Two windows had been smashed the evening before

TCD MS 10247/12/47 folio 17

TCD MS 10247/12/47 folio 17

Augt 24th [1914] Monday

Packed. Jack went off to Glendalough in the morning. I cycled up in evening arriving just as J. was making tea. On the way called in for bread to the hotel. Mr Slifer much annoyed & sorry for himself as two windows had been smashed the evening before, he thought with an idea of frightening the guests, but it seems more probably a demonstration against him as an ‘alien’. He is being naturalized but it will take some time.

Augt 25th

We were much harrowed this morning at the announcement that Namur had fallen yesterday. An absolutely bald announcement by the Press Bureau without a detail. There seems to have been a tremendous & awful battle, the Allies being forced to retire to the French frontier, the British contingent fought magnificently & seems to have repulsed the enemy & more than held their own but had to retire owing to the falling back of the rest of the armies. Awful evening of rain, such downpours. The B. Expeditionary Force seems to have been fighting near Mons.