AGAINST THE BOLSHEVIKS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16034, 27 January 1920, Page 6

AGAINST THE BOLSHEVIKS.

IN THE FROZEN NORTH.

A NEW ZEALANDER’S EXPERIENCES.

The remarkable experiences of tie British force that was sent to Northern Russia early in 1918 were shared by four New Zealand soldiers, one of whom, Lieut. H. Perry, is at present in Duuedin. Lieut. Perry, who has been absent from the Dominion for over five yeare, left with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the Main Body, and saw service in Egypt, Gallipoli, France, and Russia. He was with the 12th Nelson Company of the Canterbury Battalion, this being about the first New Zealand unit to see action when the Turks attempted to cross the Suez Canal early in 1916. This Liout. Perry was one of the first New Zealander's to go into action and one of the last to oome oft active service. He was twice wounded. When interviewed, Lieut. Perry was reticent regarding his own share in many adventures, but gave an interesting picture of what happened in Northern Russia.

A “SECRET” EXPEDITION. There were many wild rumours among soldiers in May, 1915, as to the destination of “secret” parties that were camped in the Tower of London. Lieut. Perry, then a sergeant, and three other New Zealand sergeants were picked to represent the New Zealand army in the adventure. The four New Zealanders were taken into the confidence of Brigadier-General Richardson, who told them of the plans. As the Huns were supporting the Bolsheviks, an expedition was to go to Archangel, net as a fighting force, but to organise tire Czechs to hold Archangel and the northern port of Murmansk.

FAR NORTH

The expedition departed from Newcastle, and, sailing for to the north to avoid submarines, came into the area of the “’midnight sun.” This was responsible for a curious incident. On a transport, the crew of which mostly comprised Mohammedan coolies, an outbreak of influenza occurred. It is a custom o fthe Mohammedans to pray at sunrise and sunset, but as the sun neither rose nor set in this strange region they thought they had incurred the wrath of their gods, and many of them lay down and died.

ARRIVAL AT MURMANSK,

Two warships which were lying at Murmansk when the party arrived were familiar sights to New Zealanders who served on Gallipoli. These were the Russian warship Acot, better known as “the p>acket of woodbines,” and the French warship Admiral Aube. The British warship Glory and an American warship) were also in the harbour. The crew of the Russian ship had been converted to Bolshevism, had murdered the admiral and officers, and appointed one of the stokers as admiral. The state of discipline aboard can well bo imagined.

MURMANSK,

The port of Murmansk is the only ice-free port all the year round in the north of Russia. Strangely enough, it is 250 miles north of Archangel, which is icebound for six months of the year, yet Murmansk is kept open by the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. The town was described by Lieut. Perry as “dirty and insanitary. The surrounding country in summer was very boggy and infested with mosquitoes. The population of Murmansk included the “wild and woolly” Russian pictured in carte catures, Lapps, Lithuanians, Finns, Chinese, Czechs, Cossacks, and Servians. The Servians were the remainder of the gallant little Servian army that had travelled right through Russia. They were ragged, some having pieces of stocking tied round their legs; but their spirit was unbroken.

RECRUITING WORK,

The expedition was to be divided into two parties, one to remain in the Murmansk district, on the Kola Peninsula, and the other, about 400 strong, to go to Archangel. The Government of Archangel sent advice forbidding the party to proceed. In the meantime recruiting work was carried on in the Murmansk district, and an effort made to prepare an army for a defence against the Bolsheviks. There were all nationalities to deal with, and the work was difficult. Raiding parties also raided in Murmansk and the surrounding villages to capture suspected Bolsheviks and take possession of war material which might be hidden in houses.

BOLSHEVIKS “BAGGED.”

The crew of the warship Ascot came ashore one night for a “spree,” and left three or four men aboard. It was decided to capture the boat and the crew. At 5 o’clock in the morning a raiding party, numbering 70, surrounded the houses where the sailors were sleeping, pulled them out of bed, and marched them away as prisoners. Between four and five hundred men were "bagged,” as well as much war material.

