At daybreak fire would have been opened from such cover as could be obtained, and while our eight machine-gunners barraged the post, the infantry would have advanced rapidly on the south front at the same time as the Cossacks charged in from the rear.  The result would have been as certain as anything in war could be, and, as since then I have met the Bolsheviks in open fight, I am convinced that this small effort might have had decisive political and military influence in Eastern Siberia.  But the “politicals” in uniform are not always noted for daring, and in this case were very timid indeed, and our position grew worse from day to day.

I made the best dispositions possible in view of my cautious instructions, and soon every man, British, Czech and Cossack, was imbued with a determination to baulk the enemy’s eastward ambitions at all costs.  The numbers I had brought to their assistance were nothing compared to the influence of the sight of the poor, frayed and dirty Union Jack that floated from my Headquarters, and the songs of the Tommies round the mosquito fires in the bivouac at night.  These two factors together changed the whole atmosphere surrounding the valiant, ill-fed and ill-equipped Czech soldiers.

The day following the night I had fixed for the destruction of the enemy outpost two companies of enemy infantry and three guns marched out of Shmakovka as a reinforcement to the debatable position.  I watched through my binoculars their slow movement along the dusty road.  I judged what the enemy’s intentions were, and knew also that I was powerless to prevent them.  He quickly placed his guns in position, and the following day sent a few trial shots at Kalmakoff’s position at Olhanka; after getting the range he ceased fire.  About 11 P.M. the flash of guns was observed on our right, which continued until midnight.  At 12.30 the field telephone informed me that the Czech company I had pushed forward, together with Kalmakoff’s Cossacks, had been shelled out of their positions at Olhanka and were retreating along the Khamerovka and Runovka roads.  I disregarded the imperative instructions I had received from “Vlady” not to move, and advanced my detachment by a midnight march to occupy a position where I could protect the bridges and cover the retreat of our friends.  Had I failed to perform this simple soldierly duty we should have placed ourselves in a ridiculous position in the eyes of our Russian and Czech comrades.  But though I acted against orders, I think in the circumstances I was fully justified in doing so.

The Czech company retired safely behind the river at Khamerovka, and Kalmakoff’s Cossacks took up a new position at Runovka, where he could still hang on to the skirts of the enemy and keep constant observation upon his movements.  I retired to a bivouac of branches and marsh grass behind “Lookout Hill,” where for a fortnight I carried on constant warfare against infected waters and millions of mosquitoes, without transport, tents, nets, or any of the ordinary equipment required by such an expedition.  I admit that my ignorance of the conditions which might be expected to prevail in Siberia was colossal, but so also was that of those whose duty it was to have made themselves acquainted with the situation.