AUSTRALIANS IN RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17254, 2 September 1919, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS IN RUSSIA.

BOLSHEVIKS PUT TO ROUT. VALUABLE BOOTY TAKEN. LONDON. Aug. 1. During the recent fighting on the Archangel railway front a handful of Russian gunners, with a detachment of Australians, defeated and scattered an immensely superior force of Bolsheviks. The Australians recently came out with the 46th Fusiliers, since unofficially renamed " The Australian Detachment," in recognition of their services. Three hundred Bolsheviks had raided the railway and occupied the forward blockhouses. The British forces arrived a few hours later, immediately attacked, and continued operations unceasingly for GO hours.

A patrol was sent out and pursued the Bolsheviks for nine miles, on which the' gunners took over the line, attacked at two o'clock in the morning of July 23, captured all objectives, and relieved a company of Russian Rifles under a British officer, who had been cut off and had been gallantly holding out for 17 hours. A Russian officer reported seeing 800 Bolsheviks. A British major collected a party of 91 men, including 61 Australians, with four Lewis guns and one trench mortar.' Machine-guns Charged. The party followed the tracks of the enemy until they reached a clearing. The scouts reported three outposts, whereupon the British force split into two parties, and on either side of the clearing advanced in semi-extended order till the enemy opened fire from six machine-guns. These were engaged by our Lewis gunners, and the enemy crews killed or silenced. Taking advantage of this, the British, despite the odds of twelve to one, attacked like one man with the greatest determination.

The British troops doubled for 1500 yards, with little opposition, until the enemy camp was reached, and engaged the enemy with rifles and Lewis guns. Then they were attacked on both sides and in the rear. They formed square and charged. The Bolsheviks, terror-stricken, fled in all directions, except the machinesmnners, who were shot or bayoneted at their guns. One Australian Lewis-gunner had both thighs smashed, and was badly wounded in the head, but foutrht on. The British remained in the captured position for three hours and then retired to their own lines, the ammunition being very short. The British major commanding the expedition was shot at six times at an average range lof 40 vards, but was hot hit. The enemv j had 53 killed. The British had only thre'a wounded. Among the enemy killed was i I commissary, whose pockets were crammed with money.

No Finer Body of Men. The booty included every accessory for ! demolition purposes, telephones, 20 miles of telephone wire, 45001b of explosives with time and electric fuses, and absolutely complete equipment for modern warfare. Prisoners stated that the British had just forestalled an attack designed to capture the whole front. The Australians have requested the British gunner-major commanding operations to command them. Th's request he ha's accepted. A draft of 300 Russian offirers trained in England is arriving at Archangel shortly. Of nearly 200 Australians who were discharged from the Australian Imperial Forces to join the Russian Relief Force, 104 have actually enlisted, and it appears that tli#>y are now in Archangel as machine-fanners. The War Office states that the Archangel force contains no finer [ men. It is understood that there have been no Australian casualties so far.

Senator Pearce, Australian Minister for Defence, states that he receives no information regarding the men. who are now entirely under War Office conditions as to discharge, the Commonwealth having been relieved of responsibility.