Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-06
VICTO DRY
GAINED BY
YANKS ON
v!AGA
Russian Force Driven Back in
Disorder from Village of
viStavka and Suffers
Heavy Losses.
By Associated Press.

we're inflicted on the bolsheviki by
the American forces Tuesday and
the enemy was driven back in dis
order from the village of Vistavka
on the Vaga river. The American
casualties were five killed and sew
eral wounded. Many bolshevill sol.
diers were taken prisoner by the
Americans.
The enemy early in the morning
began a bombardment with field
guns and howitzers and under cover
Of shrapnel and pompom barrage
es- aged a frontal attack with in
fantry in the Artic twilight at 5
o'clock in the afternoon. The Amer
lean troops, who were rested after
their retirement from Shenkursk
and were now established in a good
position, poured heavy fire from
artillery and machine guns into the
charging bolsheviki whose ranks
broke and fled into the woods.
Flank Attack Abandoned.
Captured bolsheyiki declared that
the enemy had planned flank at
tack simultaneously with the frontal
movement, but this was abandoned
when the Vistavka attempt failed
Chinese and Manchu troops are
now included in the bolshevik forces
opposing the Americans on the
Vaga. So far these have been held
in reserve, but the Americans are
preparing a warm reception for the
yellow soldiers if they appear in the
fighting line, in view of stories
reaching them of the Manchu treat
ment Of prisoners in the Baltic pro-
viLces.
Yesterdays defeat Of the enemy
on the Vaga, together with his fail
ure on the Dvina, typifies the spirit
of the American and other allied
troops who are fighting with the
utmost determination to hold their
positions until reinforcements can
reach them. These defeats have
considerably lowered the enemy
morale, but the bolsheviki are be-
ing constantly reinforced, and while
their offensive has been temporarily
checked, there are indications that
it will be renewed when fresh boil
shevik forces reach the line.
French Squad Makes Brave Fight. .
Details were received at head
quarters today of the bravery dis
played by little squad of about IA
Frenchmen, who were victims oi
an enemy raid on the village 81
Bolshoie Ozera Monday. Mistak
ing the enemy for returning Rus
sian prisoners of war, the French
detachment permitted the bolsheviki
to advance close to their position.
Then they found themselves sud
denly surrounded by a force of l5C
of the enemy. Called upon to sur
render, the Frenchmen refused and
tried to fight their way out. Two
were killed; three were wounded
and six were unaccounted for for a
time. Four of these six turned up
today, two of them wounded, ap-
parently having escaped from their
captors.
The situation is unchanged on the
Dvina railroad fronts. Allied troops
again were forced TO retire in the
face of bolshevik attacks along the
Pinega river, but the positions OF
the Americans at the town of
Pinega have not been attacked.
Bolshevili Capture Zhitomir.
Copenhagen, Feb. s.-Zhitomir
capital Of the government Of Vol
hynia, has been captured by the boil
sheviki, according to information
reaching this city.
Bolshevik Morale Shaken.
Archangel, Feb. 5.-The stubborn
resistance of the American and
Scottish forces in the Tulgas region
apparently is disturbing the morale
of the bolshevik troops and has
Temporarily halted their offensive.
The enemy lost so heavily in the
attack on the Tulgas position Ian
uary 81 that the bolsheviki refused
to go forward again and held
meeting at which they openly de-
bated the question Of desertinr 10
the allies. Several bolshevik de-
serters have made their way 10 the
allied lines. and from these men
details Of the meeting have been
learned.
The bolsheviki planned the cap
ture Of Shenkursk, Taresevo and
Iulgas in a simultaneous offensive
| Their artillery and raiding parties
have been active on all sectors Of
this front, but the first phase Of the
offensive appears to have been
checked.
| On the Dvina sector the allied
troops have burned the village III
| Upper Tulgas, which,frequently gave
refuge to the bolsheyik attacking
parties.
The enemy continues shelling the
| Vags lines at the WALLACE Of Boil
shoie Ozera. west Of Obozerskaya.
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