his a shining page that shows
the marked ability of Americans to secure the co-operation of the
Russian local government in service of supply and transportation and
billeting and even in taking up arms and assuming the burdens of
fighting their own battles.

Those local companies of well-trained troops were not semi-British but
truly Russian. They never failed their dobra Amerikanski soldats, whose
close order drill on the streets of Pinega was a source of inspiration
to the Russian recruits.

Furthermore, let it be said that the faithful representation of American
ideals of manhood and square deal and democratic courtesy, here as on
other fronts, but here in particular, won the confidence of the at first
suspicious and pinkish-white government. Our American soldiers' conduct
never brought a complaint to the command headquarters. They secured the
affectionate support of the people of the Pinega Valley. Never was any
danger of an enemy raiding force surprising the American lieutenant,
sergeant or corporal whose detachment was miles and miles from help. The
natives would ride a pony miles in the dark to give information to the
Americans and be gratified with his thanks and cigarettes.

Freely the Pinega Russians for weeks and weeks provided sleighs and
billets and trench-building details and so forth without expecting pay.
An arrogant British officer travelling with a pocket full of imprest
money could not command the service that was freely offered an American
soldier. The doughboy early learned to respect their rude homes and
customs. He did not laugh at their oddities but spared their sensitive
feelings. He shook hands a dozen times heartily if necessary in saying
dasvedania, and left the Russian secure in his own self-respect and fast
friend of the American officer or soldier.

For his remarkable success in handling the ticklish political situation
in face of overwhelming military disadvantages, and also in rallying and
putting morale into the White Guard units of the Pinega area, during
those nine desperate weeks, the American officer commanding the Pinega
forces, Captain Joel R. Moore, was thanked in person by General
Maroushevsky, Russian G. H. Q., who awarded him and several officers and
men of "M" and "G" Russian military decorations. And General Ironside
sent a personal note, prized almost as highly as an official citation,
which the editors beg the indulgence here of presenting merely for the
information of