BATTLE NEAR ARCHANGEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1919, Page 3

BATTLE NEAR ARCHANGEL.

BOLSHEVISTS ROUTED

GALLANT AUSTRALIANS

LONDON, Aug. 1

During the recent fighting on the raihvay tront a handful of Russian gunners, with a detachment of Australians, defeated and scattered an immensely superior force of Bolsheviks. ’the Australians recently came out Avith the 45th Fusiliers, since unofficially renamed. “The Australian Detachment” in recognition of their services. Three hundred Bolshevists had raided fclrCj railway and occupied the forward blockhouses. The British lorces arrived a feAV hours later, immediately attacked, I and continued operations unceasingly i , . tor sixty hours. j A patrol Avas sent out and pursued j > tae lioisheeists for nine miles, on which | the gunners took over the line, attack- I ed at 2 o’clock in the morning of July 23rd, captured all objectives, and relieA'cd a company of Russian Rifles under a | British officer, who had been cut off and j had been gallantly holding out for seventeen hours.

i A Russian officer reported seeing BUO ‘ Bolshevists. i A British major collected a party of 91 men, including 61 Australians, Avith ! four Lewis guns and one trench mortar. | The party followed the tracks of tho ' enemy until they reached a clearing. Thes scouts reported three outposts, whereupon the British Force split into tAYo parties, and on either side in seniiextended order till the enemy opened six machine guns. These Avere engaged by our Lewis gunners, and the enemy creAVS killed or silenced. Taking advantage of this, the British, despite the odds of tAvelve to one, attacked like one one Avith the greatest determination. The British troops doubled for 1500 yards AA’itli little opposition, until the enemy camp Avas reached, and engaged the enemy Avith rifles and Lewis gujns. Then they. Avere attacked on both sides and in the rear. They formed square and charged. The BolsheA’ists, terror-stricken, fled in all directions, except the machine-gunners, who Avre shot or bayoneted at their guns. One Australian Lbwis-gunuer had both thighs smashed, and Avas badly wounded in the head, but fought on. The British remained in the captured position for three hours, and then retired to their oavh lines, the ammunition being A'ery short. The British major commanding the expedition Avas shot at six times at an average range of forty yards, but Avas not hit. The enemy had 53 killed. The British had only three Avounded. Among the enemy killed aa’ss a Commissary, Avliose pockets Avere crammed with money.

The booty included every accessory j for demolition purposes, telephones, 20 miles of telephone wire, 45001 b of ex- ; plosives with time and electric fuses, | and an absolutely complete equipment for modern warfare. i Prisoners stated that we had just forestalled an attack designed to capture the whole front. The Australians , have requested thic British gunner- j major commanding operations to command them. This request lie has ac-. cep toil.