Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-02-02
Horses Stumble Along
in Slush Bestrode by
Downcast Troopers;
Many Are on Foot.
At Times Congestion
Reaches Dignity Of a
Traffic J a m, Writes
Paul Williams.
BY PAUL WILLIAMS.
Gable to Great Falls Daily Tribune
and Chicago Tribune.

Cable to Great Falls Daily Tribune
and Chicago Tribune.
Copyright.
Ncvorossisk, South Russia, Ian. i6.
via Paris. Feb. 1.-The retreat of the
once victorious armies Of Oenkine Is
one Of the great dramas of history. The
great center Of this movement when 1t
reached its height was Rostov on the
Don. We have reached N0ycrossisk
only after threading the vast cavaIcate
Of the retreat.
At R0st0v tens of thousands of arm
cd men for days streamed through this
city, down the hill and across the river
less road beyond. Dropping were the
heads of the hordes of horses that
stumble along through the slush of the
streets. Heavily the men sat in their
saddles. Some rode downcast in defeat
with no interest for the city which eight
months had been the seat of the Deni-
kline government. Others talked bois-
terously with their companions, perhaps
to hide their feelings from the rosy
checked girls who are scurryins along
in fur topped boots and are discussed
critically. St!ll others turn hostile eyes
upon those curious citizens who stop
to gaze at the surging wagons Of every
description that glide or rattle by with
a wide variety of burdens.
MANY ARE HOMELESS.
Men who have lost their horses
trudge along the sidewalks mostly with
no equipment except their rifles slung
across their shoulders or on a piece of
string. Thusly do all that remain of
General Donikine's forces pass.
Throughout the summer they hail
driven northward wiping from White
Russia the stain of Red. At the critical
a.1 how ct, hns- fall n.l md
for 90 days have been coming IN ever
increasing confusion.
The troops remind one of the south
ward flight of wild geese. From the day
light long into the moonlight the figures
move across the streets going through
the city. There are not more than 300
in the largest unit of the procession of
troops which | saw passing along Tagan
Rogskia. Most are in three scores and
fifties. The groups rode two or four
abreast. but most of the others travelled
in II happy go-ucky fashion, their colors
and standards torn.
Many dismounted and waited over for
their meal to come. 1t consisted largely
of bread with a piece Of cheese or of
hard sausage eaten on horseback. There
were Il few rolling kitchens and the
steam from their vent indicated they
contained cabbage soup.
There were hundreds of wagons Of the
type used by the Russian peasant and
the sleghs About 100 miles farther
south the latter were to be abandoned
altogether. At times the congestion
reached the dignity of traffic jam. The
vehicles carried refugees, officers and
women. feed for the horses. bedding.
food, cooking utensils. furniture and
Heterogeneous collections of impedimenta
which reflected the character of the
owners. After dark the artillery outfit
went by.
Finally came wagons. many seighs and
other wagons with machine guns. ra-
tions. blankets boots and overroats.
These were for men who plan iii vain
to attempt to hold the city. ! saw one
detail Of them marching in the direction
Of the enemy. There was a gray-hearded
colonel whose insignia was decorated
with an eagle az a regi ment Of the ear S
time. Behind him marched a student boy.
Young enough to be his grandson. On the
shoulders of each was rifle. There were
other colonels, railroad officials and
students in the ranks, but most were
students.
They have the courage Of their con
victions. They are the stuff that early
last wear rallied around the flag of
Alexoff and Dcnikine when they told the
allies they needed supplies not men. To-
day Benkines s need is again not men,
but soldiers.
We learned al night that Novo-
cherkasy. pride of the Don cossacks. had
been evacuated. The retreat became more
confused. Then the same was true of
Tagonrog where Dcnikine made his head
quarters. 4 local committee asked to take
over the government there pending the
arrival Of the holsheviki.
Trains from Noyochcrkasy arrived
loaded to the Limit Of the roofs of the
ears, lined with men and rifles. These
became known as Denikines roof riders.
The trains to the rear were too few and
far between to give more than standing
room only for those who had 10 position
or pull to get Il seat.