DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, 1920 | 1920-12-04 Robert M. Browning to Dr. Mabel C. Williams Page 3

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Robert Morriss Browning correspondence to Mabel C. Williams, 1920

1920-12-04 Robert M. Browning to Dr. Mabel C. Williams Page 3

into uniforms within a year merely means that our next enemy now knows how much time is allotted to them for defeating us? Do they realize that of our casualties over here some were due directly to lack of training and discipline, not only in "the ranks" but in "the files," too? Of course we won with untrained troops but more would be home now if all had been soldiers and not recruits. Recruits with commissions were most deadly although recruit privates often caused extra and unnecessary casualties and these extra casualties did not always include the man that brought them upon his platoon.
Oh well, I suppose we'll never learn. The burning of our capitol by the British over a hundred years ago didn't teach us, although then a numerically vastly inferior body of raw militia fled from a small force of British soldiers. We learn from the "First World War." Luck has been with us but the stakes are pretty high. It wouldn't be so bad to have lives on the gamble but the people that gamble are not the men whose lives are at stake. -- Are you really so much against preparedness as you used to be?
Germany is as interesting to me as ever. One is continually reminded of the hate of France that is a part of the consciousness of every German. They are waiting and don't mind saying so. "Next time it will be different." -- [Damm England und Ammerikor 
[illegible]
have not much news just now. Hope you don't mind such a wandering epistle. It is too scrappy to be worth much but hope next time I'll be able to tell you something more interesting. I surely appreciated your last letter.
Give my best greeting to your family and the Dean, and to Dr. Patrick. Say Merry Xmas to the others, too, if you don't mind, please.
Have been looking for a bargain in diamonds for a long time but don't find many good stones, none so good as the one you have.
Sincerely, Bob

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into uniforms within a year merely means that our next enemy now knows how much time is allotted to them for defeating us? Do they realize that of our casualties over here some were due directly to lack of training and discipline, not only in "the ranks" but in "the files," too? Of course we won with untrained troops but more would be home now if all had been soldiers and not recruits. Recruits with commissions were most deadly although recruit privates often caused extra and unnecessary casualties and these extra casualties did not always include the man that brought them upon his platoon. Oh well, I suppose we'll never learn. The burning of our capitol by the British over a hundred years ago didn't teach us, although then a numerically vastly inferior body of raw militia fled from a small force of British soldiers. We learn from the "First World War." Luck has been with us but the stakes are pretty high. It wouldn't be so bad to have lives on the gamble but the people that gamble are not the men whose lives are at stake. -- Are you really so much against preparedness as you used to be? Germany is as interesting to me as ever. One is continually reminded of the hate of France that is a part of the consciousness of every German. They are waiting and don't mind saying so. "Next time it will be different." -- [Damm England und Ammerikor [illegible] have not much news just now. Hope you don't mind such a wandering epistle. It is too scrappy to be worth much but hope next time I'll be able to tell you something more interesting. I surely appreciated your last letter. Give my best greeting to your family and the Dean, and to Dr. Patrick. Say Merry Xmas to the others, too, if you don't mind, please. Have been looking for a bargain in diamonds for a long time but don't find many good stones, none so good as the one you have. Sincerely, Bob