We carried the Russian colonel to the British hospital, and as the leader of the Serbs had declared a blood feud, extra guards were placed on my wagon and the hospital.  These ruffians were armed from our supplies under the direction of French officers.  Directly the Russian military authorities began their investigations to bring this band to justice they, through the Czech commander, received orders from General Ganin, the French Allied commander, to move to Novo Nikoliosk out of Russian jurisdiction.

It is not very clear at present why the French gave their protection to these and similar disturbing elements in Siberia.  Perhaps the reason will show itself later.

Krasnoyarsk is a huge railway depot with building and repairing shops employing about 3,000 workmen.  To get at both shifts it was necessary to hold two meetings, one for the inside and the other for the outside staff.  The first was a very silent, interested crowd, who listened to my address as though they understood its meaning and purport.  The gallant “Russky” polkovnika with bandaged head and hand translated the first part, Madame Frank the second.  The impression created by this brave woman, who had herself commanded a company in the trenches before Kerensky destroyed the army, was very great.  There was no mistaking the effect of her words as these oil-stained workmen raised their papahas to the message from the English trade unionists which she delivered.

This town was the centre of international intrigue.  There was an Italian battalion about 1,500 strong, the Czech 12th Regiment of about 200, and the British Middlesex Regiment, 220.  To maintain their prestige the French were arming the Lett revolters as fast as the Russian General Affinasiaff could defeat and disarm them.  The Italian soldiers were in very bad favour with the inhabitants and the local Russian civil and military authorities.  Robberies and assaults were of almost daily occurrence, and at last the authorities made definite official complaints to the Allied Headquarters and asked that the Italian soldiers should either be kept under proper discipline or removed from the country.  The main complaint, however, of the Russian officials was based on the open hostility of the Allied officers led by the senior of them to everything Russian.

It is such an easy matter to make friends with the Russian people that this attitude of her alleged helpers was very saddening.  When I landed at “Vlady” my orders were to remember that we English had come as friends to help Russia on to her feet, and I always tried to keep that in mind.  I often wondered what instructions could have been given to my Allied colleagues.

The next call was at Bogotol, where, under instructions from Consul Peacock, I inquired into the imprisonment of an Australian subject named Savinoff.  The authorities produced the dossier of his case, which when translated proved him to be a Bolshevik leader and second in command of an armed band that had attempted to murder the local authorities.  His trial took place shortly after, with that of Titoff, his chief, who was one of the Central Committee of the Baltic Fleet who ordered the murder of hundreds of the naval officers of the old regime.