on this critical situation.  In revolutions every rule and safeguard of society is uprooted; the people feel as in an earthquake, nothing is secure, everyone doubts his neighbour.  If those who are prepared to support authority can only discover at the right moment one little group round whom they can rally, and who they know will think nothing of death in performance of duty, the danger is over at once.  Hesitancy disappears, and the normal is instantly produced.  We filed out to find the infantry in their ranks, and the horsemen mounted in line, under their officers, awaiting orders.

I proceeded through the town to the residence of the Supreme Governor.  On our way we passed parties of soldiers and Cossacks hurrying to their posts, who eyed us suspiciously, but on seeing me at the head in the uniform of a British officer, ejaculated loudly to their command the magic word “Anglisky,” until like a talisman the word passed from sentry to sentry and street to street, and “Anglisky” became the password which held the whole town for law and order.  We passed towards the admiral’s house without challenge until the Cossack and Serbian guard at the actual entrance called us to halt pending the governor’s orders.  The order soon came for us to enter.  The admiral was ill, very ill with inflammation of the lungs, but as brave as ever.  My “monks” lined up in the vestibule in the same manner as at Headquarters, and even the personal Serbian guard had to make way for these queer-looking visitors.  I got the information required.  The revolt was very serious, but I was able to inform the admiral that effective measures had now been taken to provide for all eventualities.  I begged leave to depart, which was granted, but not before my men had been given food and a taste of Russian vodka, which appears to be the only effective antidote to the cold of a real Siberian winter.  I returned, to find that the fact that the English soldiers were out was known in every house in Omsk, and numerous requests from the highest to the lowest for protection had been received on the telephone.  I give no names, but the fact shows what a remarkable influence the presence of a few British soldiers had in steadying the situation.

My orders were to take no part in the internal affairs of Russia, but it is the duty of every commanding officer to take all possible means to protect his command.  If I had remained in my quarters and made no sign until these Royalist and Bolshevik enemies had obtained possession of the town, I should have presented a dainty morsel which they could have masticated at leisure.  I had to show my hand early enough to make sure it did not go against me.  It turned out that I marched from my barracks just when news had been brought of the mutiny, under Royalist and Bolshevik leadership, of two companies of the 8th Regiment of the new Russian army.  A body of Bolsheviks at Koulomsino, on the other side of the river, had taken up arms and were bent on the destruction of the