he part of civilization in Siberia in 1918 having been so
unjustifiably delayed, and its having taken so perfunctory a form.

CHAPTER XVI

CATERING FOR THE ALLIES

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.

One day early in the summer of 1915 Lord Kitchener sent for me to say
that I must find him an artillery officer to take general charge of
the arrangements that he was setting on foot for supplying the
Russians with armament from the United States and elsewhere. I
repaired to Colonel Malcolm Peake, who dealt with all questions of
artillery personnel (he was killed on the Western Front very shortly
after taking up an artillery command there), who asked what
qualifications were needed. It was intimated that the officer must be
something of an Admirable Crichton, must be a thoroughly up-to-date
gunner of sufficient standing to be able to keep his end up when
dealing with superior Russian officials, must be possessed of business
capacity, must be gifted with tact and be a reservoir of energy, and
ought to have a good working knowledge of French.

Peake asked for time, and next day proposed Colonel W. Ellershaw for
the appointment. Ellershaw had just been ordered home from France to
assume charge of an important artillery school on Salisbury Plain, a