of him her brother thus wrote, speaking of visiting his plantation, on a collecting tour (Comment on this)
Friday, April 30th, 2010
2:43 am	As a result even I myself felt as if the pall of... As a result even I myself felt as if the pall of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat liftedMina is now sleeping like a little childIt is wonderful thing that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the midst of her terrible troubleThank God for it, for then at least she can forget her carePerhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety did tonightOh! For a dreamless sleep 6 October, morningMina woke me early, about the same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring DrI thought that it was another occasion for hypnotism, and without question went for the ProfessorHe had evidently expected some such call, for I found him dressed in his roomHis door was ajar, so that he could hear the opening of the door of our roomAs he passed into the room, he asked Mina if the others might come, too "No," she said quite simply, "it will not be necessaryYou can tell them just as wellI must go with you on your journeyVan Helsing was as startled as I wasAfter a moment's pause he asked, "But why?" "You must take me with youI am safer with you, and you shall be safer, too "But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our solemnest dutyWe go into danger, to which you are, or may be, more liable than any of us from? from circumstances? things that have been He paused embarrassed As she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her foreheadThat is why I must goI can tell you now, whilst the sun is coming upI may not be able againI know that when the Count wills me I must goI know that if he tells me to come in secret, I must by wileBy any device to hoodwink, even Jonathan God saw the look that she turned on me as she spoke, and if there be indeed a Recording Angel that look is noted to her ever-lasting honourI could only clasp her handMy emotion was too great for even the relief of tears"You men are brave and strongYou are strong in your numbers, for you can defy that which would break down the human endurance of one who had to guard aloneBesides, I may be of service, since you can hypnotize me and so learn that which even I myself do not knowVan Helsing said gravely, "Madam Mina, you are, as always, most wiseYou shall with us comeAnd together we shall do that which we go forth to achieve When he had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at herShe had fallen back on her pillow asleepShe did not even wake when I had pulled up the blind and let in the sunlight which flooded the (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
2:39 am	?Isn?t that cake in the skillet almost... ?Isn?t that cake in the skillet almost done?? ?Mose done, Mas?r George,? said Aunt Chloe, lifting the lid and peeping in,??browning beautiful?a real lovely brownAh! let me alone for datMissis let Sally try to make some cake, t? other day, jes to larn her, she said?O, go way, Missis,? said I (Comment on this)
Monday, April 26th, 2010
2:41 am	Then when we begin our prayer for the dead, I... Then when we begin our prayer for the dead, I shall read him, I have here the book, and the others shall follow, strike in God's name, that so all may be well with the dead that we love and that the UnDead pass away Arthur took the stake and the hammer, and when once his mind was set on action his hands never trembled nor even quiveredVan Helsing opened his missal and began to read, and Quincey and I followed as well as we could Arthur placed the point over the heart, and as I looked I could see its dint in the white fleshThen he struck with all his might The thing in the coffin writhed, and a hideous, blood-curdling screech came from the opened red lipsThe body shook and quivered and twisted in wild contortionsThe sharp white teeth champed together till the lips were cut, and the mouth was smeared with a crimson foamBut Arthur never falteredHe looked like a figure of Thor as his untrembling arm rose and fell, driving deeper and deeper the mercy-bearing stake, whilst the blood from the pierced heart welled and spurted up around itHis face was set, and high duty seemed to shine through itThe sight of it gave us courage so that our voices seemed to ring through the little vault And then the writhing and quivering of the body became less, and the teeth seemed to champ, and the face to quiverThe terrible task was over The hammer fell from Arthur's handHe reeled and would have fallen had we not caught himThe great drops of sweat sprang from his forehead, and his breath came in broken gaspsIt had indeed been an awful strain on him, and had he not been forced to his task by more than human considerations he could never have gone through with itFor a few minutes we were so taken up with him that we did not look towards the coffinWhen we did, however, a murmur of startled surprise ran from one to the other of usWe gazed so eagerly that Arthur rose, for he had been seated on the ground, and came and looked too, and then a glad strange light broke over his face and dispelled altogether the gloom of horror that lay upon it There, in the coffin lay no longer the foul Thing that we had so dreaded and grown to hate that the work of her destruction was yielded as a privilege to the one best entitled to it, but Lucy as we had seen her in life, with her face of unequalled sweetness and purityTrue that there were there, as we had seen them in life, the traces of care and pain and wasteBut these were all dear to us, for they marked her truth to what we knewOne and all we felt that the holy calm that lay like sunshine over the wasted face and form was only an earthly token and symbol of the calm that was to reign for ever Van Helsing came and laid his hand on Arthur's shoulder, and said to him, "And now, Arthur my friend, dear lad, am I not forgiven?" The reaction of the terrible strain came as he took the old man's hand in his, and raising it to his lips, pressed it, and said, "Forgiven! God bless you that you have given my dear one her soul again, and me peace He put his hands on the Professor's shoulder, and laying his head on his breast, cried for a while silently, whilst we stood unmoving When he raised his head Van Helsing said to him, "And now, my child, you may kiss herKiss her dead lips if you will, as she would have you to, if for her to chooseFor she is not a grinning devil now, not any more a foul Thing for all eternityNo longer she is the devil's UnDeadShe is God's true dead, whose soul is with Him!" Arthur bent and kissed her, and then we sent him and Quincey out of the tombThe Professor and I sawed the top off the stake, leaving the point of it in the bodyThen we cut off the head and filled the mouth with garlicWe soldered up the leaden coffin, screwed on the coffin lid, and gathering up our belongings, came awayWhen the Professor locked the door he gave the key to Arthur Outside the air was sweet, the sun shone, and the birds sang, and it seemed as if all nature were tuned to a different pitchThere was gladness and mirth and peace everywhere, for we were at rest ourselves on one account, and we were glad, though it was with a tempered joy Before we moved away Van Helsing said, "Now, my friends, one step of our work is done, one the most harrowing to ourselvesBut there remains a greater task: to find out the author of all this our sorrow and to stamp him (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 25th, 2010
