CHAPTER XXIV. General Conclusions

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

Before we decide our policy as to withdrawal or otherwise from Russia it is necessary to know whether we have contracted any obligations to the Russian people, and what is the nature of such obligations, if any. Are they moral, military, or political?

Towards the end of 1914, when our army had been driven back behind the Marne and the future of Europe and our Empire was in the balance, frantic appeals were made by British statesmen, and even by still more august authority, asking Russia to rush to our aid and save us from destruction. This appeal was backed by British public and Labour opinion, and through our Press made a profound impression upon the Russian people. The Russian Government, regardless of their best military advice, forced their partially mobilised legions to make a rapid flying raid into East Prussia, which immediately reduced the pressure upon our own armies and made the victory of the Marne possible. Hurriedly mobilised, imperfectly equipped, not too brilliantly led, these legions, constituting the chivalry of Russia, became the prey of Prussia's perfect military machine. The Russian Government never dared to tell the Russian peasant the number of Russian souls who were mutilated by high explosives and smothered in the cold Masurian marshes in that sublime effort to save her friends. Russia lost as many men in saving Paris during that raid as did all the other Allies in the first year of the war.

Russia continued to fight and mobilise until 1917, by which time she had collected a huge army of over twelve million men. The Hohenzollern dynasty and its military advisers came to the conclusion that it would soon be impossible to stem this human tide by ordinary military means, and having a complete understanding of Russian psychology through its dynastic and administrative agents, decided to undermine the moral of the Russian people. German "Black Books" were not employed against British leaders exclusively. We need not wonder at the rapid spread among Russians of suspicion against their civil and military leaders when we remember that the same sort of propaganda admittedly influenced the administration of justice in England. The people of Russia were true to their friends, demoralisation and decomposition began at the head, rapidly filtering down to the lowest strata of society.

If the Allied cause was deserted, it was the desertion of a ruling class, not of a people or its army. German treachery wormed its way in at the top, and so destroyed a great race it never could have conquered.

Having disorganised the Russian military machine, Germany sent her agents to continue the disorder and prevent recovery. She secured the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, and made a levy of several hundred millions sterling upon her bailiffs, whom she put in possession of her neighbour's property. Lenin and Trotsky found anarchy the most effective weapon to further the interest of their masters and protect their Eastern flank. A peace which virtually extended German conquest to the hinterland of Tsing-Tchau was dangerous to every civilising influence in the Far East.

The Bolshevik treaty was not less dangerous to Europe herself, since it brought a war-like population of one hundred and eighty millions within the sphere of German military influence.

The British Expeditionary Force was ordered to Siberia in June, 1918, to assist the orderly elements of Russian society to reorganise themselves under a national Government and to resurrect and reconstruct the Russian front. Firstly, to enable Russia to resist German aggression; secondly, to weaken German military power on the Western front, where at that time she was again delivering hammer-blows at the gates of Paris. This expedition was approved by every party and patriot in Britain, and the only criticism offered at the time was that it should have been so long delayed. Soviet power under German and Austrian direction had released the German and Austrian prisoners of war, armed and organised them into formidable armies to perform the double task of maintaining their creatures in power at Moscow and extending their domination over a helpless friendly Allied Power.

There was every reason for treating the Dictatorship of Lenin and Trotsky as a mere side-show of the German military party; they were, in fact, a branch of the military problem with which the Allies were bound to deal. Under Entente direction anti-Bolshevik Governments were established, and were promised the unstinted help of the Allies to recover their territory and expel the agents of the enemy who had so foully polluted their own home. It was on this understanding that Admiral Koltchak, by herculean efforts, hurled the German hirelings over the Urals, and awaited near Vatka the advance of the Allies from Archangel preparatory to a march on Petrograd. Alas! he waited for seven long months in vain; the Allies never came! After expending his last ounce of energy and getting so near to final victory, we failed him at the post. Why?

