Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/98/1 - February 1918 - Part 5

84 39
of fact being given to
50 men from 1st, 4^th & 5^th
Divns (originals) on each
ship going to Australia;
but it is not advertised
because it can be given
to so few tt the 2nd & 3rd
Divns do not possess the 
necessary percentage in
their units even to send
one man. It has not been
told to the 2nd & 3rd Divns.
tt this leave is being given].
So White, when he 
mentioned Egypt, as a
possible subject for
further action. Was just
evidently giving me a
 

84 40
hint tt something had been
done. Or, more probably,
had / r implanting the
seed o / idea tt it ws
a possibility. The force
has j arrived at a fairly
general impression tt
Egypt is on / cards. The
knowledge of what has
been done has certainly
not leaked out; but the
probability of the move
is so advantages o / move
are so clear tt they argue
it likely to happen.
McNichol at tea
dropped quite another
a hint of another project -
McVilly, the sculler, had
 

84 41
joined the B__d party;
he sd.
[Capt. Persius in
the German papers says
tt besides / big western 
offensive, there is need for
Germany to turn her
eyes to / sea - "for there
are rumours current in
England of a sea offensive"]
German prisoners taken
in / splendid raid by the 37^th
& 39^th Bns last night talk
of an offensive in Champagne
as being / main German 
offensive so far as they know.
Birdwood & Dodds have
 

84 42
turned down Whites scheme
for the Australian artists,
but have allowed us an
increased number ^of outside artists (in
fact any number Smart
asks for) - White ws going
to have made them all
honorary Captains for / period o /
war in return for / first
option on all their work.
The suggestion wh Dyson &
I made to use the best
artists inside the A.I.F
for camouflage experts is
allowed. One is to go to each
Divn, one to Corps, & one
to AIF Hqrs.
 

44
Cuttack suggests
Adjt to make a
precis of diary each [trench shorthand] ?

{Treloar.

Cuttack { Record of officers.
{ Duntroon boys (Monash has one)

————

{ Suit of ord. clothing w used etc.
{ Tin Hats.
————
B's letters - me to Anson
Pearce G.G., k.
Table 1. Showed Stopford
ch Rifle 2. Cavalry on G
————

White re -
(1) Griffiths
(2) Jack
Copy
my letter for
Camouflage [shorthand]

Bailey. (? Cutlack)

————
 

84 43

Wilkins - Battered bit of
line near Armientieres
 to cf with same a year ago.
- Given boot store?
Nick - reminder.