3:19 am	Van Helsing described what steps were taken... Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day to discover on what boat and whither bound Count Dracula made his escape "As I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania, I felt sure that he must go by the Danube mouth, or by somewhere in the Black Sea, since by that way he comeIt was a dreary blank that was before usOmme ignotum pro magnifico, and so with heavy hearts we start to find what ships leave for the Black Sea last nightHe was in sailing ship, since Madam Mina tell of sails being setThese not so important as to go in your list of the shipping in the Times, and so we go, by suggestion of Lord Godalming, to your Lloyd's, where are note of all ships that sail, however so smallThere we find that only one Black Sea bound ship go out with the tideShe is the Czarina Catherine, and she sail from Doolittle's Wharf for Varna, and thence to other ports and up the Danube'So!' said I, 'this is the ship whereon is the Count' So off we go to Doolittle's Wharf, and there we find a man in an officeFrom him we inquire of the goings of the Czarina CatherineHe swear much, and he red face and loud of voice, but he good fellow all the sameAnd when Quincey give him something from his pocket which crackle as he roll it up, and put it in a so small bag which he have hid deep in his clothing, he still better fellow and humble servant to usHe come with us, and ask many men who are rough and hotThese be better fellows too when they have been no more thirstyThey say much of blood and bloom, and of others which I comprehend not, though I guess what they meanBut nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know "They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about five o'clock comes a man so hurryA tall man, thin and pale, with high nose and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burningThat he be all in black, except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him or the timeThat he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to what ship sails for the Black Sea and for whereSome took him to the office and then to the ship, where he will not go aboard but halt at shore end of gangplank, and ask that the captain come to himThe captain come, when told that he will be pay well, and though he swear much at the first he agree to termThen the thin man go and some one tell him where horse and cart can be hiredHe go there and soon he come again, himself driving cart on which a great boxThis he himself lift down, though it take several to put it on truck for the shipHe give much talk to captain as to how and where his box is to be placeBut the captain like it not and swear at him in many tongues, and tell him that if he like he can come and see where it shall beBut he say 'no,' that he come not yet, for that he have much to doWhereupon the captain tell him that he had better be quick, with blood, for that his ship will leave the place, of blood, before the turn of the tide, with bloodThen the thin man smile and say that of course he must go when he think fit, but he will be surprise if he go quite so soonThe captain swear again, polyglot, and the thin man make him bow, and thank him, and say that he will so far intrude on his kindness as to come aboard before the sailingFinal the captain, more red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him that he doesn't want no Frenchmen, with bloom upon them and also with blood, in his ship, with blood on her alsoAnd so, after asking where he might purchase ship forms, he departed "No one knew where he went 'or bloomin' well cared' as they said, for they had something else to think of, well with blood againFor it soon became apparent to all that the Czarina Catherine would not sail as was expectedA thin mist began to creep up from the river, and it grew, and grewTill soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all around herThe captain swore polyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with bloom and blood, but he could do nothingThe water rose and rose, and he began to fear that he would lose the tide (Comment on this)
Saturday, April 24th, 2010
5:51 am	MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL 8 August-Lucy was very... MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL 8 August-Lucy was very restless all night, and I too, could not sleepThe storm was fearful, and as it boomed loudly among the chimney pots, it made me shudderWhen a sharp puff came it seemed to be like a distant gunStrangely enough, Lucy did not wake, but she got up twice and dressed herselfFortunately, each time I awoke in time and managed to undress her without waking her, and got her back to bedIt is a very strange thing, this sleep-walking, for as soon as her will is thwarted in any physical way, her intention, if there be any, disappears, and she yields herself almost exactly to the routine of her life Early in the morning we both got up and went down to the harbour to see if anything had happened in the nightThere were very few people about, and though the sun was bright, and the air clear and fresh, the big, grim-looking waves, that seemed dark themselves because the foam that topped them was like snow, forced themselves in through the mouth of the harbour, like a bullying man going through a crowdSomehow I felt glad that Jonathan was not on the sea last night, but on landBut, oh, is he on land or sea? Where is he, and how? I am getting fearfully anxious about himIf I only knew what to do, and could do anything! 10 August-The funeral of the poor sea captain today was most touchingEvery boat in the harbour seemed to be there, and the coffin was carried by captains all the way from Tate Hill Pier up to the churchyardLucy came with me, and we went early to our old seat, whilst the cortege of boats went up the river to the Viaduct and came down againWe had a lovely view, and saw the procession nearly all the wayThe poor fellow was laid to rest near our seat so that we stood on it, when the time came and saw everything Poor Lucy seemed much upsetShe was restless and uneasy all the time, and I cannot but think that her dreaming at night is telling on herShe is quite odd in one thingShe will not admit to me that there is any cause for restlessness, or if there be, she does not understand it herself There is an additional cause in that poor MrSwales was found dead this morning on our seat, his neck being brokenHe had evidently, as the doctor said, fallen back in the seat in some sort of fright, for there was a look of fear and horror on his face that the men said made them shudderPoor dear old man! Lucy is so sweet and sensitive that she feels influences more acutely than other people doJust now she was quite upset by a little thing which I did not much heed, though I am myself very fond of animals One of the men who came up here often to look for the boats was followed by his dogThe dog is always with himThey are both quiet persons, and I never saw the man angry, nor heard the dog barkDuring the service the dog would not come to its master, who was on the seat with us, but kept a few yards off, barking and howlingIts master spoke to it gently, and then harshly, and then angrilyBut it would neither come nor cease to make a noiseIt was in a fury, with its eyes savage, and all its hair bristling out like a cat's tail when puss is on the war path Finally the man too got angry, and jumped down and kicked the dog, and then took it by the scruff of the neck and half dragged and half threw it on the tombstone on which the seat is fixedThe moment it touched the stone the poor thing began to trembleIt did not try to get away, but crouched down, quivering and cowering, and was in such a pitiable state of terror that I tried, though without effect, to comfort it Lucy was full of pity, too, but she did not attempt to touch the dog, but looked at it in an agonised sort of wayI greatly fear that she is of too super sensitive a nature to go through the world without troubleShe will be dreaming of this tonight, I am sureThe whole agglomeration of things, the ship steered into port by a dead man, his attitude, tied to the wheel with a crucifix and beads, the touching funeral, the dog, now furious and now in terror, will all afford material for her (Comment on this)
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
3:52 am	Yet some striking exceptions there are among us,... Yet some striking exceptions there are among us, from the fact that the negro is naturally more impressible to religious sentiment than the white ?Well,? said Miss Ophelia, ?how came you to give up your plantation life?? ?Well, we jogged on together some time, till Alfred saw plainly that I was no planterHe thought it absurd, after he had reformed, and altered, and improved everywhere, to suit my notions, that I still remained unsatisfiedThe fact was, it was, after all, the THING that I hated?the using these men and women, the perpetuation of all this ignorance, brutality and vice,?just to make money for me! ?Besides, I was always interfering in the detailsBeing myself one of the laziest of mortals, I had altogether too much fellow-feeling for the lazy (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
