Fyodor Fedorovich Palitsyn (1851–1923), infantry general, one of the closest employees of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, in 1905–1908. headed the Main Directorate of the General Staff. In volume 1 of his memoirs, the author describes the events of 1914–1916, when he was first at the headquarters of the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Northwestern Front M.V. Alekseev, and then at the headquarters of the commander of the Caucasian Army N.N. Yudenich. Extraordinary knowledge in military affairs, experience, and professionalism allow the author of the Notes to objectively assess the situation at the front and in the rear. His records reflect the usually hidden side of the activities of headquarters and military command authorities and reveal the true mechanism for making decisions. The activities of many military leaders are subject to an open and impartial assessment in his memoirs, with all the military confusion, mistakes and incidents. Published for the first time.