A lazy scheming brute

TCD MS 3416 page 80

TCD MS 3416 page 80

[November 1916]

official visit to each of our houses. He spoke very kindly to our Medical Officer & our Colonel, nothing seemed too much trouble windows were at once put in to the empty saches, & he seemed to to take a great interest in anything approaching uncleaniness. Our suspicions were aroused & we began to smell a rat for I had just heard that an “Inspector” was expected to arrive from Constantinople. Such a man is the Turk, a lazy scheeming brute who will only make an effort when he scents the ropes end. Time after time we pointed out the insanitary conditions under which we were living, and that our chances under such conditions of preventing an outbreak of disease would be very difficult. We had walks and football fairly regularly about that date – but no sooner had I written home to say that there was a slight improvement in the amount of exercise we were receiving, than our walks decreased & football ceased. [ ] On Nov 15th we were at last paid up 3 months pay, this left us still one month in arrears, however, we were very glad to receive this, but we were not pleased to find that we were obliged to pay rent for