2:33 am	The instant, however, that I had stepped over the... The instant, however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed cold as ice, more like the hand of a dead than a living manAgain he said, "Welcome to my house! Enter freelyGo safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring!" The strength of the handshake was so much akin to that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had not seen, that for a moment I doubted if it were not the same person to whom I was speakingSo to make sure, I said interrogatively, "Count Dracula?" He bowed in a courtly way as he replied, "I am Dracula, and I bid you welcome, MrCome in, the night air is chill, and you must need to eat and rest As he was speaking, he put the lamp on a bracket on the wall, and stepping out, took my luggageHe had carried it in before I could forestall himI protested, but he insisted "Nay, sir, you are my guestIt is late, and my people are not availableLet me see to your comfort myself He insisted on carrying my traps along the passage, and then up a great winding stair, and along another great passage, on whose stone floor our steps rang heavilyAt the end of this he threw open a heavy door, and I rejoiced to see within a well-lit room in which a table was spread for supper, and on whose mighty hearth a great fire of logs, freshly replenished, flamed and flared The Count halted, putting down my bags, closed the door, and crossing the room, opened another door, which led into a small octagonal room lit by a single lamp, and seemingly without a window of any sortPassing through this, he opened another door, and motioned me to enterIt was a welcome sightFor here was a great bedroom well lighted and warmed with another log fire, also added to but lately, for the top logs were fresh, which sent a hollow roar up the wide chimneyThe Count himself left my luggage inside and withdrew, saying, before he closed the door "You will need, after your journey, to refresh yourself by making your toiletI trust you will find all you wishWhen you are ready, come into the other room, where you will find your supper prepared The light and warmth and the Count's courteous welcome seemed to have dissipated all my doubts and fearsHaving then reached my normal state, I discovered that I was half famished with hungerSo making a hasty toilet, I went into the other room I found supper already laid outMy host, who stood on one side of the great fireplace, leaning against the stonework, made a graceful wave of his hand to the table, and said, "I pray you, be seated and sup how you pleaseYou will I trust, excuse me that I do not join you, but I have dined already, and I do not sup I handed to him the sealed letter which MrHawkins had entrusted to meHe opened it and read it gravelyThen, with a charming smile, he handed it to me to readOne passage of it, at least, gave me a thrill of pleasure "I must regret that an attack of gout, from which malady I am a constant sufferer, forbids absolutely any travelling on my part for some time to comeBut I am happy to say I can send a sufficient substitute, one in whom I have every possible confidenceHe is a young man, full of energy and talent in his own way, and of a very faithful dispositionHe is discreet and silent, and has grown into manhood in my serviceHe shall be ready to attend on you when you will during his stay, and shall take your instructions in all matters The count himself came forward and took off the cover of a dish, and I fell to at once on an excellent roast chickenThis, with some cheese and a salad and a bottle of old tokay, of which I had two glasses, was my supperDuring the time I was eating it the Count asked me many questions as to my journey, and I told him by degrees all I had (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
10:11 am	These yer ?s all providences ?They are a kind of... These yer ?s all providences ?They are a kind of providences that you?ll have to be pretty sparing of, Master SamI allow no such practices with gentlemen on my place,? said MrShelby, with as much sternness as he could command, under the circumstances Now, there is no more use in making believe be angry with a negro than with a child (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
2:34 am	And with a grim sort of smile, which showed more... And with a grim sort of smile, which showed more than he had yet done his protruberant teeth, sat himself down again on his own side of the fireplaceWe were both silent for a while, and as I looked towards the window I saw the first dim streak of the coming dawnThere seemed a strange stillness over everythingBut as I listened, I heard as if from down below in the valley the howling of many wolvesThe Count's eyes gleamed, and he said "Listen to them, the children of the nightWhat music they make!" Seeing, I suppose, some expression in my face strange to him, he added, "Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city cannot enter into the feelings of the hunter Then he rose and said "But you must be tiredYour bedroom is all ready, and tomorrow you shall sleep as late as you willI have to be away till the afternoon, so sleep well and dream well!" With a courteous bow, he opened for me himself the door to the octagonal room, and I entered my bedroom I am all in a sea of wondersI think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soulGod keep me, if only for the sake of those dear to me! 7 May-It is again early morning, but I have rested and enjoyed the last twenty-four hoursI slept till late in the day, and awoke of my own accordWhen I had dressed myself I went into the room where we had supped, and found a cold breakfast laid out, with coffee kept hot by the pot being placed on the hearthThere was a card on the table, on which was written--"I have to be absent for a while I set to and enjoyed a hearty mealWhen I had done, I looked for a bell, so that I might let the servants know I had finished, but I could not find oneThere are certainly odd deficiencies in the house, considering the extraordinary evidences of wealth which are round meThe table service is of gold, and so beautifully wrought that it must be of immense valueThe curtains and upholstery of the chairs and sofas and the hangings of my bed are of the costliest and most beautiful fabrics, and must have been of fabulous value when they were made, for they are centuries old, though in excellent orderI saw something like them in Hampton Court, but they were worn and frayed and moth-eatenBut still in none of the rooms is there a mirrorThere is not even a toilet glass on my table, and I had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before I could either shave or brush my hairI have not yet seen a servant anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolvesSome time after I had finished my meal, I do not know whether to call it breakfast or dinner, for it was between five and six o'clock when I had it, I looked about for something to read, for I did not like to go about the castle until I had asked the Count's permissionThere was absolutely nothing in the room, book, newspaper, or even writing materials, so I opened another door in the room and found a sort of libraryThe door opposite mine I tried, but found locked In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of English books, whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes of magazines and newspapersA table in the centre was littered with English magazines and newspapers, though none of them were of very recent dateThe books were of the most varied kind, history, geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law, all relating to England and English life and customs and mannersThere were even such books of reference as the London Directory, the "Red" and "Blue" books, Whitaker's Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and it somehow gladdened my heart to see it, the Law List Whilst I was looking at the books, the door opened, and the Count enteredHe saluted me in a hearty way, and hoped that I had had a good night's rest "I am glad you found your way in here, for I am sure there is much that will interest youThese companions," and he laid his hand on some of the books, "have been good friends to me, and for some years past, ever since I had the idea of going to London, have given me many, many hours of pleasureThrough them I have come to know your great England, and to know her is to love herI long to go through the crowded streets of your mighty London, to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, and all that makes it what it (Comment on this)
