Basrah [Basrah, Al (Basra)] March 30 Dearest Father. All the mails are very irregular owing to the fact that ships have to wait for convoys and I have had no letters for 3 weeks. I expect it's the same at your end, so don't be surprised if you get no letters. But the telegrams from home are most interesting reading. The advance in France seems to be overstepping any limits which the Germans can have assigned to it and one can't help hoping that we are approaching some decision. We are mainly occupied with our own affairs however. The linking up with the Russians is near and with it active opposition from the Turks will be for the moment at an end - altogether at an end perhaps if matters develop satisfactorily in Europe and in the Mediterranean. The Germans have so often surprised us by their reserve of strength, but surely they must be too nearly starved out by now to have much kick left in them. Meantime, until they let me go up to Baghdad, I have nothing to do. I have telegraphed to my chief asking if I may come up to him and await his reply. I read Arabic, do various odd jobs in the office and see people - and that's all. The centre of gravity has shifted up river and my job with it. This last week has been made very pleasant by having Lawley, Arthur