Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: SEPTEMBER 14, 1913.
11 B
British Were in Complete Command Over All Allied Forces
North Against the Bolsheviki
Fighting in Russia's
Rations, Ammunition and All Supplies of
Yank Troops Were Furnished By Britain;
While France Equipped U.S. Men With Rifles
Great Many of England's Officers in Archangel District Had been bervice in
France and Because of Unfitness for Duty in Flanders Were Sent to Russia's
Steppes Quite a Number of Them Had to Be Sent Home Because of Incom
petency and Drunkenness While Proper Food Was Almost Unobtainable,
Thousands of Cases of Liquor of All Kinds Were Shipped Into Russia and ,
; Sold to the Men of the Allied Campaign Forces. .
.'
This is the conclusion of an article by Albert E. May, Omaha attorney, who served
' the United States during the war and after the signing of the armistice until the early sum
mer of this vear in the frozen, all-year-round-winter-region of Russia's north. In this last
chapter of the vivid description of the life of America's youths on the snow-covered steppes
nf t h Archangel district. Mr. May tells how the British were in complete charge of the ex
pedition and how our men were fighting under the direction of British second lieutenants,
who, in order to outrank the American officers, have been promoted to lieutenant colonels
j l: i I. 1
yana even nigner raima.
By ALBERT E. MAY, Omaha I published in Archangel by the Red
v-nrmi-rtv rirt i iret.-ni.nt. romnnny l. ! Cross for the benefit of American
Frozen
it
8.1 J I h Infantry, American t'orcr In Ruosia.
Having been defeated on all
(rr.utc thp linUlieviki set-mcd con
tent to take it easy, and the Ameri
can, urrp iii tm enia cements after
May 1. By this time some 30
companies ot Russians had been
organized and a brigade of
British troops had arrived, and
the American troons were re
lieved during the month of May.
Thus ended nine months of guerrila
warfare for the Americans nine
months of constant fighting and
hardships and the respite, so long
looked for, was at hand.
Of course, this is only a general
ization f the operations. Space
docs not permit a detailed descrip
tion of the minor engagements, or
even a mention, though each had
their individual significance to the
whole campaign.
While speaking of the campaign,
I wish to say a few words for the
310th engineers. They were scat
tered everywhere over this vast
northern front. They built block
houses and bridges and ba;racks.
Thev dug trenches and strung barb
Id wtrc; they repaired, engines and
operated sawmills: they were on all
fronts, doing a hundred and one
odd jobs to help out the infantry.
Yes, and they fought, too dropped
their tools as they had done at
Cambrai in France, and fought with
rifle side by side with the doughboy.
American Losses Slight.
An unofficial report of losses.
taken from tlie May Jl nuniDer 01
r f lencan .tinel. a newspaper
FRANK MACH
Violinist
Produces Results
Phone Douglas 1952
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
L T D HARP
' o V" E SCHOOL
RA l l Harp
-II lid Furnithtd
if 1 If I 308 Lyric Bidf.
'A JLm Pbona Doug. 0704
Borglum Piano School
2661 DOUGLAS STREET
August M. Borglum and Madame
Borglum (Pupils of Waiter Swyne).
Ear Training, Sight Beading and Pub
lie Performance.
Fall Term Open Monday, Sept. 8th.
Will L. Hetherington,
- VIOLIN
Sudio, Baldrige Bldg.
troops in north Kussia, stated mat
the casualties of killed, wounded,
died of disease and other causes,
and prisoners, was 20 officers and
5-16 men. This list was published
before a complete return of casual
ties was in,' and the figures do not
include men incapacitated from
duty or invalided home as a direct
result pf campaign or campaign
conditions, such as shell shock,
rheumatism, frozen and trench feet,
dysentery, etc. A conservative esti
mate of such cases would be from
300 to 450.
As I have stated before, the Brit
ish were in complete charge of the
north Russian expedition, and every
thing pertaining to it. Great Britain
furnished all of the food, ammuni
tion, equipment and supplies in fact
everything. The United States did
not even ration its own troops. In
the beginning of the campaign the
British had few fighting troops in
north Russia, but they did have a
great many officers and noncommis
sioned men. Americans everywhere
were under the command of Brit
ish, and at first there was a good
bit of ill feeling between the Eng
lish and the Americans.
