THE BALTIC CRISIS.
, RICA SAFE. •»F- ■, DAMAGE-BY BOMBARDMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn— Copyright. Received Oct. 11.20 p.m. London, Oct. 15. Although fires in consequence of the bombardment have caused widespread damage, the latest reports indicate that Riga is now practically safe.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. EVACUATION OF RIGA. A BRITISH NAVAL ORDER. Received Oct. 17,12.20 a.m. New York, Oct 16. The Times' Paris correspondent learns that the commander of the British naval force* in the Baltic sent an ultimatum to Colonel Bermondt ordering him to evacuate the suburbs of Riga by noon on the 15th inst, or the British ships. would shell him out. It is understood this has not been ordered by the Supreme CouncU.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. THE AUSTRALIANS. ARRIVE IN NICK OF TIME. London, Oct. 15. A high officer from North Russia gives unreserved testimony to the bravery of the Australians, who fought for six weeks on the Archangel railway front with the Vologda force under General Turner. The Australians arrived at the front on .July 21, at the most critical moment otfing to the Bolshevik attack, coupled with the Russian mutiny, stimulated by Bolshevik propaganda being in full swing. General Turner's forces consisted of 10,000 men, divided into three sections. The central force was composed of the British on the railway, the right and left consisting of Russians, with a sprinkling of British advisory officers. The right flank on the Onega River unexpectedly mutinied, and the men arrested the officers, sending twenty British officers to Moscow. Received Oct. 16, 2.50 p.m. i London, Oct. 15. The mutiny on the other sectors was unexpected, but was grappled with in time by disarming the Russians and threatening that every tenth man would be shot every half-hour until the ringleaders were given up. The mutineers then disclosed the ringleaders, and those were promptly shot. The Australians, under Captain Newbolt, who served with the New Zealandera in France, hurriedly arrived with other reinforcements, when the position was at the gloomiest, the Bolsheviks attacking the entire front. The Australians • immediately went in and took a great part in stopping the attack. It.was a fine affair. The Australians quickly located a battalion of Bolsheviks hiding in a wood preparing for a surprise attack on the British flank. The entire Australian force, only 100 strong, including machine-gunners, went out, and, after a few minutes of outpost fighting, a real battle opened, in which the Bolsheviks were surprised and dispersed. During the br'tle the Australians feared they would be overwhelmed owing to the numbers of Bolsheviks, but they killed a good many and took prisoner a few, upsetting the Bolshevik plans and ending the mutiny among the Russians. For a subsequent period the Australians holding the line took spells in carrying out reconnaissances. Much daring individual work was done, but the staff regarded them as exceptional shock troops and employed them with the English unife in the most important sector. In the final attack on August 29 to facilitate the evacuation, the Australians, with 100 English troops, stormed the Bolshevik gun positions, capturing ten guns and from 200 (to 300 prisoners. During this attack Sergeant Pearce, a cousin of Captain Newbolt, cut his way through the wire in the daytime, disregarding the most intense fire, and bombed a redoubt, for which he was recommended for the Victoria Cross. Pearce received a bullet in his thigh, piercing an artery, and 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 left all the goods and equipment which the Russians desired.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn
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Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1919, Page 5
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615THE BALTIC CRISIS. Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1919, Page 5
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