The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-10-15

The truth is that he is member-and appar-
emily worthy member-of a remarkable interna-
uonal family which traces its origin to the nobility
u the Baltic states in 1900. There have been
Uranches In Sweden Germany and Russia. OF the
swedish branch the most famous was Admiral Carl
uustav Wrangel, who commanded the Swedish ar
VIZ, III the last campaign Of the Thirty Years
war OF the German Wrnngels the best known
was the old Field Marshal Graf Wrangei
whose military career long and iustrious
among the Russian members OF the family there
- mat explorer who gave his name to Wrangel
Island on the north coast OF Eastern Siberia and
VINO Is linked with America through his services
as governor Of Alaska
zen. Baron Peter Wrangel the subject of this
sketch, began his career in the Russian army in
1911, enlisting in the Morse Guards regiment as
private after having been educated mining
engineer. He left the army a year later, follow.
ing promotion to lieutenancy, but reenlisted upon
the outbreak Of the RussoJapanese war, In which
ne was twice promoted for bravery. Subsequently
he was graduated from the General STAFF academy
and at the outbreak Of the World a cap
tain In command Of cavalry squadron.
For distinguished service with this command he
was decorated with the highest Russian military
order-the Cross Of st. George Promotion to the
rank of colonel followed he was appointed an aide
to the ear and later became commander of the
First Trans-Baikal Cossack regiment, with which,
In July, 1916 he captured entire battalion. He
was then made major general.
As division commander and later as CON-
mander Of a cavalry corps he continued with the
army until the disorders of the revolution had
completely undermined its morale. Then, with
many other Russian officers, he fed to the Cnuca.
sus. He was arrested by the bOlsheviki and mar.
rowly escaped execution The story Is told that
he escaped only through the heroic devotion Of his
wife. who followed him to prison and obtained his
release after persistent appeals.
In the summer of 1918, with the growth Of the
IA Ill he
a brigade under General Erdel. His chief fell III,
and Wrangel succeeding TO the command attained
the liberation OF the whole Of the north Caucasus
and the Terek state. He promoted to the
rank Of lieutenant general and given command Of
the Caucasian army.
Then came his test Of strength with the com.
mander in chief Of the volunteer army, General
Denikine Under Denikine, Wrangel commanded
the right wing OF the southern armies. He made
the brilliant capture of Tsaritsin the Volga and
later when II was too late, took command Of the
central armies which had been beaten on the front
nearest Moscow. When Denikne gave up the
struggle and departed he formally handed over
command of the southern armies to Wrangel AS
Denikine had previously acknowledged the Kol-
chalk government. Wrangel stands as the success.
sor of that government, which the United States
desired at one time to recognize, but whose weak.
ness prevented
General wrangel now holds that part of Rus
s,a rightly included In the government Of Taurida
His left is protected by the wide sweep Of the
Dn,eper as II turns southwest from Ekaterinoslav
INST Kherson the Black sea. His line to the east
roo ches the Sea Of Az0v at about Mariupol and
hevopd that stretch TO the east the territories
Of the Don Cossacks. hard fighting foes of the Dol
shevik regime and all It stands for To the south
of the Don Cossacks the territories Of the Ku-
ban Cossacks who fought with Denikine against
the Red armies, but later deserted their chief by
the thousands when they felt that their cherished
rights were being sacrificed by that leader. Wran-