A great many of these English of
ficers had seen service in France.
Many had been shell shocked or
wounded and were perhaps unfit
for front line service in France.
Quite a number were sent home
quite early in the campaign, and it
was hinted that incompetency and
drunkenness were the reasons. It is
significant to note that thousands of
cases of liquors of all kinds were
shipped to Russia, but proper food
and equipment could not be brought.
Young Officers Promoted.
Second lieutenants in the British
army would be made captains, maj
ors and even lieutenant colonels
(without pay and allowance) so they
would rank Americans. If there
happened to be an American officer
of equal rank with a British officer
at the same place, the British officer
immediately got a promotion (with
out pay and allowances). As one
American- officer put it "the British
played lieutenant colonel or no
count." In every branch of the serv
ice the British always managed to
have an officer of higher rank than
the highest ranking American officer.
MAE WETHERILL
Representative teacher for Effa Ellis
System of keyboard Harmony and
Theory as applied to piano study.
Demonstration free by appointment.
Suite 16 and 17, Arlington Block.
Phone Dougla 701.
HAZEL TRUE
Accompanist and
Teacher of Piano and Harmony.
Graduate of Chicago Musical
College.
Telephone: South 2448.
Jifllllitiil!il!iliitiilHtHi!liilnliiiiliii!!iiiiilMi:"liiv!iluiniiti:iul!il'ilil"HliiiiH''i!i;ii!il'il.iini"r!
1 POPULAR MUSIC AND RAGTIME PIANO PLAYING
- ' Positively taught in twenty lessons Original Christensen System. Imitators s
can copy the substance of our advertising, but they cannot copy our system. T
5 Christensen schools of popular murie located in all large cities from "Coast s
a to Coast.'" Established in Chicago, 1903. by Alex Christensen.
t THE "CZAR OF RAGTIME" S
Phone Walnut 3379 Omaha Studio, 4225 Cuming -S
Call or Writ for Free Booklet.
e'.irtlllli'lJ.:liitiiln:i::: IHI':;iil'-l''l''ti'IMI'!lnlriinliilMIMIniiiitiii:li;i;ti:tiilHt'i!'tiiliinnii;iiilii
liiMiilitniiitiiiii!iw
5 I I
Adelaide L. Fogg
i Announces Opening of Studio of I
I Artistic and Ball Room Dancing f
in Blackstone Hotel
I After September 29, Phone Residence, Harney 5992, or
I Blackstone Hotel for Appointments I
litlUlllnl!iKil
jlrlilluliili.iuliiliil.'l.iliiiiilittiilrlslnl1 l!,liili;lni!l!ili:iniiil::li:l..ll:l"l:.liJ,Ji'.ili1ii:iimf!
tlilnt!'l:l'l'i'il'il.t!:l !!r''l''a::t'iSiiS:;e:ii::f iilMl ri'iiiiii'iiltiiliil'iiiril'-liili'lPS'-ttiBi'SS'iSiitiitiitt'S!
Chicago Grand Opera!
i Auditorium
& Aida La Bohemej
1 Sale of SEASON seats is beginning to- 1
; morrow (Monday) morning. Sept 15th, at
All operations were conducted by
the English, even on fronts where
they had no troops actually fight
ing. I do not mean that American
officers were deprived of their com
mands, but they were always sub
ordinated to British officers. The
British controlled the policy toward
the civilian population, the transport,
the cable, the censorship, the food
supplies everything. Even the sta
tionery used by the Americans bore
the imperial crown, and the envel
opes bore across the face in bold
black letters "On His Majesty's Ser
vice." ' Communiques received from
the British were at times labeled to
"The King's Own 339th." No won
der the troops often joked about be
ing a part of the king's army.
As the English controlled the
cables and censorships, they let out
only such news and reports as they
saw fit, and told the troops just such
news as they wanted the troops to
know.
Have Plenty of Clothes.
