The rumour about the Black Watch officially denied

TCD MS 10247/12/47 folio 14

TCD MS 10247/12/47 folio 14

Augt 19th [1914] Wedy

Special solemn service for the War this morning nice special clauses in the Litany & special prayers. Reports of a skirmish in the North Sea but no details. On the way back from Church the sergeant said that it was quite true that 2 Germans were taken yesterday in Arklow. It appears that recently a very smart individual came up from Enniscorthy & set up a little barber’s shop close to Kynoch’s works. No-one dreamed of his being a foreigner. A German arrived in Arklow perhaps from the Norwegian boat & seems to have been drinking, then he went to the barber to borrow a shilling which he peremptorily declined to give him. The man then went to the police barracks & gave himself up as a German saying the barber was German too. This was found to be correct & both were arrested & sent off to Dublin. Charlie went down to drill in the evening after some search he found the volunteers beyond the village They seem to have received him with friendliness. He & V. went to Castle Howard in the afternoon. Sophie’s cousin said Ireland was a much safer place than Scotland which was all being fortified. Lovely day, hot in the afternoon.
The rumour about the Black Watch I am thankful to say is officially denied & is said to be of German origin. Bob Eagar arrived back this morning having been so much delayed on the journey that he had to sleep in Wexford. Austrians defeat by Servians reported.