Chapter 14

A SECOND MISSION TO RUSSIA.............................. 253

Object of this second mission -- The general military situation -- Verdun and Kut -- Baron Meyendorff -- We partially adopt Russian uniform -- Stay in Petrograd -- Sir Mark Sykes -- Presentation of decorations at the Admiralty -- Mohileff -- Conference with General Alexeieff -- He raises the question of an expedition to Alexandretta -- Asks for heavy artillery -- The Emperor -- A conversation with him -- The dismissal of Polivanoff -- Disquieting political conditions in Russia -- Nicholas II.'s attitude -- The journey to Tiflis -- We emerge from the snow near the Sea of Azov -- Caucasia -- Tiflis -- General Yanushkhevitch -- Conference with the Grand Duke Nicholas -- Proposes that we should smash Turkey -- Constantinople? -- Major Marsh -- The Grand Duke -- Presenting the G.C.M.G. to General Yudenitch -- Our stay at Tiflis -- Proceed to Batoum -- A day at Batoum -- Visit to the hospital ship _Portugal_ -- Proceed by destroyer to Off -- Sinking of the _Portugal_ -- Off -- General Liakoff -- A ride to the scene of a very recent fight -- A fine view -- The field force dependent upon maritime communications -- Landing difficulties -- Return to Tiflis -- A gala dinner at the palace -- Journey to Sarikamish -- Russian pronunciation of names -- Kars -- Greeting the troops -- One of the forts -- Welcome at Sarikamish -- General Savitzky -- Russian hospitality -- The myth about Russians being good linguists -- A drive in a blizzard -- Colonel Maslianikoff describes his victory over the Turks in December 1914, on the site of his command post -- Our visit to this part of the world much appreciated -- A final interview with the Grand Duke -- Proceed to Moscow -- The Kremlin -- View of Moscow from the Sparrow Hills -- Visit to a hospital -- Observations on such visits -- A talk with our acting Consul-General -- Back to Petrograd -- Conclusions drawn from this journey through Russia -- Visit to Lady Sybil Grey's hospital -- A youthful swashbuckler -- Return home -- We encounter a battle-cruiser squadron on the move.