Winston Churchill to Clementine Churchill

15 September 1909 Kronprinz Hotel

Wurzburg

My darling, We have been out all day watching these great manoeuvres. . . .

I have a very nice horse from the Emperor's stable, & am able to ride about wherever I chose with a suitable retinue. As I am supposed to be an 'Excellency' I get a vy good place. Freddie on the other hand is ill-used. These people are so amazingly routinière that anything the least out of the ordinary - anything they have not considered officially & for months--upsets them dreadfully….I saw the Emperor today & had a few mintues' talk with him. He is vy sallow--but otherwise looks quite well. . . . .

We have had a banquet tonight at the Bavarian palace. A crowd of princes & princelets & the foreign officers of various countries. It began at 6 p.m. & was extremely dull. . . .

This army is a terrible engine. It marches sometimes 35 miles in a day. It is in number as the sands of the sea--& with all the modern conveniences. There is a complete divorce between the two sides of German life--the Imperialists & Socialist. Nothing unites them. They are two different nations. With us there are so many shades. Here it is all black & white (the Prussian colours). I think another 50 years will see a wiser & gentler world. But we shall not be spectators of it. Only the P.K. will glitter in a happier scene. How easily men could make things much better than they are--if only all tried together! Much as was attracts me & fascinates my mind with its tremendous situation--I feel more deeply every year--& can measure the feeling here in the midst of arms--what vile & wicked folly & barbarism it all is.

Sweet cat--I kiss your vision as it rises before my mind. Your dear heard throbs often in my own. God bless you darling keep you safe & sound.

Kiss the P.K. for me all over

With fondest love

W.

[drawing]

This is the galloping pug--for European travel.