2:34 am	Hello, my account friends Welcome to my first blog (Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
3:08 am	Numbly Harry thought of how the Dursleys had... Numbly Harry thought of how the Dursleys had once shut him up, locked him away, kept him out of sight, all for the crime of being a wizardHad Dumbledore's sister suffered the same fate in reverse: imprisoned for her lack of magic? And had Dumbledore truly left her to her fate while he went off to Hogwarts to prove himself brilliant and talented? "Now, if Kendra hadn't died first," Muriel resumed, "I'd have said that it was she who finished off Ariana -" "How can you, Muriel!" groaned Doge"A mother kill her own daughter? Think what you're saying!" "If the mother in question was capable of imprisoning her daughter for years on end, why not?" shrugged Auntie Muriel"But as I say, it doesn't fit, because Kendra died before Ariana - of what, nobody ever seemed sure-" "Yes, Ariana might have made a desperate bid for freedom and killed Kendra in the struggle," said Auntie Muriel thoughtfully"Shake your head all you like, ElphiasYou were at Ariana's funeral, were you not?" "Yes I was," said Doge, through trembling lips," and a more desperately sad occasion I cannot rememberAlbus was heartbroken-" "His heart wasn't the only thingDidn't Aberforth break Albus' nose halfway through the service?" If Doge had looked horrified before this, it was nothing to how he looked nowMuriel might have stabbed himShe cackled loudly and took another swig of champagne, which dribbled down her chin "How do you -?" croaked Doge "My mother was friendly with old Bathilda Bagshot," said Auntie Muriel happily"Bathilda described the whole thing to mother while I was listening at the doorThe way Bathilda told it, Aberforth shouted that it was all Albus' fault that Ariana was dead and then punched him in the faceAccording to Bathilda, Albus did not even defend himself, and that's odd enough in (Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
1:20 am	The longer he fought, the more painful the wound... The longer he fought, the more painful the wound on his right arm becameBai Zhen by himself was as much as he could manage, let alone the other four or five bodyguards that also surrounded himBai Zhen's hands dived and flew, every move accurate and deadly, and Bald Vulture, completely absorbed in fending him off, was unprepared for a cold-blooded attack from behindA bodyguard thrust his sword deep into Bald Vulture's back Bald Vulture knew instantly that he would dieHe swung his elbow back with all his strength and smashed his attacker's skull, then with a huge roar, he raised his sword and threw it forcefully across the room at Qian LongThe bodyguard Ma who was carrying the Emperor, saw the blade flying towards them and with no time to dodge out of the way, put his hand up to stop itBut this was a throw by a man on the verge of death, backed by incalculable strength and outrage and the sword sliced off half of his hand and plunged through his chest and out the other side Bald Vulture was content, assuming that the sword must have entered Qian LongExchanging his own life for that of an Emperor made death seem worthwhileMadame Guan ran to her husband as Bai Zhen hurriedly picked Qian Long up off the floor "Your Highness, are you all right?" he asked Qian Long was scared out of his wits, but he struggled to control himself"At least I was well-prepared," he replied with a smile Bai Zhen could see the tip of Bald (Comment on this)
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
6:39 am	Perhaps I did it because I was completely... Perhaps I did it because I was completely exhausted and grieving over Mother (Comment on this)
Monday, January 4th, 2010
2:47 pm	4.X.39. First Lord to Second Sea Lord, 4.X.39. First Lord to Second Sea Lord, Parliamentary Secretary and Secretary. 7.X.39. First Lord to Secretary. 7.X.39. First Lord to Second Sea Lord and others concerned and Secretary. 14.X.39. 584 examples. Each case must be judged on its merits, from the point of view of smooth administration. I cannot see any objection to Indians serving on H.M. ships where they are qualified and needed, or, if their virtues so deserve, rising to be Admirals of the Fleet. But not too many of them, please. I see no reason to suspend these enlistments or bar the Navy door to the Dominions in time of war. Most particularly am I concerned with Newfoundland, about which I have given special directions. The Newfoundlanders are certainly not to be ?left to find their own way to this country? from Newfoundland. Care and pains are to be taken to recruit, train and convey to the United Kingdom as many as possible. I hope we shall get one thousand. I understand this is in progress, and let me have a report saying exactly what is being done in Newfoundland. With regard to the other Dominions, suitable enlistments should be accepted whether for hostilities only or for permanent service. These ratings can be trained at the naval ports in the Dominions: at Sydney, at Halifax and Esquimalt, and at Simonstown. Opportunity will then be given to transport the men in batches to this country or draft them on to His Majesty's ships visiting the Dominions. Pray let a scheme on these lines be put forward with a view to surmounting the difficulties. ?Salmon's? War Patrol Narrative I am in entire accord with the Second Sea Lord's Minute of yesterday. I shall be most willing to concur in the promotion and honours proposed, both to the officers and to the men. I await the proposals of the Sea Lords in respect of the promotion. Naval Secretary should prepare submissions for the Honours to the King, and, if possible, these should be published, both as to officers and men, before the Salmon sails again. Perhaps His Majesty would like himself to see the officer (Lieutenant-Commander Bickford), and conclude the audience by pinning on the D.S.O. Naval Secretary might find out what they think about this at the Palace. It seems probable that similar, though not necessarily the same, awards will be required in the case of the Commander of the Ursula, and hfrom her pockets, two ?ting? noises were heard as they collided with each other, she said, ?Little brother, if you follow my instructions then I?ll give these ingots to you.? Yang Guo originally didn?t want to have anything do with her, but he heard that her words were suspicious and wanted to find out what she wanted so he pretended to be stupid, and looked at the ingots and said, ?What use do those shiny rocks have?? The Taoist priestess smiled and said, ?It?s money. If you want new clothes, chickens, rice, you could buy them with this.? Yang Guo put on a baffled expression and said, ?You want to lie to me, I don?t believe you.? The Taoist priestess laughed and said, ?When have I lied to you? Hey, little kid, what is your name?? Yang Guo said, ?Everyone calls me ?Sha Dan? (Dumb Egg), don?t you know that? What?s your name?? The Taoist priestess laughed and said, ?Sha Dan, you can call me Angelic Priestess, where?s your mother?? Yang Guo said, ?My mum just scolded me, and went over to the other side of the mountain to chop firewood.? The Taoist priestess said, ?I need a hatchet, go to your home and get one, and then lend it to me.? Yang Guo was curious, he opened his eyes wide, drooled and made himself look even more like a stupid person, he shook his head incessantly and said, ?I can?t (Comment on this)