Even in the Arctic circle, the
Yanks never had any kick coming
about clothing. There was plenty
of it, and where there was suffering
it was more on account of the lack
of transport than of supply. The
clothing was designed by Sir Ernest
Shakelton, the Anarctic explorer,
and consisted of the Shakleton boot,
heavy fur coats and cans, lumber
man's sox, leather vests, mitts, snow
goggles, sleeping bags, skiis, snow
shoes, mufflers, sweaters, etc.
1 The worst thing we had to con
tend with for a long time was the
inability to get proper fighting
equipment. When we first hit the
front line all we had was the Rus
sian rifle. Finally we got hold of
a couple of Lewis guns per com
pany. A French major stated it
was a disgrace the way we were
equipped, and he gave us some
Chauchat automatics, some French
rifles and tromblons, and some rifle
and hand grenades. We had no
men trained to operate them, but a
little thing like that didn't matter
when our lives were at stake. There
seemed to be plenty of equipment at
j
lttet fine To
the base, but the red tape was so
thick and the communication so
poor that one could not get hold of
it. We appealed frantically to our
"titular" commander at Archangel,
but got no . encouragement or ac
tion. In fact our comander was on
our front not over two times during
the entire nine months' fighting. The
men were very skeptical as to
whether or not he really had much
interest in what was going on. I
just want to cite one instance of the
way things worked out. An offi
cer's pistol, lost in action on No
vember 4, and immediately requisi
tioned for, was finally replaced on
March 30, the following.year. Is it
any wonder that the men gut dis
couraged? After Major General Ironsides
(British), took command, conditions
became better, and we finally got
plenty of ordnance equipment.
Rations Very Limited.
When it came to eating, the Yank
in north Russia struck a snag. He
had been accustomed to the Ample
American ration, and the British ra
tion didn't appeal to him or satisfy
him even ftvhen he ot it all, which
was very seldom during the first few
months. In September we never
got sufficient to eat. The men were
always hungry, and they could buy
nothing. We got bully beef, hard
tack aad tea in small quantities
three times a day. A company
would get perhaps a quarter of beef
once a week, and maybe enough
jam and bread for one meal a day,
but it was impossible to get enough
to feed the men what they needed
to combat the sever climatic condi
tions and continued exposures. They
complained pittifully of constant
hunger.
After October 1, the ration got
better. We received some rice and
oatmeal, peas or beans, canned milk,
and occasionally coffee. We also
got lard and oleomargarine, ' and
marmite and pea soup in powder
and some dried vegetables, which
the men would not eat. There were
no potatoes or fresh vegetables or
fruits of any kinds. The men were
forced to take lime juice, a substi
tute for vegetable and fruit acids,
to prevent scurvy, a loathsome dis
ease. Tobacco was issued once a
week. After November I we were
able to buy some food from the
English canteens. The men spent
from $300 to $500 per week out of
their own pockets for food to sup
plement their rations. Later the
Red Cross made some issues cf oat
meal, canned milk, sugar, chocolate,
cigarets, etc., and the Y. M. C A.
established canteens, which the
men beseiged at every opportunity
Rum was distributed in the front
lines, but was barred to American
troops after December 1. The ra
tion was the one thing the American
did not get "fed up on" in north
Russia. The number of heat calor
ies necessary to sustain a person
and the number required to make
him satisfied and contented, are two
quite different and distinct things
Transportation Very Poor.
The forces in north Russia had
no transport of their own. Civilian
Russians had to be hired. There
were no good roads nothing but
mere trails through the woods. In
the fall, when it rained incessantly,
many of these trails were prac
tically impassable. Horses and feed
were scarce, and the Russian con
veyances very primitive. The small
Siberian ponies often dropped dead
on the road from shere starvation.
Supplies had to be transported over
land for distances up to 400 miles
It was a hard, trying task to keep
supplied the troops scattered over
that vast territory, and much of the
suffering was caused by the inabil
ity to get proper transport o move
supplies quickly.
