298 sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



that ghastly failure when thousands died nobly — for what ? 

 Nothing. But as he hopes to write a book of his own experiences 

 I must not trespass. He says he is " proud to have served 

 under Sir Ian Hamilton, a man of such charm and military 

 distinction," and remarks on the affection England has for 

 sending a handful of men to do the work of thousands. 



I wonder, when the history of this war is written, how much 

 of the truth will ever be allowed to appear in print. I could tell 

 some surprising stories, but the Press Bureau would sit upon me, 

 so had better not ; and after all, what can be expected or a 

 civilian-controlled army ? Readers of history will know what 

 to expect. 



The chaplains' note-books would be full of interest, but they 

 contain many things that must ever remain secret between 

 themselves, God^ — and the dead. 



Methinks the spirit-world is filling very fast, and during 

 these days of tension and battle it seems almost as if we can hear 

 the rustle of the spirits as they pass to their new homes ; our 

 nerves get strained — or shall I say attuned ? — with constant 

 watching, longing, and praying. 



When I look back over the past few years and remember all 

 the Generals I have known, who after having spent the best of 

 their lives serving their country and having achieved fame, have 

 been flung from their pedestals, often through no fault of their 

 own, I marvel that any man is to be found with big enough 

 heart to undertake such responsible and thankless tasks. If in 

 the morning he achieves a success he is a brilliant strategist, a 

 genius and brave man. In the evening may come a reverse, 

 and he is a blundering idiot and no earthly use ; but he must 

 behave like a properly disciphned soldier and carry with a smile 

 the burden of other people's mistakes and say nothing ! Such 

 is life ! 



I must hurry on and bring my book to an end, though there 

 are a number more parsons I should like to write about, quite 

 a number who are alive to-day who have done gallant deeds ; 

 but they do not like to be written about, it makes them shy. 

 We must wait until the war is over before anything like a full list 

 can be compiled, but there are just two more about whom I must 

 speak for a few moments. 



The Rev. Mazzini Tron, born of working folk in the north. 



