giving a guarantee -- Difficulties over the
naval proposals -- Banquet given by M. Millerand at the War
Office -- A visit to the front -- Impressions -- Mr. Churchill
turns up unexpectedly -- A conference with General Joffre at
Chantilly on Salonika -- Its unsatisfactory character -- Admiral
Gamble races "Grandpere" and suffers discomfiture -- A
distinguished party proceed to Paris -- A formal conference with
the French Government -- Messrs. Asquith, Grey and Lloyd George
as linguists -- The French attitude over Salonika -- Sir W.
Robertson gives his views -- The decision -- Dinner at the Elysee
-- Return to London -- Mr. Lloyd George and the soldiers on the
Boulogne jetty -- Points of the destroyer as a yacht -- Mr.
Balfour and Sir W. Robertson afloat -- A chatty dinner on our
side of the Channel -- Difficulty over Russian munitions owing to
a Chantilly conference -- A conference at the War Office -- Mr.
Lloyd George as chairman -- M. Mantoux.

CHAPTER XIII

A FIRST MISSION TO RUSSIA............................... 237

Reasons for Mission -- An effectual staff officer -- Our
distinguished representatives in Scandinavia -- The journey --
Stockholm -- Lapps -- Crossing the frontier at Haparanda --
Arrival at Petrograd -- Sir G. Buchanan -- Interviews with
General Polivanoff, Admiral Grigorovitch and M. Sazonoff --
Imperial vehicles -- Petrograd -- We proceed to the Stavka --
Improper use of the title "Tsar" -- The Imperial headquarters --
Meeting with the Emperor -- Two disconcerting incidents --
Nicholas II. -- His charm -- His admiration for Lord Kitchener's
work -- Conference with General Alexeieff -- Mohileff -- Service
in the church in honour of the Grand Duchess Tatiana's birthday
-- Return to Petrograd -- A rencontre with an archbishop -- The
nuisance of swords -- Return home.

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
Empero