I don't know what the "Y" did in
France, but their work in Russia de
serves the highest praise. The "Y"
labored under the same difficulties
that the troops had to contend with
Its representatives followed the
troops everywhere, even to the re
motest outpost and dugout, bring
ing cheer and comfort to the men
They distributed writing material,
candy, cigarets, etc. When an out
fit came from the front or a long
hike, the "Y" was always ready
with hot cocoa, which they distrib
uted free of charge. The workers
were fearless and courageous big.
open-hearted men, doing big men's
work. The Y. W. C. A. conducted
a hostess house in Archangel, and
the women took turns assisting the
Y. M. C. A. on some of the fronts.
The Red Cross did excellent
work among the civilian population
throughout the occupied territory.
They also furnished many comforts
to the man, and made frequent is
sues of food whenever it was pos
sible. Reds Well Equipped.
The Bolo had better fighting
equipment than the allies, and more
of it. He always had a vast su
periority of machine guns and ar
tillery, and he knew how to use
them. He had observation balloons
and one pounders, "pom poms" and
grenades, howitzer!? and "Archies."
He had plenty of airplanes, but few
good aviators. John Bolo never
went on a patrol without stringing
telephone wire. Telephones seemed
to be one of his hobbies.
Eighty per cent of the ammuni
tion he threw at us bore the "U.
S." mark. He even had Browning
machine guns; at least he left be
hind after one fight, some Brown
ing gun barrels.
If there is an impression that the
Russian is not a fighter, let rhe cor
rect it at once. When men march
in lines in the face of machine guns,
counting their steps as they ad
vance, and when they keep coming
after line upon line has been wiped
out, they have courage. The Bolo.
for the most part, fought hard and
exceedingly well. At other times he
fought only passively. Prisoners
told of the starvation, disease and
turmoil in interior Russia, that they
were forced to fight; that they were
forcibly taken from their families
and pushed into the army; that their
wives and children could get food
only if the bread winner served in
the" Red army. The army got the
best of everything, the non-combatants
scarcely anything. I have
wished a thousand times that those
in this country who have listened
to or read bolshevik propaganda
could talk for a few moments with
these starved Russians who had
been subjected to the "Red terror."
The Black Sea sailors were cruel
and merciless fighters. They gave
no quarter and asked none. They
plundered and mutilated, and even
fought among themselves. The
Letts were also hard fighters. Ger
man leaders might have led some
of the bolshevik army, but not on
the front we were on. On the river
fronts there were some international
regiments, composed of Chinese,
ex-Siberian political prisoners and
bolsheviks from other countries.
On these fronts prisoners were tor
tured and mutilated during the first
part of the campaign. Moscow and
Petrograd regiments had many boys
in them, and were less disciplined
than the other troops. Many of
them deserted and came into our
lines.
The Bolo -didn't seem to enter
tain any great hatred toward the
Americans. Perhaps his attitude was
propaganda, which, in the printed
form, he distributed freely. His
patrols scattered it in the woods.
His airplanes dropped it from the
skies. On the Kadish front he placed
large painted signs and banners on
the banks of the Emtsa, where the
Americans in the front lines could
read them. He had orators, who,
at night, would speak across the
river (no man's land) to the Amer
icans. These orators asked many
pertinent questions. They inquired
of the Yanks why they were in Rus
sia fighting, when the fighting had
stopped in France and Germany.
They asked the Americans why they
were down on the front fighting for
the English. They stated that Amer
ica had not declared war on them,
nor their government on America,
and they wanted to know if the
Americans expected to get a slice
of their country. They even brought
one of our prisoners down to the
river bank and had him tell his
American comrads how well he was
being treated. And all this time
the American doughboy couldn't an
swer back. What could he say? His
country didn't tell him why he was
there? Wasn't the war over?
The Bolo treated American pris-
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a great deal better than the Bolof American combatted. Whole com
tu. ii;-. panies were cited in orders. lh(
prisoners were treated by the allies
American prisoners were generally
taken to Moscow and given the free
dom of the city. They were taken
to lectures and given passes to the
theaters. The Bolo even gave them
30 cents a day pocket money! And
he even permitted some American
prisoners and Y. M. C. A. men to
unconditionally leave the country.
