DAY BY DAY WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY 1914-15 [Illustration: THE AUTHOR.] DAY BY DAY WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY 1914-15 BY BERNARD PARES _Official British Observer with the Russian Armies in the Field_ _WITH MAPS_ LONDON CONSTABLE & COMPANY LTD. 1915 TO NICHOLAS AND MARY HOMYAKOV Tidings from the Tsar of Germans, Tidings to the Russian Tsar. "I will come and break your Russia, And in Russia I will live." Moody was the Russian Tsar, As he paced the Moscow street. "Be not moody, Russian Tsar, Russia we will never yield. "Gather, gather, Russian hosts; William shall our captive be. "Cross the far Carpathian mountains; March through all the German towns." _Marching Song of the Third Army._ PREFACE For the last ten years or more I have paid long visits to Russia, being interested in anything that might conduce to closer relations between the two countries. During this time the whole course of Russia's public life has brought her far nearer to England--in particular, the creation of new legislative institutions, the wonderful economic development of the country, and the first real acquaintance which England has made with Russian culture. I always travelled to Russia through Germany, whose people had an inborn unintelligence and contempt for all things Russian, and whose Government has done what it could to hold England and Russia at arm's length from each other. I often used to wonder which of us Germany would fight first. When Germany declared war on Russia, I volunteered for service, and was arranging to start for Russia when we, too, were involved in the war. I arrived there some two weeks afterwards, and after a stay in Petrograd and Moscow was asked to take up the duty of official correspondent with the Russian army. It was some time before I was able to go to the army, and at first only in company of some twelve others with officers of the General Staff who were not yet permitted to take us to the actual front. We, however, visited Galicia and Warsaw, and saw a good deal of the army. After these journeys I was allowed to join the Red Cross organisation with the Third Army as an attaché of an old friend, Mr. Michael Stakhovich, who was at the head of this organisation; and there General Radko Dmitriev, whom I had known earlier, kindly gave me a written permit to visit any part of the firing line; my Red Cross work was in transport and the forward hospitals. My instructions did not include telegraphing, and my diary notes, though dispatched by special messengers, necessarily took a month or more to reach England; but I had the great satisfaction of sharing in the life of the army, where I was entertained with the kindest hospitality and invited to see and take part in anything that was doing.