The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-05-20
DELAYED HONORS
FOR RICHARDSON
COMMANDER OF AMERICAN
FORCE IN NORTH RUSSIA RI.
NALLY Is GIVEN HIS MEDAL.
PERFORMED DIFFICULT TASK
Secretary Of War Weeks Takes Oc.
casion Also to AIlude to This OFF,
GERS Remarkably Valuable En0'-
neerinq Work in Alaska. -
BY EDWARD 3, CLARK

oy EO"AHD 3. NIAnN
WashiEgton.-In the Office Of the
secretary Of war a day or two ago.
Col. Wilds F. Richardson, who held
the rank Of brigadier general during
the great war, and who was the COM
'mander of the American troops at
iMurmansk and Archangel, North Rus
STA, toward the end of the year 1918
and in the subsequent fighting between
the allies and the Bolsheviki, was dec
grated with the Distinguished Serv-
ice Medal of the United States.
In presenting the medal Secretary
of War Weeks not only dwelt upon the
services OF the recipient in North Rus
sia, but spoke Of the commanding
work which he had done In Alaska dur
ling twenty years. service there when
he was engaged for almost all the
time in the work Of constructing roads
and trails. Colonel Richardson has
been an officer of the infantry during
his entire army career Of fOrty-three
years, but like all West Pointers he
Is trained engineer and it was his
Engineering ability which brought high
commentator while he was In Alaska.
The writer Of this was present at the
ceremony Of decorating Colonel Rich
ards0n, for the two were classmates
at West Point. l make no excuse for
telling something Of the services OF
this great soldier Of the American
army, nor do make any excuse for
,rtf inn IT tan
igiving him the Distinguished Service
Medal which he deserved for his high
work in North Russia.
The War department does not do
all things quickly. There are some
officers to whom it is still the inten-
ton to give decorations which they
won for services, but yet who do not
know the hour, or the day, or even
the month when they will be conferred.
Subordinate Decorated First.
It is rather curious to note that
while Colonel Richardson was recon-
mended for the Distinguished Service
Medal as soon as his work in North
Russia was completed, 1t was not con-
ferred upon him until after another
medal Of the same kind had been CIV
en- to one Of his subOrdinates upon
the Recommendation Of Colonel RICH
ardson, the subordinate having done
fine work, but of course having done
1T under the direction Of his commando
ling officer. This sort Of thing has hap
pened In the service on one or two
occasions, but the authorities are try
ling to prevent the repetition Of such
happenings which In their nature are
grotesque.
!, Some day the military story Of what
iour soldiers did in the Archangel sec
tor will be given to the world. There
were international complications and
there are still perhaps some interia-
itional reasons why the military his
tory Of the American expedition should
mot be told until little later but the
people can be assured that when the
whole story of this expedition Is given
ito the public, it will be one Of the
most interesting chapters Of the
Worlds war.
Difficult Work Well Done.
l. The citation which accompanied the
distinguished Service Medal which was
given Colonel Richardson declared
that the decoration was conferred for
exceptional meritOriOus and distin-
gulshed service as commanding gen
eral of the American Expeditionary
Forces in North Russia. Then there
was added statement to the effect
that in his skillful handling of many
difficult situations Richardson had per-
formed a signal service for his gov
ernment.
In that part Of the citation which
speaks Of the skillful handling Of
many difficult situations perhaps is to
be found one reason why as yet the
intimate history of the troubles in
North Russia, which brought about
allicd intervention, and the subsequent
appearance Of United States troops
In the northern field, has not been CIV
ell to the public.
The Americans not only handled
difficult situations skillfully in North
Russia, but they did considerable
fighting. General PershiQg assigned
Richardson to the work In North Rus
STA, not only because Of his known
ability rs an army officer, but because
he was accustomed to the ways Of the
northern peoples. 1t may seem a bit
curious to some persons. but the twen-
ty years experience Of this American
soldier in Alaska was Of extraordinary
value to him when he entered the field
I'm North Russia and did his work,
which was combination Of fighting,
reconstruction and Cancellation.
The American soldiers Of the Arch
angel expedition probably will be CIV
len a special ribbon for that service.
They suffered many hardships Of va
IriOus kinds and they fought just rs
well rs American troops fought else
(where, and it should be remembered
THAT this in large part was after the
|signing Of the armistlce in Novem-
lber, 1913.
Congress Misled by Propaganda.
Members Of congress apparently
tdo not know all that is going
lon in this country Of ours. Just
Inou, thn-, rro hainv ip,pnrt,,rod I'm