The conspirators broke up at once, but the cunningest of the lot remained to weave again by social strategy the continuous web of Russian disorder.  We knew that there were elements at work for a counter-revolution quite uncontrolled by, but acting with, the cognisance of officials of the Koltchak Administration.  In revolutions sudden outbursts on the part of even a small party may soon jeopardise the whole organisation of State.  Colonel Johnson and myself agreed that it was necessary to concentrate our forces, and in approaching the Russian authorities on this subject, we added further to the demoralisation of those who were in the conspiracy.  We protested that it was our own safety that we had in view, but the conspirators did not believe us.  I knew that the admiral’s train had been for some days standing ready to take him to the front.  On February 3 Omsk was informed that the important Japanese Mission (previously referred to) had started from Irkutsk on the last stage of its journey to the Supreme Governor.  The governor’s aide-de-camp informed me at the same time that the admiral was starting for the front at 5 P.M. on February 7.

General Knox was anxious that there should be no evidence of weakening in our support of the Omsk Government, as in case of disorder our position was by no means secure.  After consultation it was decided to offer the admiral a personal guard for his journey, to consist of fifty men and one officer from the Hampshire Regiment.  This was accepted and referred to the Chief of Staff for confirmation.  It was then reported to General Ganin and the French Staff.  They at once protested that to have a purely English guard would lower French prestige in the eyes of the Russians.  They quite agreed that there ought to be a guard, but it must be half English and half French, and to this we at once agreed.  We therefore reduced our number to twenty-five.  Then, however, the French Staff pointed out that they had no troops in Omsk, and they could not leave the Staff without a cook.  The greatest number of orderlies they could spare was nine, so it was suggested that the guard should consist of forty-one English and nine French soldiers.  This took the negotiators’ breath away entirely; the first proposal was destructive of French prestige, the second was enough to destroy France altogether!  Really France is much too beautiful and gallant a country to have this sort of stuff put forward on her behalf, but there it was.  So the admiral’s guard consisted of nine soldiers with one officer of each nationality—­twenty all told.

One point we did get home on.  At the time appointed for the admiral’s departure, an English guard of honour miraculously appeared on the scene, together with Russian and Czech guards.  There could be no French—­yet French prestige continued to stand just as high as ever it did.  I give these facts in the most friendly spirit, but with a hope that English officers will always understand that, however much we smile at the peculiar gyrations of the word “prestige” as understood by our Continental neighbours, it is very real to them, and strange exhibitions of it are seen on occasions.