AUSTRALIANS IN RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17293, 17 October 1919, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS IN RUSSIA.

USED AS STORM TROOPS. » SIX WEEKS OF FIGHTING. HOW A MUTINY WAS QUELLED By Telegraph Press Association— Copyright. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Oct. 15. The Australian "Press Association interviewed a high officer from North Russia. He gives unreserved praise to the bravery of the Austra- l lians, who fought for six weeks on i I the Archangel railway front with j ; the Vologda force under Genera! ; ! Turner. They arrived at the front ion July 21 at a critical moment when a Bolshevik attack, coupled . with a Russian mutiny stimulated by : Bolshevik propaganda, was in full ; swing. General Turner's force of j 10,000 was divided into three seci tious, the central force of British, on the railway and the right and left flanks, consisting of Russians with a sprinkling of British advisory officers. The right flank was on the Onega River. Unexpectedly the Russians mutinied,' arresting their officers and sending 20 British officers to Moscow.

Surprise Attack Foiled. It was expected that the troubl would extend to other sectors. I was grappled with in time, howevei, , by disarming the Russians and threatening them that every tenth J man would be shot every half hour until the ringleaders were given up. The mutineers then disclosed the ringleaders, and these were promptly shot. The Australians, under Captain Newbolt, who served with the New Zealanders in France, hurriedly arrived with other reinforcements when the position was very gloomy. The Bolsheviks were attacking along the entire front, and the Australians immediately went in and j performed a great part in stopping I the attack. The Australians quickly ; located over a battalion of 80l- ! ;-heviks hiding in a wood preparing a surprise attack on the British flank. The entire Australian force, | 100 strong, including machine-gun- I hers, went out, and after a few ; minutes of outpost fighting, the real ! battle opened, and the Bolsheviks j were surprised and dispersed. I During the battle the Australians | feared that they would be over- j I whelmed owing to the numbers of j the Bolsheviks, but they killed a ■ good many and took a few prisoners, ! upsetting the Bolsheviks' plans and j ending the mutiny among the Russians. Casualties Under Thirty. In the subsequent period the Australians were holding the line at times, carrying out reconnaissances and doing much daring individual work, but the staff regarded them as exceptional shock troops and employed them with English units in the most important sector during the final attack on August 29, to facilitate the evacuation. The Australians, with 100 English troops, stormed the Bolshevik gun positions, capturing 10 guns and 300 prisoners. It was during this attack that Sergeant Pearce cut his way through the wire in the daytime, dis j regarding the most intense fire, and bombed a redoubt for which he was recommended for the Victoria Cross. Pearce received a bullet in the thigh, piercing an artery. He bled to death before he could be reached. The Australian casualties throughout were under 30. The Bolsheviks possessed an equal quantity ;of artillery but less ammunition. Doubtless the Russians will maintain a successful defence provided the troops remain loyal. The British j left all the guns and equipment the I Russians desired.