The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-11-28
.fMERSON'S PARTY
LONG UNDER FIRE
ESCAPES RUSS BULLETS,
NOW OUT OF DANGER
Rail Corps, Headed by st. Paul Man,
Garry Out Big Tasks
Under Difficulties,

Colonel George H. Emerson. COM
mander Of the Russian Railway corps,
and officers Of his staff, have had their
baptism of fire in the Czech Bolshevik
lighting in Eastern Siberia, escaped
unharmed and are now permanently
out OF danger as result Of the arrival
Of the Yankee and Allied forces, &C.
cording to information received here
Monday.
The heart Of the conflict is now
well west of the Manchurian- Siberian
border and the railway corps is oper-
ating at the rear Of the fighting,
keeping the lines of communication
open from the vicinity of Hardin, it
was learned. Definite assurance was
given that not single casualty was
suffered, and that members of the
corps now face nothing more than
plenty of hard work.
Colonel Emerson, the St. Paul COM
mander of the railway unit recruit
ed chiefly from roads in St. Paul and
the adjacent Northwest, formerly was
general manager of the Great North
ern railway.
In Thick of Fighting.
His Crush" with the enemy, the
Bolsheviki, occurred about September
l, when he with Captain B. o. John
son, former division superintendent
Of the Northern Pacific railroad at
Livingston, Mont, and two orderlies
from Illinois railways were making
an inspection trip for the Czechs over
the Trans-Siberian railway west of
the Manchurin- Siberian border.
:. According to word received here,
Colonel Emerson and his aids were
caught in the thick of the fighting
as the Czechs outfanked the Bolshe-
wiki near Lake Baikal. The Czechs
routed the enemy and captured a num-
Der. of trains, including one armored
train.
With this train in the van, the
Czechs pursued the enemy, inflicting
substantial losses, capturing more
supplies and equipment and Outright
ing the Bolsheviki every minute day
and night for two weeks, it was stated.
Effect Heroic Work.
The Yankee rail chiefs were under
fire from the sniping detachments left
along the line because of the rapid |
advance of the Czechs. Colonel En-
erson and his aides escaped harm by
seeking cover on the opposite side |
of the train, which on this occasion
was not the armored unit but troop
and supply train following.
Deeds of heroism and marvellous en-
accomplishment are credit
ed to the St. Paul rail expert and his
aides as they directed the Czech en-
corps. The Baikal tunnel
was repaired, hundreds Of bridges re-
Quilt, trackage laid and all without
The aid of cranes or similar machin-
cry such as is available here.
When a disabled engine blocked the
rack, the line was built around it.
Ropes and man-power removed lesser
Many Russians Desert.
Information received here Monday
lso told of Colonel Emerson passing
through the Bolshevik lines under a
lag of truce to the Czeks and return
ng. It was then that the recognition !
t the Czecho-Slovaks by America
nd the Allies was learned. {
Members of the railway corps, it i
vas stated, report that the .Czechs l
we're taking no Austrian or German ]
risoners. At that time the Russians q
'ere DESERVING the Bolsheviki ranks c
n great numbers and few were left, +
; was declared, the enemy forces in a
hat district then being composed i
hiefly of Huns. n
John F. Stevens, former chief en- t
ineer of the Northern Pacific and c
cad of the former Russian railway q
Mission, and his detachment have /
oined the Allied and Czech forces in b
iberia, according to word from f
Washington. [