lroad front line was
saved. The flank position gained by the Reds at Bolsheozerki would be of
doubtful value to them as long as the railroad sectors held. The
stoutness of the American defenses and the stoutness of their morale had
both been vindicated in terrific battle action.

And hereafter any veteran of the winter campaign fighting the
Bolsheviki, who still meets the false story of alleged mutiny of one of
the companies of the 339th Infantry in Archangel, a false story that
will not down even after emphatic denial by high army authorities who
investigated the reports that slipped out to the world over the British
cables, may ignore the charges as distortions which partisans who are
pro-Bolshevik are in the habit of giving currency with the vain idea of
trying to show that the Bolshevik propaganda convinced the American
soldier. They may refer to this valorous battle action of the alleged
mutinous company and to shining examples of its morale and valor in the
long fall and winter campaign fighting the Bolsheviki. The story of the
discontent which gave rise to the false story is told elsewhere.

In this connection the editors wish to add further that in their
estimation the morale of this fighting company and of the other American
units was remarkably good. And the story of this "I" Company going in to
relieve the French-Russian force under a terrific bombardment and
barrage of machine guns, the distant roar of which was heard for three
days and nights by the writer who was on an adjoining front, has not
been told with complete emphasis to the good fighting spirit of Captain
Winslow's men. We would like to make it stronger.

The winter drive of the Reds on the Railroad merged into their spring
raids and threats. The French soldiers did not return again to the front
and the Americans stayed on. Major Nichols began breaking in units of
the new Archangel government troops who served alongside the Yanks and
were in the spring to relieve the American entirely.

XXIII

BOLSHEOZERKI

Bolsheozerki One-Reel Thriller--Brilliant Strategy Of Trotsky's Northern
Army Commander--General Ironside And Major Nichols Take Personal Command
Of Critical Situation--Twelve Miles Out In Woods With Five Pieces Of
Artillery--"M" Company Relieves "E"--Little Force Beleaguered For
Days--Three Invincible Days And Nights--Reds Ambush Several
Parties--Enemy Baffled And Punished Dreadfully--American Pluck And Luck
Triumph.

Bolsheozerki