Reds Very Courteous.
On - the railroad front and the
Kadish front, several conferences
were held with the Bolo in relation
to the exchange of prisoner! and
he was always courteous. Each time
he brought along a bunch of printed
propaganda, which he'asked to have
distributed among the troops. At
one time he captured a British chap
lain, but allowed him to retutn to
our lines after a few days.
It must be remembered that these
men were fhe fighting men of bol
shevik Russia, cursed with the false
ideals pictured to them by the
bloody octopus at Moscow.
The kast that can be said of the
Americans in North Russia is:
"They did their best." For nine
months they were continually fight
ing. The 339th infantry probably
saw more real action than the ma
jority of outfits in France. But un
der what different circumstances.
The weather was t abominable. In
the fall it rained every day, and the
only shelter the men had was what
they could construct with their shel
ter halves and the boughs of pine
trees. They were always wet, ill
fed and cold. For several days
the men never saw the sun, and it
was light from about 10 in the morn
ing until 2 in the afternoon. The
thermometer dropped to 50 and bO
degrees below zero. There' were
no reinforcements, and not sufficient
men to properly hold the lines of
communication, and there was al
ways the fear of being cut off and
surrounded. Small detachments were
often dispatched to lone posts in
the woods 20 or 30 miles from the
main bddy. The enemy always had
a vast superiority in numbers.
Why Were They Fighting.
Before the armistice there was at
least some incentive something to
tight for. After the armistice the
men often asked why they were
fighting. They felt like they had
been forgotten by their own coun
try. Everything they received was
from another country. Their own
country didn't seem to even know
just where they were. If -the reports
got through, "then why didn't the
United States do something," they
asked. "Why didn't they send re-
inforcements. why didn't they come
out and tell the boys what was
keeping them in Russia?"
-V !
panies were cited in orders. I lie
Yanks fought for their lives.. There
were scores of cases of individual
bravery and heroism, such as befit
true Americans. England and
France bestowed many decorations
on the Americans. The provincial
government of Archangel wanted to
decorate every American who -had
fought in Russia, but the offer wai
turned down by our "titular" com
mander. Don't Get Along.
There is no denying that the
American and the English in north
Russia didn't exactly hitch, but
that the American got along much
better with the French and Rus
sians. Perhaps the misunderstand
ings that cropped out from time to
time were due to the differences in
ideals, environment and the mode
of thinking. Trie individual experU
ence of each man in Russia is some
thing he probably would not ex
change for the experience he might
have received in France, yet he will
always have a strange feeling about
those boys whom he left behind in
that cold bleak land.
War itself is an atrocity. It is
an enormous undertaking. Mis
takes are bound to occur. In the
stress of big things, small under-,
takings are bound to be lost sight
of. Now that it is all over, the boys
have come out of it with the satis
faction of having done what the
United States wanted them to do
and having done it well.
L A. Hospe
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Co. I
MUSIC
i
By HENRIETTA M. REES.
THE outstanding feature of the
week from a musical standpoint
w as the appearance of Clarence
Eddy in two organ recitals at the
Kountze Memorial church. This
church has long been noted for its
excellent choir under the direction of
Mr. John Helgren and the new
organ which Mr. Eddy dedicated
will be a valuable additional asset
in the beauty of its services. The
importance of the organ in the mak
ing or marring of an otherwise beau
tiful religious service is being felt
more and more keenly by the pro
gressive churches of the present day.
This is partly due to the many re
cent improvements in the toi.struc
tion of organs which not only make
them easier to play, but of wider
tonal possibility both as accompany
ing or solo instruments. It is also
perhaps due to a certain extent to
the fact that recently in many
churches the minister and choir
master are co-operating more closely
in order that the result will be an
entire well balanced service and not
two separate and distinct portions
of a service, one perhaps good, the
other poor.
The organ through its improve
ments is becoming more and moie
a concert instrument, and when
churches which possess these won
derful instruments, generously open
their doors in order that the general
public may have the opportunity of
hearing them purely from a musical
standpoint, they are usually re
warded with packed auditoriums.
