Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-08-06
FIGHTING MIDST
ice and SNOW Y

IS - - T.. .,
WiIlmar Veteran Offers Brief Sketch
Of Life Of American Troops at
Battle Near Archanae| Russia.
The American boys who participant
ed in-the strenuous campaign against
the Bolshevistic forces in Northern
Russia have finally returned from that
snowbound hermitage. Although the
American contribution Of troops con.
sisted of Michigan and Wisconsin men
this city of Willmar had its repre-.
sentative In the person of Lieut.. Rol-
and DeLaHunt, who recently returned
to his home here. Roland is home on
short furlough and will return to
Camp Dodge the coming Saturday to
receive his discharge. He comes back
with facts ,a-plenty relative to the Al
lied front in Northern Russia, the
most interesting of which we make
mention in the following writeup:
Lieut.. DeLaHunt came in contact
with the Badger and Wolverine men
of July, 1918, and sailed with them ov-
er the seas to the British Isles, landing
at London. The transport fleet consist
ed of fifteen vessels and was heavily
guarded. In England some five thous-
and troops were singled out and formed
into special battalions and prepared for
the severe military routine of the COM
ing campaign. This small body Of kha-
XII boys set sail during the latter part
of August and after a twelve days. voy-
age finally entered into the White Sea
and the harbor of Archangel The city
of Archange1 is the largest and only
city of any size in that northern dis.
trict and contains about fifty thousand
inhabitants, mostly Russians. Here
General Miller a co-general with Kol.
chalk, assisted by the Allied troops
had been pressing a campaign against
the Bolsheviki from the north, while
Kolchak attempted to drive from the
east. The Russian force numbered a.
bout ten thousand The Allied army
was composed of the following military
forces: American, $500; British, 5000
French, 5000 and Russian, 10000 men
Altho the Russians took active part in
the fighting their interest was at low
ebb the greater part of the battling peri
cd, due, no doubt, to the ties which
against them in the Bolshevistic armies
These Russians according to late re-
ports, have thrown their strength on
the side of their brothers with relief
to the Allied troops who were in con-
slant uncertainty as to the loyalty OF
these comrade-in-arms.
The American troops were fitted with
striking uniforms brief description OF
which might be interesting. The men
are literally encased in leather and
fur. Their hats are somewhat similar
to the overseas cap in the main but
naturally are very much larger. It
is made entirely of fur and has two
large flaps which when let fall from the
top of the cap cover up the face most
comfortably. When the flaps are held
in place on the top of the head gear is
Of black fur, but when let fall the cap
is one white fur piece snuggly wrapped
about the head. The coat is heavy
ling a sheep-skin coat The outside is
of brown color and smooth. The
boots are massive affairs we'll adapted
to the rough usage Of the front in Rus
STA. This rather cumbersome load OF
clothing renders speedy movement next
to impossible and the coat must be re-
moved whenever active work is the or.
clothing tt is advisable to keep moving
as the extreme Brightness of fifty be-
low zero does not permit one even thus
clad to stand still for many minutes
Speaking Of the weather the Lieutenant
says that the winds are not strong and
do not drive the cold for which they
were all thankful. 1t is Just plain cold
which rushes the mercury down to the
bottom Of the tube. This district seems
to be the home Of snow hurries as It Is
continually showing and cloudy Yet in
all those unpleasant circumstances our
boys fought glorious battle and &C.
quilted themselves with honor to their
country.
The Russians aligned against the Al.
lies and Anti-Bolshevists outnumberec
the foreigners beyond reasonable pro.
portions. They were very aggressive
and compelled the Allies to battle anc
keep constant watch. Nevertheless the
but due to small numbers were pushed
back at different times. The Russian
infantry was practically worthless al
| 1t was composed Of ignorant and un
disciplined peasants who knew very lit
| tie about the tactics of war and the
principles for which they were laying
down their lives. Their artillery, how
ever, was remarkably we'll trained ant
| displayed some expert craftsmanship
| in the use of their guns. They she1leG
| several of the villages with great &C
| curacy and were respected for thei
skill. They inflicted casualties a
mounting to five hundred American
lives during the campaign which lastet
almost twelve months.
! The port of Archangel is on the Dvi
ma River which runs into the Whit
| Sea. A railroad is built during tn
| winter months across this river on tn
ice to another town on the opposit
shore Here large buildings were erect
ed to accommodate the Allied troops an,
as comfortable quarters as possibl
| were given to the men in furs.
After the long winter of wearisom
battling against an overwhelming an
tagonist the French and Americans fin
ally concluded to withdraw during tn
latter part of the month Of June. The
were replaced by English troops, who a
this time are likewise steaming ava
from Archangel leaving the BATTLEFIELD
| of SHOWS behind them. The America
troops landed at Brest and after
short stay there marched aboard
steamer bound for home. Lieut.. Della
Hunt was member of Co. B First Bat
talon of the 310th Engineers, whic
was the last battalion to ship out fror
the polar port of Archangel
His friends in and about this cit
are happy to see him upon his retur