Chapter XIV: 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.