Few persons can have gone to a convivial gathering of Russians without noticing that they take their liquor sadly. They weep when they are drunk. They are very often drunk. The nation suffers from Katzenjammer.
It would be an amusing thing if the prohibition of vodka took away from Russia the trait which sentimentalists in Western Europe have found such an engaging subject for their meditation.
Men are still saying that the bread is "being shipped" (by who? No one knows) to the Germans. All joy in life has been destroyed by the revolution and war.
Sunday, November 4th, was designated as the Day of the Petrograd Soviet, with immense meetings planned all over the city, ostensibly to raise money for the organisation and the press; really, to make a demonstration of strength. See more
Italian defeat is turning into a catastrophe. The same thing that had happened to us, now happened to them: propaganda damaged the discipline, and some units fled, letting the enemy pass. Our only hope now is England, France, and the USA.
It's a difficult time. No glimpses of light. The mood is close to a heroic despair. See more
Gradually, we were sent one after another to Petrograd to repair the ships damaged in the last battles. Gullible Verderevsky, not to mention Kerensky, didn’t quite understand why the ships were sent to Petrograd against his will. Repairs on the cruiser Aurora were hastily finished and is intended to be sent to Helsinki to join its brigade. It is necessary to it to be delayed in Petrograd as long as possible, as conveyed on behalf the Aurora’s Central Baltic Fleet Committee Chairman Kurkov, "Do not obey the orders of the Provisional Government to send the Aurora on a raid. Wait for the Central Baltic Fleet Committee’s approval. Central Baltic Fleet Committee will address you by name.”
Directorate of Public Prosecutions has received a paper from the doctors who were performing a medical check of the former Minister of Internal Affairs Protopopov. Their diagnosis reads that he is mentally affected. This diagnosis has been passed to the judiciary.
An armed demonstration of the garrison in favour of the Bolsheviks had been openly talked of for November 7th. The Provisional Government called up two cyclist battalions from the front and expressed its confidence in its ability to quell any rising. See more
Perhaps, this is all an illusion (absolutely everything).
At 8 o'clock we went to Mass and the whole family received the Eucharist. It was a very sincere and consoling experience. The weather grew mild but it snowed all day. For a long time we worked in the garden.