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010
5:17 pm	I had understood that Randle [factory armies and... I had understood that Randle [factory armies and the support of our Belgian ally we still have stout hearts and confidence in ourselves, we shall at once strengthen our hands in negotiations and draw the admiration and perhaps the material help of the U.S.A. Moreover, we feel that as long as we stand together our undefeated Navy and our Air Force, which is daily destroying German fighters and bombers at a formidable rate, afford us the means of exercising in our common interest a continuous pressure upon Germany?s internal life. 7. We have reason to believe that the Germans too are working to a time-table, and that their losses and the hardships imposed on them together with the fear of our air raids is undermining their courage. It would indeed be a tragedy if by too hasty an acceptance of defeat we threw away a chance that was almost within our grasp of securing an honourable issue from the struggle. 128 8. In my view if we both stand out we may yet save ourselves from the fate of Denmark or Poland. Our success must depend first on our unity, then on our courage and endurance. This did not prevent the French Government from making a few days later a direct offer of their own to Italy of territorial concessions, which Mussolini treated with disdain. ?He was not interested,? said Ciano to the French Ambassador on June 3, ?in recovering any French territories by peaceful negotiation. He had decided to make war on France. ? 2 This was only what we had expected. * * * * * I now gave daily a series of directions to make sure that if we were subjected to this odious attack by Mussolini we should be able to strike back at once. Pray bring the following before the C.O.S. Committee: What measures have been taken, in the event of Italy?s going to war, to attack Italian forces in Abyssinia, sending rifles and money to the Abyssinian insurgents, and generally to disturb that country? I understand General Smuts has sent a Union brigade to East Africa. Is it there yet? When will it be? What other arrangements are made? What is the strength of the Khartoum garrison, including troops in the Blue Nile Province? This is the opportunity for the Abyssinians to liberate themselves with Allied help. 2. If France is still our ally after an Italian declaration of war, it would appear extremely desirable that the combined fleets, acting from opposite ends of the Mediterranean, should pursue an active offensive against Italy. It is important that at the outset collision shoul The only scale of attack which it seems to me need be contemplated for the centre of Government is, say, five hundred parachutists or Fifth Columnists. What is the present plan, and what is the scale against which it is being provided? You might do something for Jos. He is a grand-hearted man. I am rather doubtful, from information which has reached me, whether our home timber resources are being adequately developed. This, of course, is primarily a matter for the Minister of Supply, who I know has made certain departmental adjustments recently with this particular end in view. Let me have a statement showing the scheme of defence for the Central Government, Whitehall, etc. What was the scale of attack prescribed, and who was responsible for taking the measures? What was the reason for attempting to put an anti-tank obstacle across St. James?s Park? Who-ordered this? When was it counterordered? Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War. 20.VII.40. Prime Minister to Minister without Portfolio. 20.VII.40. Prime Minister to General Ismay. 21.VII.40. Prime Minister to General Ismay. 23.VII.40. 647 I am told that the refuelling of fighter aeroplanes could be much more rapidly achieved if there were more tankers on the aerodromes, and considering that an attack by air would make every minute gained in returning the fighters to the air most precious, I should be glad if measures were taken at once to double it or greatly increase the fuelling facilities. I do not seem to have had any answer from you to my query about whether the 2d Canadian Division and all it stands for is being frittered away in Iceland. 1. It is, of course, urgent and indispensable that every effort should be made to obtain secretly the best possible information about the German forces in the various countries overrun, and to establish intimate contacts with local people, and to plant agents. This, I hope, is being done on the largest scale, as opportunity serves, by the new organisation under M.E.W. None of this partakes of the nature of military operations. 2. It would be most unwise to disturb the coasts of any of these countries by the kind of silly fiascos which were perpetrated at Boulogne and Guernsey. The idea of working all these coasts up against us by pin-prick raids and fulsome communiques is one to be strictly avoided. 3. Sir Roger Keyes is now studying the whole subject of medium raids ? i.e., not less than five nor more than ten Papen proceeded to tell me that all Southeastern Europe to the borders of Turkey was Germany's natural hinterland, and that he had been charged with the mission of effecting German economic and political control over the whole of this region. He blandly and directly said that getting control of Austria was to be the first step. He intended to use his reputation as a good Catholic to gain influence with Austrians like Cardinal Innitzer. The German Government was determined to gain control of Southeastern Europe. There was nothing to stop them. The policy of the United States, like that of France and England, was not ?realistic.? Amid these tragedies and alarms, the aged Marshal Hindenburg, who had, for some months, been almost completely senile and so more than ever a tool of the Reichswehr, expired. Hitler became the head of the German State while retaining the office of 83 Chancellor. He was now the Sovereign of Germany. His bargain with the Reichswehr had been sealed and kept by the blood-purge. The Brown Shirts had been reduced to obedience and reaffirmed their loyalty to the Fuehrer. All foes and potential rivals had been extirpated from their ranks. Henceforward they lost their influence and became a kind of special constabulary for ceremonial occasions. The Black Shirts, on the other hand, increased in numbers and strengthened by privileges and discipline, became under Himmler a Praetorian Guard for the person of the Fuehrer, a counterpoise to the Army leaders and military caste, and also political troops to arm with considerable military force the activities of the expanding secret police or Gestapo. It was only necessary to invest these powers with the formal sanction of a managed plebiscite to make Hitler's dictatorship absolute and perfect. * * * * * Events in Austria drew France and Italy together, and the shock of the Dolfuss assassination led to General Staff contacts. The menace to Austrian independence promoted a revision of Franco -Italian relations, and this had to comprise not only the balance of power in the Mediterranean and North Africa, but the relative positions of France and Italy in Southeastern Europe. But Mussolini was anxious, not only to safeguard Italy's position in Europe against the potential German threat, but also to secure her imperial future in Africa. Against Germany, close relations with France and Great Britain would be useful (Comment on this)
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
