Evening star., 1939-07-09

received the British Distinguished Serv-
Ice Order. The French government
made him an officer Of the Legion of
Honor and give him the French War
Cross with Palm. From Imperial Rus
sia came the Order of st. Vladimir, Sec
ond class.
Before the war ended Ironside was in
Archangel, commanding the allied forces
in North Russia, charged with the task
of preventing the Germans seizing allied
war material.
Three months later the war ended,
but the British troops in Archangel were
told to fight on.
ironside's bitter account of the cam
paign in the Encyclopedia Britannica
describes the "demoralizing effect upon
all ranks when the troops he COM
manded learned that the Germans no
longer were the enemy and that the
Bolsheviks were the new adversary.
THE allied troops we're never again
quite clear as to the reasons for the
continuance of the fighting" he wrote.
The British troops were evacuated
from Russia at the end of the summer
of 1919. Ironside, then 38, was promoted
to major general and sent to Ismid to
command the British force in Anatolia,
where the late Kemal Ataturk was defy
ing the French and British armies and
beginning construction of his New
Turkey"
Back in Britain in 1922, Ironside was
made commandant Of the Army Staff
College at Camberley in Surrey, For
four years he trained officers for high
grade army posts Experts said his
methods made a deep impress on British
military thought.
World War veterans recall how Iron
side stalked through front-line trenches
in Flanders. always accompanied by
wound Scared bulldog. On the dogs
collar were the ribbon of the Mons Star,
most exclusive of British World War
medals and two wound badges.
One legend says Ironside, disguised as
German, frequently crossed no-mans
land al night into the German lines and
returned before dawn.
In 1921, while commanding the British
North Persia force, 1ronside picked from
his ranks the man destined to become
Shah of Persia (noW Iran).
Ironside had to find commander for
his native troops before leaving for home.
With anarchy reigning in Teheran, the
native troops formed the only regular
army in Persia.
Picks Husky n. c. o.
1ronside strobe swiftly down the ranks
in search Of a suitable successor. He
passed all the native oficers without
pausing, but stopped before husky nom
commissioned officer almost as big as
himself.
whats your name?" he barked
"Riza Kahn, sir" the man barked back
You'll do" Ironside snapped.
Four years later Riza Khan, peasant
and half Cossack, half bandit, occupied
the peacock throne of Persia vacated
by the deposed Ahmad Shah.
Ironside stamped out many mutinies
several times escaped assassination.
The British Army's best linguist, IRON
side is qualified interpreter in seven
languages, Is said to have broad knoWl-
edge of 20. Among those he speaks we'll
are French, German, Dutch, Norwegian,
Russian, Magyar Hindustani Persian
Arabic and Flemish
Ironside long has been an almost leg
endary figure in the British Army. Most
soldiers know his great hulking figure,
broad-jaWed face with close cropped
mustache, his thinning iron-gray hair
and the steely eyes that strike terror in
the hearts of officers and privates alike.
Many of his sayings have become
famous in British military circles.
THE British genius is for improvisa-
ton, but will there be time for impro-
visation in the next war?"
do not blame the stupid general too
much. Remember that soldiers cannot
learn their trade in peace time"
"One of the great tactical problems of
today is how to cover the last TO yards
to the enemy's position"