ARCTIC CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 10

ARCTIC CAMPAIGN

TROOPS ON MURMAN COAST.

Accounts from the Murman coast show that tho '"Allied troops there were in good health and condition in March last, while everything possible was being done by tho military authorities to alleviate tho inevitable discomforts of extreme cold combined with the Arctkr 20-hour ,night.

Cinema entortainments and concerts were frequently organised, while an extensive naval and military canteen, with branches at every important military st-a--tion, supplemented the special rations supplied to the troops. Winter sports of all kinds wore in full swing, especially ski-ing, while rough shooting; was also to be had on the-hills and in the frozen swamps bordering thu railway. Tho special fur clothing supplied to the fcroopa proved efficient in the extreme cold, and comparatively few cases of frostbite occurred.

The Allied troops, consisting of British, French, Italian, and Serbian detachments with Russian, volunteer regiments, were occupied in garrisoning . the 350-mile stretch of tho Murman railway under tho AlHos' control, while volunteer troops, recruited from the Red Finns and the Karelians, aad administered by British officers, were distributed along the- Finnish frontier to guard against any incursions.

The . supplies; for these outposts were sent up from railhead, sometimes a. distance of 200 miles, by • reindeer sledges, driven in many cases by the men's own womenfolk, two ot whom have already received the Military Medal for gallant conduct in repelling an enemy. raid on a food convoy. * Tho port o£ Murmansk is free from icoall the year round, and the troops receive mails throughout the winter, whoreas at Arohangel the forco is completely cat off for six months from tho outside world.

Inter-communication, between the two forces, which are under tho joint command of General Ironside, is by aeroplane. Major Sir Ernest Shaokleton is attached to General Mayjiard's headquarters in the capacity of adviser on Arctic equipment, while a special force of Canadian officers and N.C.O.'a, all experienced in Klondike conditions, is attached to the force in the capacity of instructors in. Arctib life.