12:21 am	A. attack, and regard it as a matter of extreme A. attack, and regard it as a matter of extreme urgency, I consider the scale of eighty 3.7-inch guns goes beyond what is justified, having regard to other heavy needs. It is altogether out of proportion to lock up three regiments of A.A. artillery, etc. (comprising 6,200 men) for the whole war in Scapa. Scapa is no longer the base of the Grand Fleet, but only of three or four principal vessels. Alternative harbours can be used by these. The distance from Germany, 430 miles, is considerable. We must be very careful not to dissipate our strength unduly in passive defence. I approve, therefore, of the additional sixteenth 3.7-inch as a matter of the highest urgency. But I think they should be erected by the Admiralty to avoid the long delays and heavy charges of the War Office Ordnance Board. The second twenty equipments should be considered in relation to the needs of Malta, as well as to the aircraft factories in England. This applies still more to the full scale of 3.7-inch guns, numbering forty-four. Their destination can only be considered in relation to the future war need. The light A.A. guns seem to be excessive, having regard to the heavy pompom fire of the Fleet. The searchlights and balloons are most necessary, as are also the two Fighter Squadrons. Do we not require a more powerful R.D.F. station? And should there not be an additional R.D.F. station on the mainland? In this case the urgency of getting something into position counts far more than making large-scale plans for 1940. Let me have reduced proposals with estimates of time and money, but without delaying action on the first instalments. Also a report of the A.A. defences of Malta, and also of Chatham. It was very pleasant to see the aircraft carrier Argus in the basin at Portsmouth to-day. The boats of this vessel have been sent to the C.-in-C., First Lord to First Sea Lord and others. 20.IX.39. First Lord to First Sea Lord and others. 21.IX.39. 554 Home Fleet, but no doubt they could easily be replaced, and various guns could be mounted. We are told that modern aircraft require a larger deck to fly on and off. In that case, would it not be well to build some aircraft suitable for the ship, as these can be made much quicker than a new aircraft carrier? We ought to commission Argus as soon as possible, observing that the survivors of Courageous are available. Pray consider the steps that should be taken to this end. I am told she is a very st 3. In the West it is important that the responsibility for the opening of hostilities should rest unequivocally with England and France. At first purely local action should be taken against insignificant frontier violations.14 * * * * * On my return from the Rhine front, I passed some sunshine days at Madame Balsan's place, with a pleasant but deeply anxious company, in the old ch?teau where King Henry of Navarre had slept the night before the Battle of Ivry. Mrs. Euan Wallace and her sons were with us. Her husband was a Cabinet Minister. She was expecting him to join her. Presently he telegraphed he could not come, and would explain later why. Other signs of danger drifted in upon us. One could feel the deep apprehension brooding over all, and even the light of this lovely valley at the confluence of the Eure and the Vesgre seemed robbed of its genial ray. I found painting hard work in this uncertainty. On August 26, I decided to go home, where at least I could find out what was going on. I told my wife I would send her word in good time. On my way through Paris I gave General Georges luncheon. He produced all the figures of the French and German Armies, and classified the divisions in quality. The result impressed me so much that for the first time I said: ?But you are the masters.? He replied: ?The Germans have a very strong army, and we shall never be allowed to strike first. If they attack, both our countries will rally to their duty.? That night I slept at Chartwell, where I had asked General Ironside to stay with me next day. He had just returned from Poland, and the reports he gave of the Polish Army were most favourable. He had seen a divisional attack-exercise under a live barrage, not without 303 casualties. Polish morale was high. He stayed three days with me, and we tried hard to measure the unknowable. Also at this time I completed bricklaying the kitchen of the cottage which during the year past I had prepared for our family home in the years which were to come. My wife, on my signal, came over via Dunkirk, on August 30. * * * * * There were known to be twenty thousand organised German Nazis in England at this time, and it would only have been in accord with their procedure in other friendly countries that the outbreak of war should be preceded by a sharp prelude of sabotage and murder. I had at that time no official protection, and I did not wish to ask for any (Comment on this)
Friday, January 1st, 2010
12:37 am	Moreover, it was the Admiralty Committee over... Moreover, it was the Admiralty Committee over which I presided early in the year which produced the idea of using these distress rockets. I am, therefore, well acquainted with the subject. The Air Ministry, not for the first time, spread itself into very large demands, and, using its priority, barged in heavily into other forms of not less important production. I agree that P.A.C.8 rockets may be a good interim defence against low-flying attack, but they have to take their place in the general scheme. I thought myself about five thousand a month would be sufficient, but I am willing to agree to fifteen hundred a week, or six thousand a month. This figure could be somewhat extended if the wire -recovery projects you mention were further developed and proved an effective economy. (Action this day.) Prime Minister to General Ismay. 25.VIII.40. Prime Minister to Secretary of State for Air. 25.VIII.40. (Action this day.) Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War. 25.VIII.40. 666 War Office have accepted from the War Cabinet the responsibility of dealing with delayed -action bombs. This may become a feature of the enemy attack. A number were thrown last night into the City, causing obstruction. They may even try them on Whitehall! It seems to me that energetic effort should be made to provide sufficient squads to deal with this form of attack in the large centres. The squads must be highly mobile, so as not to waste men and material. They must move in motor lorries quickly from one point to another. I presume a careful system of reporting all unexploded bombs and the time at which they fell is in operation, and that this information will be sent immediately to the delayedaction section of Home Defence, which has no doubt already been established, and also the various local branches. The service, which is highly dangerous, must be considered particularly honourable, and rewards should follow its successful discharge. I should be very glad to see your plans for the new section, together with numbers, and it will also be interesting to have a short account of the work done up to date and the methods employed. I presume you are in touch with all the scientific authorities you need. On the other hand, I am asking the Air Ministry for information as to their reciprocating this process on the enemy. (General Ismay to see.) I cannot feel you are justifiedof the completed Japanese battle -cruisers. I pray that we may never have to make this widespread distribution, but I am in full accord with the principles on which the Admiralty would propose to meet the strain. I should have thought that Hood would be a greater deterrent than Renown. Please let me have a report of the possibility of air attack on Bismarck and Tirpitz. This seems to me to be one of the most Prime Minister to Chancellor of the Exchequer. 28.VII.40. (Action this day.) Prime Minister to First Lord and First Sea Lord. 1.VIII.40. (Action this day.) Prime Minister to First Lord and First Sea Lord. 2.VIII.40. 651 vital steps to take. Apart from this, there is no need to make any new dispositions at the present time on account of Japanese warrisk. I was much concerned to hear of the sinking of the three tankers off Tory Island. I should like to see you move some destroyers from the East Coast thither. We had better wait, however, until the August moon-phase is over. During this time also the American guns and rifles will be distributed to the troops. Next week one of my principal tasks must be going through this scheme of the Air Ministry for increasing the pilots and for the training of pilots. Lord Beaverbrook should be asked for his views beforehand. 2. Let me have a report on the plans for lectures on tactical subjects for the troops in the autumn. 