1917. Illustrated from photographs. Gibson, who was the Secretary of the American Legation in Brussels, writes in the introduction: This volume is not a carefully prepared treatise on the war. It does not set out to prove anything. It is merely what its title indicates-a private journal jotted down hastily from day to day in odd moments, when more pressing duties would permit. It is believed, however, that what is printed here will suffice to give some idea of life in Belgium during the first few months of the war.