The menace to our own armies in France had disappeared; there was, I suppose, no longer an urgent necessity to re-establish the Russian front, though the possibility of such re-establishment had kept huge German forces practically demobilised near the Russian and Ukrainian frontiers. Koltchak and his gallant comrade Denikin had served the Entente purpose. Lenin and Trotsky, by wholesale intimidation and murder, had aroused the enthusiasm of similarly disposed compatriots in Allied countries. These compatriots were becoming noisy in the constituencies. The establishment of order to enable the Russian people to establish a clean democratic Government, and arise from their nightmare of unbridled anarchy, while very desirable in itself, was not a good party cry in any of the Western democracies. I grant all these things; but what about honour? Has this no longer any place in the political curriculum of the Allied Powers?

These are only some of the things it is necessary to remember before we finally decide to desert a temporarily sick friend. If I were the ruler of a state I should pray the gods to preserve me from half-hearted Allies and over-cautious friends. If I wished to help a fallen state or lend an honest hand in a great cause, whether it were to eradicate a hideous and fatal national malady or assert a principle of right and justice, first shield me from the palsy of Allied diplomacy! One clear-sighted, honest helper is worth a dozen powerful aiders whose main business is to put obstacles in each other's way.

If we were discussing the question of Allied interference before the fact, I could give many reasons for remaining neutral; but we have to recognise that for their own purposes they have interfered, that their Military Missions and forces have been operating in the country for over a year, during which time they have made commitments and given pledges of a more or less binding character. That these commitments and pledges are not the irresponsible acts of subordinates on the spot, but have been made by Allied statesmen, both in and out of their several Parliaments; and in this respect our national leaders are no exception to the rule. Without filling my pages with quotations, readers will be able to find and tabulate such for themselves. So categorical are the nature of these that it is impossible to imagine them to have been made without fully understanding their import and significance to the orderly section of the Russian people who, on the faith of these pledges, gave us their trust.

It cannot, therefore, be a discussion upon interference or non-interference; that has long since been disposed of by our words and acts. It is now a question whether we shall withdraw from Russia because we have thought fit to change our attitude to the Russian problem. It is certain that our decision to-day upon this subject will decide our future relations with this great people. If you desert a friend in his hour of need, you cannot expect that he will be particularly anxious to help you when he has thrown off his ill-health and is in a position to give valuable help to those who gave succour in his distress.

If our desertion turns this people from us, they will become the prey of our recent enemies, and if that happens we can prate about the Treaty of Paris as much as we like. The Teuton will have more than balanced the account.

Index

Absolutists, Russian Affinasiaff, General, headquarters of Allies, the, a Russian reaction against policy for resurrection of Russia All-Russian Government, the formation of America and Siberia and the Far East her "neutral zone" in the Suchan district American policy and its results Americans arrive at Vladivostok an agreement with Bolsheviks Anghara River Anglo-Russian infantry brigade, formation of Antonovka a critical position at Cossack position at Kalmakoff, surprised at Antonovsky, General, intrigues of Archangel an Anglo-American force at failure of a projected march on Petrograd from Argunoff exiled Armistice between Germany and Entente Powers Armoured trains, a duel between Avkzentieff and Chernoff exiled President of Council of Ministers

Baikal a titanic struggle at arrival at Baikal Sea (see Lake Baikal) Barabinsk a meeting at the market at Bath, Captain Beloff, General, intrigues of Berwkoff, death of Bezovsky, Colonel, and a Cossack parade Blizzard, gales and frost in Siberia Bogotol, a meeting at Bolderoff, General and Japanese demands confers with Koltchak at Petropalovsk in consultation with Czech National Council in Japan Bolsaar, Lieutenant Bolshevik losses at Perm method of military organisation, Bolsheviks an agreement with Americans atrocities of author's address to disguised as Russian soldiers recognised as legitimate belligerents successes of their conception of treachery train-wrecking by utter demoralisation of Boulton, Quartermaster-Captain Bowes, General Brest-Litovsk Treaty, the British Expeditionary Force ordered to Siberia British Military Mission placed under arrest Browne, Captain Browne, Major inspects guards of honour at Krasnoyarsk Buckley, Lieutenant Budburg, von, and an alleged Allied force

