The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-05
Doughboys Back
From Russia Soon
When Old Sol Vanquishes Jack Frost.
Boys to Start on Homeward
Journey.

London. March <-Direct from tho
snow swept No Mans Land on tho
Archangel front, where American
troops are battling the Bolsheviki.
comes frst-hand report that the
American expedition will soon be
withdrawn from Russia.
Four Y. NJ. G. A. workers Just ar
rived in London from Archangel say
the doughboys are dancing with glee
OF the persistent report which is not
denied by American officers that they
will soon start for homo. Lending
further color to this ia the remark
dropped by General Bliss III Parts last
week to the effect that It may not be
long before American troops arc
brought home from Russia
The four Y. NJ. c. A. workers who
have talked personally 10 many
doughbovs say the American troops
are game enough to stick on bush
whacking" the Bolsheviki, despite the
great obstacles and handicaps OF the
weather and the fact that they are
greatly outnum bered. but the com
mon opinion among the soldiers is;
This isn't our show, We want to
go home. Let the Russians paddle
their own canoe"
Tho four Y NJ. G.. A. workers are
G. l.. Hedden, Of Newark n. J.: \.
/ w. Hess. of Ashland. Pa; Thomas
Woody, OF New York, and X Birk-
ham, of Baltimore They say the
American soldiers general attitude Ia
summed UP in this ghboy's orig
inal "iitty";
/ TITS the land OF the Internal odor.
Tho land Of the national smell.
| The average American soldier
Would t-y. IoCr i,c Z. II
ITS back to the states for yours truly.
m not wishing any one i'll.
But Russia can handle her own boat,
And truly ] reckon she will"
While some American soldiers in
Russia believe they will be homeward
bound within a few weeks. general
opinion rs that they wifi start FOR
America May or in June at the lat
est. owing TO the necessity of walt
Ing until the ice breaks up.
War Minister Winston Churchill an
uounced in the house of commons ves-
't~rday that the Americans. represent
the second largest outfit In Russia,
ana when they GO it is believed all
allied for~as viii follow.
'one American regiment Detroits
own. the 339th infantry. In in the
Archaneel region. according 10 He'd
den. Small outpost detachments av-
eraglng score or more OF men In
most eases, often successfully battle
tho Bolsheviki. although they are han
"'caPped 20 the tune OF more than
ten TO one.
The fighting is absolutely unlike
anything on the west front. II in gen
orally ''retreating advance by both
SIDES on large scale. Heddnn. laugh
ingiy told of an American >.ory at
Ecceletki. on the Wasa river Where a
small Yankee detachment was pushed
back six miles. then stiffened and
chased the Reds eighteen miles, gain
ing victory by the sheer force OF
Marathon abilities.
The Bolsheviki like the Germ ans"
said Hedden. do not fight unless
ther are many OF them. They tried
often to fraternize with the Amerl-
cans, but met with only rebuff and
the point of the bavonet"
Don't try that kameradsH stuff on
me, wh'SkerS. is popular reply by
the douFhhoys. Heddeni added. He
said the Rolsheviisi had plenty OF rifles
and machine guns and did not lack
ammunition Once in a while, he
said. Rolshevist would sneak up
and toss a hand grenade"
The Americans are the best fed.
clothed and housed of all the allied
contingents In Russia Hedden CON
t,nued. "Eut they suffer from the
chillng cold and snow and the wet
and muddy trenehes" r
Heddon was in Petrograd a week
before the Bolsheviki revolution broke !
out. He was en- route for the front :
IN Russian commissary's automobile
to inspect tho front when Bolshviki- !
insp red soldiers deserted the front, !
him and stole his car. Later |
he was released. Hedden Is confident
Russia will work out her own prob I
lens soon il left alone.