The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-19
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF
us, INTERVENTION AGAINST
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

battle equipment, brought up 10 the front lines,
went forward in a charge against the Reds and
kept right going latter hosting white flags
during the charged till they reached the Red
lines and disappeared with much shouting and
laughter!
Yes, indeed, they took all the equipment. 4! ..
On the arrival Of the allied forces at Arch
angel the Reds had retreated to Pinega on the
Right, to Omega on the left leach city about 40
miles from ArchangeD and to ShenkurSk on the
South. The rivers flow northerIy in this region
to the White Sea and Arctic Ocean. Shen-
kursk was 200 miles from Archangel This was
the Front an inverted V-cone. The railroad ran
due south from Archangel midway between the
Dvina and Omega rivers.
General Poole, the English commander
chief, was getting the Allied forces into all
sorts OF predicaments with his "shavetail" Of
ficers. On one occasion the captain Of the Brit
ish monitor operating on the Dvina River swag-
gered into the American quarters, and loudly
demanded:
Where are the bloody Bolsheviks, and which
is the way to Kotlas?"
This officer had made himself particularly
obnoxious TO the Americans on all occasions,
and he has promptly given the information he
geant in charge of that outpost (who promptly
sent a wigwag to the Bolsheviks by some mem
bers Of his company who had an old score to
settle with this officer as well as rapidly
developing sympathy for the Bolsheviks).
The noble Admiral steamed haughtily up the
river and found the Reds: who promptly heaved
a shell into him amidships, killing seven, wound
ing 49,. and His Noble Highness, commander
Of f1n hoft1 srJIo6 tloI
the river as fast as his crippled engines and the
current could carry him! When next wanted,
he was tied up snugly-and immovably-far to
the rear!
Shortly after this incident General Edmund
Ironsde, who had been especially selected"
replaced General Poole as English commander
in-chief The Americans promptly named him
~Old Tinribs." He was as stupid and naughty as
Poole.
All winter the outpost fighting continued:
there was never a regular pitched battle; we
fought in groups Of TO $50 men; we lost three
or four men to each skirmish; the Reds lost
more, due to the Springfields outrsnging their
arms. The British G. H @ ordered us to take
this or that point or village. Sometimes we did;
often not. Nearly all the British officers and
many Of the American officers remained at
Archangel-where 10000 cases Of whiskey were
cached!
Company Refuses TO Fight
Back in Archangel, L Company who had been
sent back for rest were ordered to return 20
the front. They refused
A Jason and G. II. Q. officer told me at this
time many mutinieS and near-mutinies were
being reported, but were Immediately censored
and ignored 1t would be interesting to know
how many actually occurred among the scattered
detachments and units from Pinega to Shen-
kursk to Omega and back TO the base at Ar
changed.
In fact, by April 2, 1919 the rage and actions
Of the enlisted men as well as some Of their
officers had become so great that General wIlds
B. Richardson, former commander In Alaska
arrived to sound retreat. No shots were fired
against the Reds after that. in fact, in many
cases none had been fired for several months.
In the next sixty days we were placed on
ships and sent home, leaving over 200 killed
and having $50 wounded with us and those who
died OF sickness, are, as usual not listed in such
little affairs
We learned many things that were unexplain-
able at that time. We have learned that the
men we fought as enemies were our best friends
We have learned that those who sent us against
the Reds were hypocrits, liars and towards T.
in the pay of the millionaire class, or their
blind dupesl
And WHEN THE NEXT TIME COMES
WE HAVE LEARNED MUCH THAT
WE SHALL NOT FORGET 3!