Canadians arrive in Siberia insubordination among Chernoff, President of Social Revolutionary party Chilliyabinsk, a visit to Chinese Eastern Railway, American control of Chinese entertain British at Harbin friendship for the English frontier, State prisoners conveyed to robber bands of Mongolia Chita an incident at Bolshevik "kultur" at Japanese at Royalist conspiracies at Clark, Captain, and Dukoveskoie battle Coleman, Sergeant, of the Durham L.I. Cornish-Bowden, Second Lieutenant, and the political exiles Cossacks, horsemanship of Czech National Army, the, presentation of colours to Czechs a tribute to their gunnery and the question of a Dictatorship defection of defensive tactics of frustrate a Bolshevik scheme mutilated by Bolsheviks

Denikin, General makes submission to Koltchak Detriks, General reports on military situation visits the front Directorate and Government, members of, arrested Directorate of Five, the dissolved Dukoveskoie a new line at battle of Dust-storms, Siberian Dutoff, General reports Bolshevik treachery

Easter at Perm Eastman, Captain Education, the Church and Edwards, Captain Ekaterinburg an invitation from meetings of railwaymen at Eliot, Sir Charles, British High Commissioner Elmsley, Brigadier-General European Russia, a visit to

Frank, Colonel R. Antonivitch, author's liaison officer an exciting incident at Krasnoyarsk Frank, Madame acts as correspondent and translator for labour missions commands a company in the trenches conveys a Bolshevik victim to hospital Frazer, David, Times correspondent French, the, and General Knox's mission form a German Legion "prestige" of protect Serbian ruffians their influence in Omsk French-Tonquin Battalion, the Fugi, General, and his command

Gaida, General and Pepelaieff arrests Czech soldiers author's introduction to captures Perm resigns his Czech commission. surrender of Red Guards to Galitzin, General Count and the Perm offensive personality of Ganin, General, a strange order from and his command decorates Allied representatives, releases enemy prisoners the Omsk Government and George V., King, letter to President Wilson German-Magyar-Chinese combination, the Germans, enterprise of sanguine of victory in world war "Germans of the East" Ghondati, General, his hopes and fears Glashoff, a seven months' wait at Golovaehoff, M., meets author Gordon, Regimental Sergt.-Major Graves, General, and the Bolsheviks

Hachinsk, author at Hampshire Territorials arrive at Omsk move to Ekaterinburg, 222 Harbin, author's reception at political and financial intrigues in question of travelling accommodation at Hazelar, a parade service at Hepoff, General, a story of Hinghan Range, the Hodgson, Mr., British consul Hong-Kong, "Die-Hards'" departure from "Hovart's Army"

Imokentievskaya, a workmen's meeting at Inagaki, Colonel "Intelligenzia," the (cf. Kerensky) International World Workers, the Irkutsk, author opens his campaign at arrival at Bolshevik "kultur" in Japanese traders at much-needed rifles at welcome to Middlesex Regiment at

Japan and the maritime provinces her attitude to Siberians intervention of policy in the Far East Japanese, a promise countermanded and "class" carriages for British officers and Semianoff and the English flag bugle band, a casualties at Dukoveskoie and Kraevesk changed attitude of, after the Armistice charge an armoured train propaganda in Omsk retire without notice their contempt for Russians their mistrust of Allies Johnson, Lieut.-Colonel, and his command introduced to Koltchak

