A Splendid Little War Read Online Free PDF

west. Damn near did, too. Strategic necessity, gentlemen. Any fool can see that.”
    â€œThe Foreign Office looks uneasy,” Jonathan Fitzroy said.
    â€œI can see what the general means, but …” Sir Franklyn frowned. “We never actually got the war going again in the east, did we? And anyway, the Armistice changed all that.”
    â€œI don’t know anybody who believes we’re still in Russia because of the German war,” James Weatherby said. “That’s ancient history. Frankly, the Home Office doesn’t give a toss what their Bolsheviks did last year.”
    â€œDoesn’t it? I do,” the general said. “Betrayed the Allies! Made peace with the Hun! Opened their doors, told him to help himself! I call that treachery. Despicable vermin. A lot of good men died on the Western Front, gentlemen, friends of mine, just because the Bolsheviks threw in the towel. If I’d been given my way, the minute the Boche surrendered I’d have ordered them to about-turn and march east and not come back until every Bolshevik was cold meat. You may smile, gentlemen, but if my strategy had been applied, Russia wouldn’t be a problem for us today, would it?”
    â€œI’m not saying the Bolsheviks don’t matter,” Weatherby said patiently. “Far from it. The Home Office is very concerned about Bolshevik interference
here
. Rioting in Glasgow and Belfast was definitely provoked by Communists. Blood was shed, a few men died. Typical Bolshevik tactics. Destroy from within.”
    Silence. Then Jonathan Fitzroy said: “So … is that our advice to the P.M.? We’re in Russia because that’s where the threat comes from?”
    â€œNo other country wants to get really involved,” Sir Franklyn said. “Not on Britain’s scale, anyway. Not Italy. France went in and pulled out. America thinks it’s done enough. We’re on our own. It’s rather a lonely crusade, isn’t it?”
    â€œA crusade against an international conspiracy,” James Weatherby said. “Lenin’s own words. Communist world domination.”
    â€œRed tentacles,” the general said helpfully.
    â€œThe man in the street wouldn’t know a red tentacle from a black pudding,” Sir Franklyn said. “Britain has fought a lot of foreign wars, some popular, some not, and I can tell you what the man in the street recognizes. It’s victories. Success proves we must be doing right. The best message the P.M. could give the nation is a thumping victory in Russia. Unfortunately …” He raised an eyebrow at Fitzroy.
    â€œA military victory would certainly help,” Fitzroy said. “The pity is, the Bolsheviks seem to be doing rather well. People want to know why. And we don’t need awkward questions asked in the House.”
    â€œEasy,” Stattaford said. “Tell the blighters it’s not in our national interest to give such information.”
    â€œWe tried that. The House didn’t like it.”
    â€œDon’t know why. Censorship worked jolly well in wartime.”
    â€œWar’s over. In peacetime they want straight answers.”
    â€œSo says the
Manchester Guardian
,” Weatherby said. “Not to mention the
Daily Express
.”
    â€œRadical rags,” the general muttered.
    â€œYou’ve been very silent, Charles,” Fitzroy said. “Does the Treasury have an opinion?”
    â€œThe Treasury has seven hundred and fifty-seven million opinions,” Delahaye said. “The Tsar’s government borrowed seven hundred and fifty-seven million pounds from Britain to fight their side of the war. If our troops in Russia can persuade them to pay it back, I’m sure the British taxpayer will express a very heartfelt thank-you.”
    â€œProspects are poor, I’m afraid. Lenin and Trotsky say they won’t cough up a kopek.”
    â€œThen why are we in