Overview
Sat Aug 29
Rain commenced early + continued till about
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10.30 – the first for over a fortnight + will do much good though we have appreciated the spell of fine weather. Worked at dagging pen in sheep-y[ar]ds. Mr Kay retrieved one of my two steers running on his place. Leaving Anstice clearing sawdust heap of good timber, I rode home via Ohau gate. Saw one of the three missing steers + Anstice saw the other two later in afternoon. I also found a dead cow of Mr Kay’s [sic] up the Ohau R[iver] near “Andrew’s top fence”. In afternoon rode down to mtd [mounted] drill – only 15 men turned up, the trouble being the necessity of joining a rifle-club + paying 2/6 sub – this threatens to break up our corps. Stayed in town for evening + ran up to Mr Lancaster’s for an hour. In South Belgium there has been a desperate conflict between the whole German army and the Alies [sic]. The latter inflicted terrible losses on the enemy but were forced back by sheer weight of numbers over the French frontier south of Mons + Charleroi +the Germans invaded France. Prior to this Namur was captured by the enemy. At sea a naval battle was fought in North Sea near Kiel Canal
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two German cruisers + two destroyers sunk + two British ships slightly injured. The Russians are now marching on Danzig in west Prussia.