Kalmakoff, Ataman, Cossack commander a forced retirement dismisses his second in command Japanese orders to Kameragh, railway troubles at Kanaka, General, Japanese Chief of Staff Kansk, an address to workmen at revolt at Katanaev, Lieut.-Colonel, placed under arrest Kent Kerensky destroys old Russian army Kerensky and Korniloff Intelligenzia party of Russian opinion of Khama River, evidences of Terrorist atrocities in, moving ice on the King, Lieutenant T.E., of Middlesex Regiment Klukvinah, enemy defeat at Knox, General, a conference with a decoration for and the railway revolt at Taiga inoculated against typhus Japanese insult to object of his mission patriotic speech by removes to Ekaterinburg Siberian tour of tribute to Koltchak, Admiral, accepts supreme authority Allied felicitations to an unexpected conference with Bolderoff and an Allied appointment and the arrest of members of the Council and the Czech ceremony and the December revolt and the Omsk coup d'état assurances on the labour problem author's farewell interviews with becomes Minister for War impartial justice of intrigues against on American policy in the Far East orders arrest of Czechs personality of receives reports of author's mission tenders his resignation tribute to visits Ural fronts Korniloff, General, Kerensky's order to Koulomsino, Bolsheviks at Kraevesk, battle of startling news from "the station without a town," visited by author Krasilnikoff, Lieut-Colonel, placed under arrest Krasnoyarsk, an incident at a banquet at an interview with Gen. Rosanoff at arrival at author's addresses at Bolsheviks in Colonel Frank wounded by Serbs at derelict war material at international intrigues at Kunghure front, a visit to the Kushva, evidences of Bolshevik rule in mineral deposits of the Bolshevik Commissar of the Watkin Works and its heroes

Lake Baikal an autumn sunrise on Lebediff, Colonel (afterwards General) a warning to Ledwards, Mr., British Vice-Consul at Nikolsk Lenin Lisvin front, a visit to the

Machinery, German v. English Malley, Major, friendly relations with his command Manchuli, a much-talked-of incident at Bolshevik atrocities at Japanese Division at Manchuria, plains of Manchurian-Chinese Eastern Railway, the Manchurian front, conditions on the Marca, author's Cossack attendant Matkofsky, General, welcomes author at Omsk Middlesex Regiment (25th Battalion) and battle of Dukoveskoie leaves Hong-Kong for Siberia machine-gun section of welcomed in Irkutsk Mitchel bravery of Moffat, Petty Officer, his Naval party surrounded, Mongolia, plains of robber bands of Tartars of the Japanese and Mongolians ask Semianoff to become their Emperor Moorman, Lance-Corporal Morrisy, Lieut.-Colonel, of Canadian contingent Mosquitoes In Siberia, Munro, Lieutenant, brings comforts for soldiers Murray, Captain Wolfe, commands armoured trains from Suffolk Muto, General, and Japanese propaganda

Nadegenska, steelworks of Nash, Consul, as host Navy, the, artillery assistance by Neilson, Lieut.-Col. J.F. Nesniodinsk, an address to workmen at Nevanisk, before and after Bolshevik rule Nicholas II., Tsar, abolishes vodka his prison murder of Nikolioff, Colonel, and surrendered Bolsheviks Nikolsk, a courteous station-master arrival at Bolshevik "kultur" at Japanese headquarters at Niloy-ugol, the barracks at Novo Nikoliosk, author at enemy prisoners released at

Oie, General, an urgent message from headquarters of thanks British Olhanka, Czech and Cossack retirement from Omsk, a coup d'état in a dust-storm in arrival at blizzard, gales and frost in Canadians arrive at comforts for the troops disappearance of British influence in friendships formed at terrible days in the political situation in revisited Otani, General, orders to author

Paris, a bombshell from, and the effect Paris Council, the, and the pressure on French front Pastokova, Madame, author's meeting with Pastrokoff, Mr. relates an incident of relief of Perm Payne, Commodore a paraphrased cable from War Office provides artillery assistance Peacock, Consul, and the imprisonment of an Australian Pepelaieff, General, conference with meets General Gaida plight of his army the Perm offensive Perm, a French Mission arrives at a meeting in railway works at a suggested advance on an incident of relief of Bolshevik atrocities in capture of high prices and rate of exchange at increased wages under Bolshevik rule the opposing forces at battle of the Orthodox Easter celebration at Petrograd, failure of a projected march on Petropalovsk, an eventful conference at Pichon, Major, and the Japanese commander author's tribute to consultation with author his command informs author of Armistice terms thanked by author Pickford, Brigadier, and the Canadian troops Plisshkoff, General, and his command Pomerensiv, Captain, a consultation with a present from Poole, General Pootenseiff, General Evan, his farewell to author Preston, Mr., British Consul at Ekaterinburg evidence as to Bolshevik outrages Prickly heat