3. What has been done about the collection of scrap of all kinds? Let me?have a short report on one page covering the progress made this year. 4. When at the Admiralty f took a special interest in the work of the Salvage Department, and held a meeting there four months ago. A naval officer, Captain Dewar, was then in charge. Let me have a report on what has happened to salvage since that day. 5. I am also expecting this week to reach a settlement about the functions of the A.R.P. and police in the case of invasion. The Lord Privy Seal was dealing with this in the first instance. At the same time we must consider allowing transfers from A.R.P. to the Home Guard, and their being made available for fighting purposes. To what extent has the payment of the A.R.P. personnel been discontinued or restricted? It ought to be continually restricted. (Action this day.) Prime Minister to General Ismay. 2.VIII.40. 652 6. Let me have a report on the progress and future construction of the tank divisions. There should be five armoured divisions by March 31 [1941are being employed on all these [defencethat after Munich the great majority of the British people shared my honest desire that that policy should be carried farther, but today I share their disappointment, their indignation, that those hopes have been so wantonly shattered. How can these events this week be reconciled with those assurances which I have read out to you? Who can fail to feel his heart go out in sympathy to the proud, brave people who have so suddenly been subjected to this invasion, whose liberties are curtailed, whose national independence is gone? Now we are told that this seizure of territory has been necessitated by disturbances in Czechoslovakia. If there were disorders, were they not fomented from without? Is this the last attack upon a small state or is it to be followed by another? Is this in fact a step in the direction of an attempt to dominate the world by force? It is not easy to imagine a greater contradiction to the mood and policy of the Prime Minister's statement two days earlier in the House of Commons. He must have been through a period of intense stress. On the fifteenth he had said: ?Do not let us be deflected from our course.? But this was ?Right-about-turn.? Moreover, Chamberlain's change of heart did not stop at words. The next ?small state? on 262 Hitler's list was Poland. When the gravity of the decision and all those who had to be consulted are borne in mind, the period must have been busy. Within a fortnight (March 31) the Prime Minister said in Parliament: I now have to inform the House that in the event of any action which clearly threatened Polish independence and which the Polish Government accordingly considered it vital to resist with their national forces, His Majesty's Government would feel themselves bound at once to lend the Polish Government all support in their power. They have given the Polish Government an assurance to this effect. I may add that the French Government have authorised me to make it plain that they stand in the same position in this matter as do His Majesty's Government. [And later 3.XI.40. 531 then you should run risks to stimulate Greek resistance. Over seventy thousand men sent to Middle East Command since June and thirty thousand reaching you before November 15, fifty-three thousand by end of the year. Armoured regiments have started in big convoy yesterday. Cannot therefore believe that various minor offensives of which you speak, plus major defence at Mersa Matruh, will outvalue need of effective action in Greece. No one will thank us for sitting tight in Egypt with ever-growing forces while Greek situation and all that hangs on it is cast away. Loss of Athens far greater injury than Kenya and Khartoum, but no necessity for such a price to be paid. Read carefully Palairet?s (our minister in Athens) telegrams. New emergencies must be met in war as they come, and local views must not subjugate main issue. No one expected Italy so late in the year would attack Greece. Greece, resisting vigorously with reasonable aid from Egypt and England, might check invaders. I am trying to send substantial bomber and fighter reinforcements to Crete and Greece, flying from England, with stores by cruiser. If this proves feasible details will be cabled tomorrow or Monday. Trust you will grasp situation firmly, abandoning negative and passive policies and seizing opportunity which has come into our hands. ?Safety first? is the road to ruin in war, even if you had the safety, which you have not. Send me your proposals earliest, or say you have none to make. And again: 4.XI.40. We are sending you air reinforcements, arriving as fully explained in accompanying message from Chiefs of Staff. Send at once to Greece one Gladiator squadron and two more Blenheim squadrons, three in all. If necessary send a second battalion to Crete. Agreeably with arrival of our air reinforcements aforesaid and at earliest send one more Gladiator squadron. Anti-aircraft guns for airfields in Greece should precede arrival of squadrons. 532 It was proposed at this time to ask the Greeks to keep their Cretan division in the island. I therefore minuted: It will be difficult to deny the Greeks the use of this Cretan division. If that be so, we shall certainly have to put more troops on the island. It is important that there should be a certain number of troops, and that it should be thought by the enemy that we are landing considerable numbers. The area to be watched is very extensive, and the consequences of a counter - attack woul It is of no use giving me these reports five days late. The Admiralty know every day exactly the state of the flotillas. I do not know why this matter should go through the War Cabinet or Defence Ministry. Pray tell the Admiralty to send direct to me, every week, the state o? their flotillas. I am much concerned that the patrols on the western approaches should only have gone up to thirty effective. Let me see the chart showing previous weeks tomorrow. I shall be obliged if you will let me know the present unemployment figures, divided into as many categories as is convenient, and compared with (a) how they stood at the outbreak of war, and (b) when the new Government was formed. It is to me incomprehensible that with the 50 American destroyers coming into service we should not have been able to Prime Minister to General Ismay. 28.XI.40. Prime Minister to Minister of Labour. 28.XI.40. Prime Minister to First Sea Lord. 30.XI.40. 711 raise the total serviceable to above 77 by November 23, when they stood at 106 on October 16. What happened between October 16 and October 26 to beat down serviceable destroyers by 28 vessels, and why did they go down from 84 to 77 between November 16 and November 23? ? just at the very time when another dozen Americans were coming into service. I have authorised the ringing of church bells on Christmas Day, as the imminence of invasion has greatly receded. Perhaps, however, you will let me know what alternative methods of giving the alarm you would propose to use on that day, and, secondly, what steps would be taken to ensure that the ringing of the bells for church services and without any invasion does not in fact lead to an alarm. There must certainly be no relaxation of vigilance. DECEMBER All this talk about Atlantic operations and Atlantic islands is most dangerous, and is contrary to the decision to describe such operations as ?Shrapnel.? I see no need for these long and pointless telegrams, and it is becoming quite impossible to conduct military operations when everything has to be spread about the Departments and around the world like this. Kindly give me the assurance that there will be no further discussion of these matters by telegram without my seeing the messages before they are multiplied. Let me also know exactly the lists of officials and departments to whom these telegrams have been distributed. Prime Minister to C.-in-C. Home Forces. 30.XI.40. Prime Minister to the foremost tubes fired theirs, we were all watching results. I'll never forget that cheer that went up (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
