Item 07: John D. Wilson diary, 19 September-28 December 1917 - Page 111
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[Page 111]
Saturday October 27. 1181
Fine but frosty.
The enemy has started a great offensive against Italy. Cadorna has great faith in his men, & says "the blow of the enemy will find us steady & prepared". The French have scored another great victory. 8 German Divisions are battered & 8000 prisoners taken. The thrust was in the region of Allemant and Chavignon. H.J. Greewald says it is the most important strategic success since the Marne.
[Shorthand transcribed as follows]
Last night I received a post card from my niece Maggie Kittson wishing me a happy birthday. I brassed 11 rings this evening and finished making a pair of [indecipherable]. [End of shorthand]
Sunday Oct. 28. 1917. 1182.
Very frosty this morning.
This morning I started to make a burnisher for polishing harness irons and steel work.
This afternoon there was the usual half holiday. Bill Wilson & I went for a walk past the Mayor's House where the Brigadier resides on to the new rifle range that the chinese are making. There must be over a hundred of them digging picking & shovelling, while others are filling sandbags and revetting, and some are building houses. They are slow workmen but very neat. The officer over them spent 4 years in China & came