New Britain herald., 1928-04-27
RECALLS MEETING
 RUSSIAN PATRIOT
Reporter, Then Soldier, I'm.
 pressed by Wrangel

Lee Lacrosse. now a member ot the Herald reportorial staff. had tn. pleasure of meeting Baron Peter Wrangei, former leader of the
 White army in Russia, who died Weonesday while in exile in Bel gium. Mir. Lacrosse was at that time with the Polish army fighting the hoisheHlks. His recollection of meet Ing Wrangel is told as follows:
 It was in the spring of 1920 tha, the writer of this article. then an adJutant or an artillery unit of the Polish forces fighting in Russia against the Bolsheviks, had the op- portunlty to come face to face with Baron Peter Wrangel, then con- mander of the Russian Whites"
 The writer and a number of men under him were ordered to make d private expedition into the enc mys territory to get information concerning their strength and repor, back 10 headquarters. IL was d dan Eerous mission as the territory was foreign and one never knew when and where he would come in con- tact with the enemy, who at that llme although waging war with Po- land. were disorganized band, '.ghtlng in guerilla sort of war 1are, and it was hard to distinguish soldier from a civilian.
 Approach to g village or town had to be done carefully and under cover. When the unit approached a good sized town in the southwestern district Of Russia. now part of Uk- ra1nta, the commander ordered a halt. while he and an escort of three rode in. leaving orders with the rest hat should they not come back within 15 minutes, to return to headquarters and report.
 They did not have to wait long, however. as one of the riders came back soon and gave orders to ride into town. They found troops in the town. but not the enemy's. type the visitors were used to come in con- tact with when fighting a battle with the Bolsheviks. For the great CT part they were men of intelli- gence, used to the hardships of war fare, with years of experience in the game behind them. While the troops were making their acquaintance with each other, the commander Of the expedition was at the headquar- ters of the White" army talking with their commander-in-c chief. Gen "ral Peter NokolaicWitch Wrangel He was at that time just . little over 40 years, tall and dark haired. His face bore traces of years of expo sure to all kinds of weather condi- lions during the trying times and ex- periences as a commander of fight ing units before the revolution and still harder times after the downfall of the czarist regime. He possessed a striking personality and an air about him which impressed one. There was no trace of selfishness about him. He was most democratic in his ways and as the writer later learned. his troops not only liked him but idolized him.
 From the conversation that took place 1t could be readily seen that the man was a dreamer of dreams which he hoped to realize. When asked whether he fought in an ef- fort to bring back monarchy in his country, he replied that he waged war against the then liberty-crazed Bolsheviks only as a protest against their unjust treatment of the intel ligentia. He knew then that he was lighting a losing battle and expressed his hope that Poland might be able to help him in realizing his dream of a united Russia.
 His officers and men were faith ful to him, but most of them were practically convinced that nothing could come of their waging war against such tremendous odds, ex- cept death. surrender or exile. Nevertheless they vowed that they would follow their leader as long as he wanted them and would either die with him on the field of battle, or go into exile.
 The unexpected but pleasant ex- perience of coming in contact with Nrangel by the writer ended after q consultation on what might be open territory where it would be safe for the expedition to operate. He gathered his men, gave the com mand ito horse" and after saluting the general who stood in the door way, dashed away taking away with him pleasant memories of his meet ing with this distinguished figure.