Renault, Monsieur, French representative at Omsk Renoff, General Evanoff a cipher message from and the Japanese demands Roberts, Captain Robertson, Colonel Rogovsky, exile of Rosanoff, General, Bolderoff's Chief of Staff in command at Krasnoyarsk Royalist and Bolshevist conspiracy, a Runovka, an entertaining duel at Cossack position at enemy success at Russia, a political crisis in a reaction against European Allies in aim of Allied "politicals" in an unholy partnership in German treachery in hard lot of workmen in labour problem in murder of the Tsar peasantry of railway troubles in the herald of Spring in the puzzle of Allied help to Russian Army, the, mutiny in "Bill of Rights," the democracy: the Soviet basis of Headquarters, British in possession of political exiles conveyed to Chinese frontier Russians, emotionalism of religious instincts of Royalist sympathies of officers

Sand dunes of Mongolia Savinoff, trial of Semianoff, Colonel, agent of Japanese traders and the political exiles makes submission to Koltchak personality of repudiates Koltchak's authority revenue from railway carriages Serbian soldiers, an exciting adventure with Sheep, Mongolian Shmakovka, Allies at armoured trains dispatched from enemy centre at Siberia, a belated expedition to American policy and its results and the Allies arrival of Canadians in derelict corn in Government of Japanese policy and its results mosquitoes in reason for British intervention in Siberian Cossack Regiment (2nd), parade of Siberian Rifles, presentation of colours to Sly, Mr., British Consul at Harbin Social Revolutionary party, the a fateful proclamation by and the new army Soldiers' Councils established Soviets and Russian democracy Spascoe, author's headquarters at British quarters at Stephan, Captain (now Major) Czech commander his services to Allies Stephani, Captain Stephanik, General, the Legion of Honour for Suchan district, a neutral zone in Suffolk Sukin, M. Sungary, River Surovey, General releases Czech prisoners Svagena, an American-Bolshevik agreement at arrival at Czech retirement on Japanese at

Taiga, a successful meeting at Taighill, Bolshevik destruction at Tartar herdsmen, Mongolian Terrorists (see Bolsheviks) Teutonic penetration and Bolshevism Titoff, trial of Tomsk, the Siberian Districts Duma Trotsky Tumen, author addresses workmen at Typhus in European Russia

Ufa Directorate, the United States (see America) Ural front, question of supplies for Urals, the, mineral wealth of Uspenkie Ussurie front, critical conditions on Ussurie operations, completion of

Vackneah Turansky Works, the Vatka Ventris, Major-General F. Verzbitsky, General and the battle of Perm Vladimir Vladivostok, Americans arrive at arrival of Canadians at author's arrival at Japanese arrival at Japanese demands to Town Commander of iron shipped to Japan Volagodsky, President of Siberian Council Volkov, Colonel, placed under arrest

Ward, Colonel John, a Bolshevik surrender and an object-lesson a guard of soldier "monks" addresses surrendered Red Guards an interview with Major Pichon an urgent message from Japanese commander and December Royalist and Bolshevist conspiracy and the Kraevesk affair and the Omsk coup d'état appeals to working men and women at Irkutsk arrives at Vladivostok as administrator at banquet in honour of All-Russian Government at Irkutsk attends Allied commanders' council attends an Orthodox Easter celebration created a C.B. entrains for Ussurie front exciting experiences at Krasnoyarsk experiences of the "hidden hand" farewell interviews with Koltchak homeward bound in European Russia inquires into railwaymen's grievances leaves Hong-Kong for Siberia made an Ataman official reports on Omsk situation officialdom--and a proposed attack on the labour problem in Russia ordered to Omsk receives the Croix de Guerre reports result of his mission requests removal of his headquarters revisits Omsk speech at Svagena straight talk with a Japanese officer the Manchuli incident and an explanation visits a Tartar herdsman's abode visits Ural fronts witnesses a duel between armoured trains Webb, Sergeant, death of Wilson, President, his impossible proposal King George's letter to Wolves, Mongolian Women's suffrage, question of

Zema, a stop at, and the cause a successful meeting at houses searched and arms seized Zenzinoff and Chernoff exiled Zochinko, General