G.H.Q. Basrah [Basrah, Al (Basra)]. Aug 9 Dearest Mother. This week's mail brought me your letter of July 5. You sound well, in spite of your phenomenal undertakings. I've been, I'm ashamed to say, on the shelf with fever this week. I'm all right again but feeling like a limp rag. The stiffening will come back in a day or two. I shall not let this happen again if I can help it. A small daily dose of quinine ought to keep it off. We really have got the north wind at last, which means cool nights even if it doesn't much alter the temperature of the days. Cool nights make a world of difference; the temp. before dawn drops sometimes to 77°. One feels deliciously frozen! A fall of 30°, from the daytime temperature isn't bad. The dates are all yellow; they will be ripe very shortly. I'm a great deal too woolly to write, added to which there's nothing to chronicle this week as I've spent so little of it in the world. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude