Experiences of a Dug-out, 1914-1918 | Page 6

280
The Russian Revolution the worst disaster which befell the Entente
during the Great War -- The political situation in Russia before that
event much less difficult to deal with than had been the political
situation in the Near East in 1915 -- The Allies' over-estimate of

Russian strength in the early months of the war -- We hear about the
ammunition shortage first from Japan -- Presumable cause of the
breakdown -- The Grand Duke Nicholas' difficulties in the early
months -- Great improvement effected in respect to munitions
subsequent to the summer of 1915 -- Figures -- Satisfactory outlook for
the campaign of 1917 -- Political situation goes from bad to worse --
Russian mission to London; no steps taken by our Government -- Our
representatives in Russia -- Situation at the end of 1916 -- A private
letter to Mr. Lloyd George -- The Milner Mission to Russia -- Its failure
to interpret the portents -- Had Lord Kitchener got out it might have
made all the difference -- Some excuse for our blundering subsequent
to the Revolution -- The delay in respect to action in Siberia and at
Vladivostok.
CHAPTER XVI
CATERING FOR THE ALLIES................................. 293
The appointment of Colonel Ellershaw to look after Russian munition
supplies -- His remarkable success -- I take over his branch after his
death -- Gradual alteration of its functions -- The Commission
Internationale de Ravitaillement -- Its efficiency -- The despatch of
goods to Russia -- Russian technical abilities in advance of their
organizing power -- The flame projector and the Stokes mortar --
Drawings and specifications of Tanks -- An early contretemps in
dealing with a Russian military delegate -- Misadventure in connection
with a 9.2-inch howitzer -- Difficulties at the northern Russian ports --
The American contracts -- The Russian Revolution -- This transforms
the whole position as to supplies -- Roumania -- Statesmen in conflict
-- Dealings with the Allies' delegates in general -- Occasional
difficulties -- Helpfulness of the United States representatives -- The
Greek muddle -- Getting it disentangled -- Great delays in this country
and in France in fitting out the Greeks, and their consequences --
Serbian supplies -- The command in Macedonia ought on
administrative grounds to have been in British hands.
CHAPTER XVII

THE PRESS............................................... 310
The constant newspaper attacks upon the War Office -- Often arise
from misunderstandings or sheer ignorance -- The mistake made with
regard to war correspondents at the start -- The pre-war intentions of
the General Staff -- How they were set on one side -- Inconvenience of
this from the War Office point of view -- A breach of faith -- The
mischievous optimism of newspapers in the early days -- Tendency of
the military authorities to conceal bad news -- Experts at fault in the
Press -- Tendency to take the Press too seriously in this country --
Some of its blunders during the war -- A proposal to put German
officer prisoners on board transports as a protection -- A silly mistake
over the promotion of general-officers -- Why were Tanks not adopted
before the war! -- A paean about Sukhomlinoff -- A gross misstatement
-- Temporary officers and high positions in the field -- A suggestion
that the Press should censor itself in time of war; its absurdity -- The
Press Bureau -- Some of its mistakes -- Information allowed to appear
which should have been censored -- Difficulties of the censors -- The
case of the shell shortage -- Difficulty of laying down rules for the
guidance of censors -- The Press and air-raids -- A newspaper
proprietor placed at the head of the Air Service -- The result -- The
question of announcing the names of units that have distinguished
themselves -- Conclusion.
CHAPTER XVIII
SOME CRITICISMS, SUGGESTIONS, AND GENERALITIES..........
328
Post-war extravagance -- The Office of Works lavish all through -- The
Treasury -- Its unpopularity in the spending departments -- The Finance
Branch of the War Office -- Suggestions -- The change with regard to
saluting -- Red tabs and red cap-bands -- A Staff dandy in the West --
The age of general-officers -- Position of the General Staff in the War
Office -- The project of a Defence Ministry -- No excuse for it except
with regard to the air services, and that not a sufficient excuse --
Confusion between the question of a Defence Ministry and that of the

Imperial General Staff -- The time which must elapse before newly
constituted units can be fully depended upon, one of the most important
lessons for the public to realize -- This proved to be the case in almost
every theatre and in the military forces of almost every belligerent --
Misapprehensions about South Africa -- Improvised units could not