o 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 milita