TO ARCHANGEL,

The Archangel party, after about sis weeks in Murmansk, proceeded on their way, despite the protests of the Government. The only opposition to the landing was a bombardment by the forts on Meudski Island and the sinking of two ice-breakers in the channel of the harbour. These difficulties overcome, the party sailed right in, and found that the Bolsheviks had retired inland. A base was formed at Bakharitza, four miles up the river Dwina, past Archangel. This was the place at which all the war material sent to the country for

the Russian army - during the war had been landed. There were large goods sheds at this place, which were used as the base for supplies.

AT ARCHANGEL. Before the war. Archangel had a population of about 70,000, but at the time 1 the party landed it had been swelled by large numbers of refugees, who brought the total up to 200*000. Recruiting work, equipping, and training were proceeded with. Large numbers of men were found willing to Join up for the sake of getting food and tobacco. Bolsheviks also enlisted, and caused a great deal of trouble. Schools of instruction in machine 'gunnery, bombing, musketry, etc., were established on the lines of those in Franc© and England.

THE PEOPLE. The monjiks, or peasant .class, were described by Lieutenant Perry as lazy and dirty loafers, who made their women work. They were very superstitious and their superstitions were played upon by tbe priests. Among the educated classes he found some excellent linguists, some of whom were able to speak five or six different languages. They were kind and considerate, and treated strangers hospitably.

THE WINTER. In early November the river Dwina froze, and remained in that condition for fully six months. Within 24 hours of the freezing there was much sleigh traffic on the ice. Navigation was continued for about two mouths by means of icebreakers. The lowest temperature reached while the party was there was 54deg. below zero. The ice-breakers did not cut the ice, but their bows rose over it and broke it down. Within a few minutes after ice-breakers had passed, sleighs could safely cross the river again.

WINTER SPORTS. The members of the party were dressed much the same as Sliackleton’s men —in fur, canvas coats, Shackleten boots, and lumberman’s stockings. The tramway traffic was kept up throughout the winter by making the Bolshevik prisoners clear the streets, Skis were issued to the troops, who indulged frequently in skiing. Some of the parks were converted into skating rinks by being flooded. One of these parks seen by Lieutenant Perry was described as a very striking sight, wnh skaters moving merrily under electric lights, and a band playing in the centre. The Russians were very fond of dancing, and were apt pupils of the latest American which were taught them by the troops. Lifeutenant Perry said he did not feel the cold of Russia so much as he felt the cold of England. The Russian cold was “dry.”

A MUTINY,

Before the winter set in the expedition was reinforced by some Americans and two battalions of British troops, A mutiny among the First Archingel Regiment of Russian troops was described by Lieutenant Perry. This regiment, which were among the first conscript troops of Russia’s loyal army, were billeted in barracks called the Alexandra Nofski barracks, situated within a couple of hundred yards of the machine-gun school organised by the British. At the time of the mutiny the school was occupied by British bluejackets from a number of gunboats that had been frozen in, and, when the mutineers refused to parade to proceed to the front, the machine-guns were brought out and trained on the barracks to “put the wind up” them. The mutineers still refusing to parade, fire was opened, and almost all the windows were broken, but only a few came out. Then a couple of Stokes mortars were brought up and after a few bombs had been thrown into the building all the mutineers came rushing out with their hands up. They then consented to parade. The officers picked out the ring-leaders a firing party and a, burial party. The sceiie which followed finished within half-an-hour of their consenting to parade.

BOLSHEVIK PRISONERS,

Information was received that the Bolsheviks were conscripting men for service behind their lines with the result that they did not care whether were fighting or not. Advantage of this position was taken by the British, who turned these Bolshevik prisoners into fighting men for themselves. Two batwere formed in tills way—Dyer’s battalion and Burke’s battalion—both of which were named after New Zealanders who had done excellent service. Spies were kept in the ranks, and reported if any propaganda work was taking place.

THE EVACUATION,

For months before the evacuation the different schools were gradually handed over to Russian staffs, and General Rawlinson arrived, to take command m the final operation, winch took place on September 28th of last year. It was .thought at the time that the Bolsheviks would soon gain control when the force departed, and large quantities of material which could not be taken away were destroyed, such as aeroplanes, motor lorries, and motor launches, the latter being sunk in the river. The large transports, once they had got clear into the White Sea, made theixown way to Eagland. The smaller craft, which included river tugs, river gunboats, and launches, made their way to England round the coast and through the fiords of Norway.