10:25 am	What is going to be done to increase them? 2 What is going to be done to increase them? 2. In view of the torpedoing of the Glasgow by a seaplane while at anchor, ought not ships at anchor to be protected by nets at short range? I gather this was the Italian method at Taranto, but at the moment of the attack they had taken them off. Pray let me have a note on this. ARMY ORGANISATION Prime Minister to Minister of Aircraft Production. 3.XII.40. Prime Minister to General Ismay. 4.XII.40. 714 I understand that you are asking for another big call-up shortly. The papers talk about a million men. This forces me to examine the distribution of the men you have. According to your paper, twenty-seven British divisions are credited to Expeditionary Force and Middle East. These divisions are accounted for at 35,000 men each, to cover corps, army and line of communication troops, etc., plus 70,000 security troops in M.E. 2. The approved establishment of a British division at the present time is 15,500 men. It comprises only nine battalions with an establishment of 850, i.e., about 7500. The establishment of all battalions comprises a considerable proportion of servicing elements, and I doubt whether the rifle and machine-gun strength ? i.e., fighting strength ? amounts to more than 750. Thus the total number of men who actually fight in the infantry of a British division is 6750. This makes the fighting infantry of twenty-seven divisions, in what used to be called bayonet or rifle strength, 182,250. It used to be said that the infantry was ?the staple of the Army,? to which all other branches were ancillary. This has certainly undergone some modification under new conditions, but none the less it remains broadly true. The structure of a division is built round its infantry of nine battalions, with a battery to each battalion, the necessary proportion of signallers and sappers, the battalion, brigade, and divisional transport, and some additional elements, the whole being constituted as an integral and self-contained unit of 15,500 men. 3. When we look at the division as a unit, we find that twentyseven divisions at 15,500 official establishment require no less than 1,015,000 men. This gives an actual burden of 35,000 men for every divisional unit of 15,500 men, the units themselves being already fully self-contained. Nearly 20,000 men have therefore to be accounted for for each division of the E.F. or M.E. over and above the full approved establis and two more by the end of May. Let me know how far the present prospects of men and material allow of this. Let me know also what are the latest ideas for the structure and organisation of an armoured division. This should be prepared on one sheet of paper, showing all the principal elements and accessories. It is very important to get on with the uniforms for the Home Guard. Let me have a forecast of deliveries. My objection was to anything in the nature of sinking at sight or sinking without due provision for the safety of the crews. Provided this is excluded, there can be no reason against sinking a captured ship if, owing to air attack or other military reasons, it is impossible to bring her into port as a prize. The disadvantages of sinking a ship and losing valuable tonnage are obvious, and I do not see why in nineteen cases out of twenty the Admiralty cannot put a prize crew on board and send the ship in, in the ordinary way. I see no objection to the action taken in the Hermione case,7 which falls entirely within the general principles set forth above. The whole question of holidays and reduced hours should be considered by the Cabinet at an early date. It is far too soon to assume that the danger has passed. It is a great mistake to tell the workpeople that they are tired. On the other hand, certain Prime Minister to General Ismay. 2.VIII.40. (Action this day.) Prime Minister to First Lord. 2.VIII.40. Prime Minister to Sir Edward Bridges. 2.VIII.40. 653 easements are indispensable. Please communicate with Mr. Bevin, Lord Beaverbrook, and the Minister of Supply so that their views may be in readiness for Cabinet conversation. I should also like to know what is being done about holidays for the Civil Service and for Ministers, and persons in high Service positions. Something will have to be done about this, but we must be very careful not to be caught while in an August mood. The attached memorandum by Lord Mottistone on duties of police in the event of invasion raises a very difficult question, and one that must be speedily settled. We cannot surely make ourselves responsible for a system where the police will prevent the people from resisting the enemy, and will lay down their arms and become the enemy?s servant in any invaded area. I confess I do not see my way quite clearly to the amendments required in the regulations. In principle, however, it would seem that the police should withdraw from any in Prime Minister to Admiral Keyes. Impart following to your friend [the King of the Belgiansimmediately to fire fifty or sixty miles, and should be mounted either on railway mountings or on steel and concrete platforms, so as to break up the fire of the German guns that will certainly in less than four months be firing across the Channel. Action in many directions followed accordingly. The ?Striking Companies? emerged under the name of ?Commandos,? ten of which were now raised from the Regular Army and the Royal Marines. The nucleus of this organisation had begun to take shape in the Norwegian campaign. An account will be given in its proper place of the cross-Channel heavy guns. I regret, however, that I allowed the scale I had proposed for British parachute troops to be reduced from five thousand to five hundred. * * * * * I recurred at intervals to the building of landing craft, on which my mind constantly dwelt both as a peril to us and in the future a project against the enemy. Development of small assault craft had been started before the outbreak of war, and a few had been employed at Narvik. Most of these had been lost either there or at Dunkirk. Now we required not only the small craft which could be lifted in the troop-carrying ships, but sea-going vessels capable themselves of transporting tanks and guns to the assault and landing them onto the beaches. What is being done about designing and planning vessels to transport tanks across the sea for a British attack on enemy Prime Minister to Minister of Supply. 7.VII.40. 247 countries? This might well be remitted as a study to Mr. Hopkins, former Chief Constructor of the Navy, who must have leisure now that Cultivator No. 61 is out of fashion. These must be able to move six or seven hundred vehicles in one voyage and land them on the beach, or, alternatively, take them off the beaches, as well, of course, as landing them on quays ? if it be possible to combine the two. I asked the other day for a forecast of the development of the armoured divisions which will be required in 1941 ? namely, five by the end of March and one additional every month until a total of ten is reached at the end of August, 1941 (Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
11:06 am	18. All this might be put effectively in train by 18. All this might be put effectively in train by October 1, provided we are allowed the time. If not, we must do what we can. All trained or Regular units, whether fully equipped or not, must be used in defence of the Delta. All armed white men and also Indian or foreign units must be used for internal security. The Egyptian Army must be made to play its part in support of the Delta front, thus leaving only riotous crowds to be dealt with in Egypt proper. Pray let the above be implemented and be ready to discuss it in detail with me at 4.30 P.M., August 16. With this General Wavell returned to Cairo in the third week of August. * * * * * I now have to record a small but at the time vexatious military episode. The Italians, using vastly superior forces, drove us out of Somaliland. This story requires to be told. Until December, 1939, our policy in a war with Italy was to evacuate Somaliland (Comment on this)