3 ). ▁The ▁parents ▁separated ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 2 ▁and ▁divor ced ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 9 . ▁M anner heim ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Che val ier ▁Guard ▁until ▁ 1 9 0 4 . ▁An ▁expert ▁r ider , ▁one ▁of ▁his ▁duties ▁was ▁bu ying ▁horses ▁for ▁the ▁army . ▁In ▁ 1 9 0 3 , ▁he ▁was ▁put ▁in ▁charge ▁of ▁the ▁model ▁squad ron ▁in ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Che val ier ▁Guard ▁and ▁became ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁e quest rian ▁training ▁board ▁of ▁the ▁caval ry ▁reg iments . ▁ ▁Service ▁in ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Russian ▁Army ▁ ▁M anner heim ▁volunte ered ▁for ▁active ▁service ▁with ▁the ▁Imperial ▁Russian ▁Army ▁in ▁the ▁Rus so - J apan ese ▁war ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 4 . ▁He ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁ 5 2 nd ▁Ne z hin ▁Drag oon ▁Regiment ▁in ▁Man ch uria , ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Lieutenant - Col onel . ▁He ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Colonel ▁for ▁bra very ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁M uk den ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 5 ▁ ▁and ▁briefly ▁commanded ▁an ▁irregular ▁unit ▁of ▁Hong ▁Hu zi , ▁a ▁local ▁milit ia , ▁on ▁an ▁expl or atory ▁mission ▁into ▁Inner ▁Mong olia . ▁ ▁When ▁M anner heim ▁returned ▁to ▁St . ▁Petersburg , ▁he ▁was ▁asked ▁to ▁undert ake ▁a ▁journey ▁through ▁Turk est an ▁to ▁Be ij ing ▁as ▁a ▁secret ▁intelligence - o ffic er . ▁The ▁Russian ▁General ▁Staff