Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-07

ouu Will AC SoPPo1t VI ASASAb hASAS =
than held their own against the
enemy, though they suffered severe
losses. On November II, the front
was on the Emtsa river, just north
of Kadish.
Americans Forge Ahead.
The Yanks on the Vaga front had
penetrated Russia farther than at
any other point, and had reached
Tooharinskaya. 50 versts south OF
Shenkursk. The more important
engagements were at Cora on Sep
tember II, where, after seven hours
of intense fighting, the enemy were
driven from the town and the Yanks
took possession, and at Ust Puyoi
on October !. At the latter place
the Americans captured the town
after hard days battle.
On the Dvina front, after several
engagements, the Bolo had been
pushed back to Pushega. Here he
received reinforcements and began
series of offensives, finally forcing
the Americans and Scots to evacu-
ate Pushega and the territory back
to Seltso. At this place a deter
mined stand was made, but the Bolo
brought up his long range guns on
barges, and by outranging the al
lied artillery made Seltso so hot
that the allies were forced to evacu-
ate, and they fell back to Tulgas,
where a strong position had been
prepared and where the front was
! when that famous meeting was held
at Spa.
The Pinega front had not been
established up to this time.
The signing of the armistice
meant nothing in the young lives
of the Yanks fighting on the north
Russia fronts. OF course, it was ex-
pected that the badly needed rein
forcements would be sent at once,
and, now that the great war was
over, that we would be withdrawn
at once, as our mission was gone.
But neither of these things happen
ed. We waited for some word from
home; some definite policy from our
government telling US when we were
to be withdrawn, or # we were not
to be withdrawn, then why we were
TO continue to fight. None came.
There was no armistice celebration
Conscript Russian Males.
The provincial government of
Archangel, assisted by the British,
conscripted all males between 18 and
As years Of age and began to organ
ize an army. Wherever American
troops were stationed they trained
and equipped the Russian partisans.
But at the same time the bolsheviki
were getting better organized and
disciplined and stronger.
Winter, Arctic winter, with Its
long days and nights Of darkness,
its snow and biting cold, swooped
down upon the land. 1t was useless
to try and proceed farther without
aid, and the policy became to hold
what had been taken until reinforce
ments should some and to get the
troops under some kind of shelter
to combat the rigors of the climate.
The bolsheviki had asserted that
when winter came they would drive
US into the White sea-and they
might have carried out their boast.
At least they did make several ef-
forts, which at times assumed rather
alarming and discouraging tropor-
tions.
Behind our lines the Russians
were slowly organizing, but were
unspirited. There was bolsheviki in
their ranks, and they refused to go
to the fronts. With the exception
of the battalion of English which
came overland from Murmansk in
November and December, no rein
forcements arrived.
Allies Plan Offensive.
To shorten our line on account Of
the shortage of men, and to relieve
the pressure on the Kadish front, a
general offensive on all fronts was
planned for December 81. On De-
cember 80, the day before the at
tack was to commence, some Rus
slams, who were on the railroad
front, deserted to the enemy and
gave away the entire plans, and be-
fore zero hour the next morning
the Bo1o were pounding all fronts
with everything they had. Flank
| ing parties of French courier de
bois," clad in white suits, equipped
with snowshoes and Shakelton
boots, and dragging sleighs, failed
to reach their objectives on account
Of the waist-deep snow., The attack
was called off, but word did not
reach the Kadish and Omega fronts
until after the first days fighting.
The Omega force had advanced
some 20 versts and captured Per-
tema. Kadish had been retaken by
the Americans, who fought brilliant
| ly against odds in deep snow and
80 below zero weather. Kadish was
burned and evacuated, and the
troops fell back to the old positions
n, The Er1fs, river