| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, 7 Via Venti Settembre, Rome, to her relatives, regarding visit from two British officers; their account of why Von Kluck had failed to enter Paris (he was repulsed by two corps kept in reserve by Joffre); the Major who visited had the V.C. and bar, once in India and once in Flanders; he was a quiet and pleasant man; both belonged to the Royal Army Medical Corps; Maria is excited by visits from British soldiers; visit from John Elliot who is very nice indeed; he is staying at the Grand Hotel, as are several convalescents from the Dardanelles, personal guests of Romans who have no room to accommodate them at home; one, Lieutenant Pender, is the grandson of the late Rev. Dr. Giffon of Edinburgh; he is in the Australian contingent, and has had jaundice; he is determined to return to his regiment; all the officers are concerned about their mails, which were much better in Malta; Miss Forster Walker has returned but without her luggage; she had brought no food for the journey and her train was delayed, so she arrived hungry; Deaconess Laurie asked Uncle or Aunt to call on Miss Forster Walker as she was anxious to see them; she is more confused and feeble than before, but intends to go to Naples to see an oculist; the Deaconess kindly travelled with her; she has had luggage stored in the Boston Hotel since 1909, and when Uncle paid to retrieve it he found that it was boxes of old newspapers; she needs more discipline; Aunt fell on the way back, a shock to Uncle, who wants her to warn him in future when she is going to do such things; she is not badly injured and is recovering well; Uncle is anxious about the line to Leghorn and whether it will be affected by the heavy rain storms. |