TCD MS 10247/12/47 folio 19
Augt 27th [1914]
Rather more cheerful tone about papers. The French seem holding their own down south. Much dissatisfaction is being expressed as to the Press Bureau giving such absolutely bald statements & so little of them while it seems the French & foreign newspapers are giving all details. Nice letter from Fred, it is very sad that they cannot go to Tigroney. They said their landlady’s letter had been opened re-sealed & “passed by censor” hence the delay. She kept them to their bargain & no excursion tickets are being issued for Ireland so they so they could not afford it. Fred has been very busy preparing for wounded men & helping to train & teach to shoot a detachment of “over 40”. He was much pleased with Veronica’s article on ‘War time in Ballyarthur’ & has re-organised & sent it to Manchester Guardian. V. very enterprizingly went off to the ambulance class at Laragh but between bolting her dinner & [?] off all the way on foot, hot room & probably trying to [?] got rather faint & was kindly sent back by Mrs Hanley in her motor-car.
28th. Nice day mild inclined to drizzle in afternoon. Papers disquieting. The British force have been engaged again battle probably still raging. They fought splendidly but in face of superior numbers of the enemy had to be withdrawn a short distance. The Fan-na-greine party returned. Maude looked in in afternoon & reported that several houses near the Barrons in Essex had been blown up that they might not interfere with guns. Letter from H.T. Irish Times warns against possible invasion.