29 May 1917. Alfred Knox

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Alfred Knox

Petrograd, Russian Empire

I left Petrograd on May 29th and travelled via G.H.Q. and Kiev to the headquarters of the South-West Front at К amenets-Podolsk.

At G.H.Q. I met for the first time General Denikin, who was now acting as Chief of the Staff. He had commanded the 4th Rifle Division (the “ Iron Division ”) most of the war, and he gave the impression of being a man of nerve.

From G.H.Q. I travelled in luxury with General Dzyevenovski, who was in charge of Military Communications on the South-West Front. There was a strike of waiters at Kiev, but the General took me to some charming Poles, who entertained us royally.

Appearances at Kiev and on the railway did not promise well for the coming offensive. The station at Kiev was constantly full of men who should have been at the front. Permission had been given for 5 per cent, of the rank and file up to forty years of age and for 15 per cent, of men of forty to forty-three to go on leave every three weeks. Very many more than the percentage allowed left the front, and few returned. The roofs of carriages as far as Kiev were crowded with soldiers, but when we turned west from Kiev the train was comparatively empty.

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