Letters received by Field Marshal Lord William Birdwood, 3 January 1917

at the War Cabinet, to whom the objections
to publication were vividly apparent, but
the final opinion was that, since the
Commission had been appointed by Act
of Parliament, it would require an
amending Act to prevent publication, and
this the House of Commons would never
consent to pass. Consequently the next
instalment of the report as well as
the Mesopotamian report, will be
given to the public in the next two or
three months, but I hope that the
Commissioners will have profited by the
experience of this report and make
the others rather more anodyne and
less sweeping in their criticisms.

We regard the situation in Russia as
very critical. The extremists seem to be
getting the upper hand and to be following
an exactly similar course to that of
the French revolution. We are anxious for
the safety of the Emperor & his family.
They are close prisoners & not allowed to
see anybody - if the extremist succeed
their lives will not be worth a week's
purchase. Moreover the triumph of the
socialists means peace with Germany.
So the outlook at present is not very bright,
but it may come all right in the end.
Much precious time is, however, being wasted
and the army is suffering in discipline.
What would do more good than anything
else would be a strong German attack.

London is full of pessimists to whom it
is very trying to listen. They will not understand
that the Germans had to retire because
they could not stay where they were, & fears
of traps, counter-attacks &c are freely discussed.
In my opinion our advance has had an
immense moral effect everywhere & especially
in Germany, and if we should be able to
break through the next line in front of
you, I am sanguine enough to hope that
the whole fabric might topple of over. The
internal situation is undoubtedly far
worse in Germany than is generally known,
but not sufficient of itself to bring collapse.
All good wishes to you & your Corps
and may you pull off soon something
really very big.

Ever your's
Hardinge of P.
Hardinge of P
3

DRL

3376.9

PRIVATE.
27th March, 1917.

My dear General,
Thank you so much for your letter. It is all
most interesting. By this time of course you have made
a much greater advance and are far beyond where I left
your troops. I am glad to hear that your men are in
such good spirits and that they have once again proved
themselves indomitable, and I hope with all my heart
that greater triumphs may await them in the near future.
I am being pressed about the inability to
inflict the death sentence. I have been in communication
w1th the Australian Government but they decline to
take action, and I don't think it is possible to press
Mr. Hughes on this subject at a moment when he is
engaged in a desperate political struggle. I am
very sorry to hear that difficulties exist in connection
with this matter, and can only assure you that
I have done what I can and am afraid it is impossible
to do more.

Thank you so much for your kindly invitation to
come and stay with you again, which I shall be very
glad to do if I have the opportunity, but I don’t see
much prospect of it as it is almost impossible to
get away even for a day.
Sincerely Yours
Walter H Long

DONATED RECORDS LIST
3376
9 (A)
3rd Series

THE SOLDIER
The Champion of the Returned
Soldiers and Sailors of Australia.

Telephone: 4487 City.
Box 1459 G.P.O. Sydney
.
WALTER MORRIS
(Late First Battalion. A.I.F.)
Editor

Cheques, etc., should be
made payable to
"THE SOLDIER."

Publishing Office:
17 GROSVENOR STREET,
SYDNEY. March 27th, 1917.

General Sir William Birdwood,
White Man & Officer Commanding
the Anzacs,
"SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE".

Sir,
By this mail we have posted you a copy of "The Soldier",
the property of two boys who were with you at Gallipoli, and the
official organ of the Returned Sailors & Soldiers’ Imperial League
of Australia.

Letters received by Field Marshal Lord William Birdwood, 3 January 1917 – 14 December 1917 - Part 8 (2024)

References