Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-01
Where Yomks stu Fight
New York Times

In all our history, bright with deeds Of dar-
ing and forttude, American soldiers have never
had to fight under such rigorous conditions as
in the Archangel area of northern Russia. 1t
is war at from 20 to 40 degrees below zero, lit
orally an Arctic campaign. The details OF it
such as the redoubled rebound of a shell from
the rigid frozen EARTH multiplying its destruc-
tive power-quicken the imagination as they
come to us piecemeaL But so slowly Is the
news dribbling from Archangel that as yet we
have only a blurred story of the frozen region
where war still RACES.
Inquiry at the War department in Washing
ton ELECTS an outline of the story:
Archangel, on the Gulf of Dvina, is the base.
Thence there are three fronts, representing an
arc extending from 100 to 200 miles from Arch
angel. The front to be defended is 400 miles
in length. On the eastern sector our Chief
point is Pinega, on the Pinega river. Kadsh,
rs miles east of the Acknowledgment rail-
road is the center of our southern front. Omega,
on Omega bay, is the main point on the western
sector. In this area white with snow from two
feet deep and upward, the allies have about
$4,000 men. Against them are arrayed not less
than $4,000 bolsheviki, including, besides Rus
sian reds, Austrians, Germans and Magyars.
Some of the companies are offlcered by men of
the old regime compelled to contribute their
technical skill on pain of death. This has been
learned from captured prisoners.
Our forces number 5,4l9 men, composed of
the 339th infantry 3l0th engineers, First bat
talon; 337th field hospital and the 337th ambu-
lance company, under the command of Colonel
George E. Stewart The United States troops
are scattered with the allied troops over the
400-mile 'front.' with small attachments at places
on the line of communications. These lines
extend in ribs from Archangel to the east,
south, west and over them the supplies go for
ward on sleds. 1t is exceptional to have more
than one company of Americans serving at one
place. Front line troops are rotated to prevent
undue hardships.
Many questions have come to Washington
as to whether our troops in the Archangel area
were provided with suitable food and clothing
to stand the Arctic winter. Colonel Stewart
was instructed to make tour of inspection and
report to Washington. His report received
by the War department few days ago, said:
General health, discipline and morale of
troops excellent. Billeting and living condi-
tions good except at advanced outposts, where
usual field conditions exist and improvised
blockhouses are the only shelter"
The huts are built Of logs, similar to those
of primitive days in this country. Much of the
Archangel area is heavily wooded with frs.
The food is a special ration for life in the Arc
tic, with an extra supply of fat. Sir Ernest
Shacllleton the Arctic explorer, who is with
the allies north Russian forces, is giving the
benefit of his experience to the proper feeding
of the men. There is only one much-missed
shortage the lack of fresh vegetables. Some
dried fruit is the only substitute. AS to cloth
ing, each soldier has, in addition to the regular
overseas equipment, a fur cap, fur mittens,
moose hide moccasins, fur overcoat, fur parkas
coming to about the knees and having hood
attached. Mucklucks are winter boots of the
kind used in Alaska and other northern coun-
tries.