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over； and they lifted them on barges to make the attempt。 Well； we said
that as the thing could be planned； it could be done； and the canals are
deepened and widened； and we took through them； under their own power；
seven big destroyers； six small destroyers and four submarine boats； which；
arriving unexpectedly before Kazan； played a great part in our victory
there。 But the pleasure of that was spoilt for me by the knowledge that I
had had to take men and material from the building of the electric power
station； with which we hope to make Petrograd independent of the coal
supply。
〃The difficulties we have to fight against are； of course； enormous；
but much of what the old regime failed to do； for want of initiative or for
other reasons； we have done and are doing。 Some of the difficulties are of
a most unexpected kind。 The local inhabitants； partly； no doubt； under
the influence of our political opponents； were extremely hostile with
regard to the building of the power station； simply because they did not
understand it。 I went there myself； and explained to them what it would
mean； that their river would become a rich river； that they would be able to
get cheap power for all sorts of works； and that they would have electric
light in all their houses。 Then they carried me shoulder high through the
village； and sent telegrams to Lenin； to Zinoviev； to everybody they could
think of； and since then we have had nothing but help from them。
〃Most of our energy at present has to be spent on mending and
making railways and roads for the use of the army。 Over 11；000 versts of
railway are under construction； and we have finished the railway from
Arzamas to Shikhran。 Twelve hundred versts of highroad are under
construction。 And to meet the immediate needs of the army we have
already repaired or made 8；000 versts of roads of various kinds。 As a
matter of fact the internal railway net of Russia is by no means as bad as
people make out。 By its means； hampered as we are； we have been able
to beat the counter…revolutionaries； concentrating our best troops； now
here； now there； wherever need may be。 Remember that the whole way
round our enormous frontiers we are being forced to fight groups of
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reactionaries supported at first mostly by the Germans； now mostly by
yourselves； by the Roumanians； by the Poles； and in some districts by the
Germans still。 Troops fighting on the Ural front are fighting a month
later south of Voronezh； and a month later again are having a holiday；
marching on the heels of the Germans as they evacuate the occupied
provinces。 Some of our troops are not yet much good。 One day they
fight； and the next they think they would rather not。 So that our best troops；
those in which there are most workmen； have to be flung in all directions。
We are at work all the time enabling this to be done； and making new
roads to enable it to be done still better。 But what waste； when there are
so many other things we want to do！
〃All the time the needs of war are pressing on us。 To…day is the first
day for two months that we have been able to warm this building。 We
have been working here in overcoats and fur hats in a temperature below
freezing point。 Why？ Wood was already on its way to us； when we had
suddenly to throw troops northwards。 Our wood had to be flung out of
the wagons； and the Red Army put in its place； and the wagons sent north
again。 The thing had to be done； and we have had to work as best we
could in the cold。 Many of my assistants have fallen ill。 Two only
yesterday had to be taken home in a condition something like that of a fit；
the result of prolonged sedentary work in unheated rooms。 I have lost the
use of my right hand for the same reason。〃 He stretched out his right hand；
which he had been keeping in the pocket of his coat。 It was an ugly sight；
with swollen； immovable fingers； like the roots of a vegetable。
At this moment some one came in to speak to Pavlovitch。 He stood at
the table a little behind me； so that I did not see him； but Pavlovitch；
noticing that he looked curiously at me； said； 〃Are you acquaintances？〃 I
looked round and saw Sukhanov； Gorky's friend； formerly one of the
cleverest writers on the Novaya Jizn。 I jumped up and shook hands with
him。
〃What； have you gone over to the Bolsheviks？〃 I asked。
〃Not at all；〃 said Sukhanov； smiling； 〃but I am working here。〃
〃Sukhanov thinks that we do less harm than anybody else；〃 said
Pavlovitch； and laughed。 〃Go and talk to him and he'll tell you all there
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RUSSIA IN 1919
is to be said against us。 And there's lots to say。〃
Sukhanov was an extremely bitter enemy of the Bolsheviks； and was
very angry with me when； over a year ago； I told him I was convinced that
sooner or later he would be working with them。 I told Pavlovitch the
story； and he laughed again。 〃A long time ago；〃 he said； 〃Sukhanov
made overtures to me through Miliutin。 I agreed； and everything was
settled； but when a note appeared in Pravda to say that he was going to
work in this Committee； he grew shy； and wrote a contradiction。 Miliutin
was very angry and asked me to publish the truth。 I refused； but wrote on
that day in my diary； Sukhanov will come。 Three months later he was
already working with us。 One day he told me that in the big diary of the
revolution which he is writing； and will write very well； he had some
special abuse for me。 'I have none for you；' I said； 'but I will show you
one page of my own diary；' and I showed him that page； and asked him to
look at the date。 Sukhanov is an honest fellow； and was bound to come。〃
He went on with his talk。
〃You know； hampered as we are by lack of everything； we could not
put up the fight we are putting up against the reactionaries if it were not
for the real revolutionary spirit of