Many of the greatest musical
masterpieces are contained in organ
literature, and a familiarity and ap
preciation of these can only be
gained by hearing them under favor
able circumstances.
Mr. Eddy has long held an en
viable place not only nationally, but
internationally among organists. For
many years he has toured both in
this country and elsewhere as a
concert organist. He has recently
made a five-year engagement as
head of the organ department of the
Chicago Musical college, with free
dom to concertize as much as he
desires. This brings Mr. Eddy back
from the Pacific coast to a head
quarters in the middle west.
The coming of the Chicago Opera
company to Omaha is always an
event of musical importance. This
year the dates chosen are October
20 and 21, and the operas to be pre
sented are "Aida" and "La Boheme."
Both of these operas have endured
the test of timeand familiarity. The
more fanvliar one becomes with the
music of opera, the more one en
joy jUw diverse beauties oi it.
"Aida" is one of the most gorgeous
operas ever conceived. Lavish with
a wealth of melody, the music pos
sesses the usual skill of construction
and charm of line which is found in
the Verdi masterpieces. "La Bo
heme" is considered by many as
Puccini's greatest masterpiece, its
poignant beauties even surpassing
those of "Madame Butterfly."
One usually sees opera several
times before one hears it, and it is
for this reason, and for the many
beauties of the music when they are
heard, that the familiar operas re
tain their great hold upon the mind
and heart of the public. Among the
stars who will be awaited with in
terest by the musical coterie is Rosa
Raisa, the dramatic soprano of the
company, who created a sensation
in Chicago and in the New York
performances of the company. The
Omaha engagament will be held in
our beautiful (?) municipal Audi
torium. "I wouldn't have my boy taught
grammar at all, if I had my way."
"That's a strange i'lea. Why not?"
"I intend that he shall be a writer
of popular songs." Boston Tran
script via Musical Courier.
Musical Notes.
Lena Ellsworth Dale, soprano,
announces the opening of her studio
for the coming season at 516 Kar
bach block. Mrs. Dale also an
nounces four widely differing recital
programs, now ready for presenta
tion. Herbert Schmidt, pianist and
teacher, has returned to the faculty
of the University School of Music at
Lincoln after a leave of war absence,
during which time he was in service
abroad in the United States navy.
Luella Allen has returned from
her summer vacation and will short
ly reopen her studio.
The Nebraska Weslevan Univer
sity Conservatory of Music bulletin
has been received. This conserva
tory, under the tireless direction of
that efficient musician, Carl Beutel,
has worked out a full and system
atic plan for instruction. A gen
eral plan of grades is pursued, it
being pointed out, however, that the
number of years for any grade can
not be epecifieed, since so much de
pends upon the ability and prepara
tion of the student Courses of in
struction upon the principle musi
cal instruments, as well as theoreti
cal subjects, are presented.
The annual announcement of the
Red Oak (la.) Conservatory of
Music outlines courses of study in
piano, voice and orchestral and
band instruments, leadim: to teach
ers' certificates and graduation. The
names of Miss Garnett Farrell Rog
ers, a pupil of Jean Gilbert Jones
and Cecil Berryman, and. Mrs. Eva
Kerrlhard. a nupil of Mr. Frank
Mach, appear upon the acuity list I
AK-SAR-B
Sept. 24 to Oct. 4
Middle Vest's Big Entertainment
Plan now to come to Omaha on the above dates and
enjoy yourself.
A cordial invitation is extended to every visitor to
inspect the
New Packing Plant
OF THE
Skinner Packing Company
This plant is pronounced by experienced packing
house men to be the most modern and efficient plant
ever built. The plant is a credit and an asset to this
great Missouri Valley territory and of a direct benefit
and interest to every farmer, stockman and banker of
Omaha's tributary territory.
CALL TYLER 3483.
Skinner Packing
Company
Plant On Our 40-acre Tract, South Side. Omaha.
General Offices First Natl Bank Bldg.. Omaha. "
Branch House and Produce Bldg.. 12th and
Douglas Sts., Omaha.
M aw M
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