THE BRITISH WITHDRAWAL

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15203, 16 October 1919, Page 5

THE BRITISH WITHDRAWAL

OPERATION ENTIRELY SUCCESS-

FUL

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received Oct. 15, 6.55 p.m.) London, Oct. 14

An official communique says:— "General Rawlinson's skilful co-ordina-tion of plans enabled the British withdrawal from North Russia to be car*ried out with scarcely any loss after blows had been struck severely punishing the enemy on the Dvina and Lake, Onega, facilitating in the disengaging of our troops. The local Russian forces were left in an excellent condition to defend themselves, and the Russians at Archangel have undertaken an offensive since the British withdrawal. , "Tho military authorities are much indebted to a section of the English press for its repeated assertions doubtfn<r the sincerity of the Government policy of evacuation, and suggesting that an offensive into the interior was likely. The newspapers thus mystified the Bolsheviki, creating exactly the atmosphere of uncertainty required for success."