of "H" men were in a patrol fight with the
enemy which drove the Reds from the village of Kleshevo. On the
following day Lt. Ketcham with twenty Americans and a platoon of R. A.
N. B., Russian Allied Naval Brigade, proceeded south for reconnaissance
in force and engaged a strong enemy patrol in Priluk, driving the Reds
out, killing one, wounding one, and taking one prisoner. On December
22nd Lt. Carlson's platoon occupied Kleshevo and Lt. Ketcham's platoon
occupied the village on the opposite side of the river. The next day at
a village near Priluk Lt. Carlson's men on patrol encountered a Bolo
combat patrol and inflicted severe losses and took five prisoners.

Christmas Day and several other days were occupied with these patrol
combats by the two opposing forces, each of which thought the other had
gone into winter quarters.

In conformity with the general advance planned on all fronts by the
British Command to beat the enemy to the attack and to reach a position
which would nullify the enemy's tremendous advantage of position with
his base at Plesetskaya, the British Officer in command of the Onega
Valley Detachment, planned an attack on Turchesova. Lt. E. R. Collins
with the second fourth platoons left Pogashitche at 4:00 a. m. December
29, proceeding up the Schmokee River in an attempt to get around
Turchesova and strike the enemy in the flank. It was found, however,
that the woods on this side were impassable and so the force left the
river by a winter trail for Pertema, proceeding thence to Goglova, to
reinforce the Polish company of Allies who had captured that village on
the same morning.

This was wise. The next morning the enemy counter-attacked Goglova in
great force, but, fortunately, was repulsed without any casualties on
our side. He had, however, a threatening position in the village of
Zelyese, about a mile to the left flank and rear of our position and was
discovered to be preparing to renew the battle the next day. Lt. Collins
was obliged to divide his force just as again and again the American
officers all along that great Russian winter front again and again were
compelled to divide in the face of greatly superior and encircling
forces.

Taking Lt. Ketcham's platoon early the next morning, he boldly struck at
the enemy force in his rear and after an hour's fighting the "H" men had
possession of the village. But the enemy was at once reinforced from
Turchesova and delivered a counter-attack that t