HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1919-07-11, Page 3BOA ARCHANGEL DASH PROVES
BRITISH PLUCK AND. FORTITUDE
Ruse Enabled Gallant Colonel Thornhill;, British Leader, to Land
at Onega and Was Followed by Thrilling Band -to -Hand
Battle With Bolshevist Trio.
Andrew Soutar, the novelist, author bringing food?' It was. They laughed
of "Chosen of the. Gods,' "Broken Lad-
ders," "The Island of Test" and other
books, sends the following -on the first
dash on°Archangel, the message being
from, Archangel,, dated May 4:
Mach of the story, that follows has.
been taken from cold;, official records,
bat it was my fortune to meet one or
two et the men who figure in it. I am
not disturbed by theeknowledge that
this adventure happened. a year ago;
that which amazes me i5 that it has
not been: told before, since: it adds a
pege to the, text -books from which
children are taught to be proud of
their heritage.
In July of last year—on the 19th--
tlhe Bolshevists 'were in possession of
Archangel. An expedition was on its
way down the White Sea, with the in-
tention of effecting a landing. Major-
General Pools was in Murmansk, four
or five hundred miles north, and with
him was Colonel Thornhill. It was re-
solved to make an attempt to cut the
railway at Oberserzki, southwest of
Archangel, so as to hamper the retreat
of the Bolshevists if ;they should be
driven out of Archangel by the landing
force, then on its way. Colonel Thorn-
hill had to come down the peninsula
as far as Iiem and choose his route
from that port. There were some
thousands of Bolshevists in Archangel,
but the force that left Murmansk com-
prised the colonel, Captain J. J. Hitch-
ing, M,C., second in command, and
Second Lieutenant C. S. Richards, as
interpreter, four British N.C.O.'s, six
Slavo-British privates (ex -Russian of-
ficers). and two other British officers,
They traveled by rail to Kem, where
two peasants joined then: as recruits;
four days later fifteen ex -Russian sol-
diers joined the expedition, then forty-
seven Serbians were obtained, the
total being eighty-nine ofrlcer5 and
men.
A Valiant British Officer.
Just when the force was about to
move away Captain Dennis N. Gars -
tin, of the Tenth Hussars, made his ap-
pearance. He came in rags and with
health undermined, for he had made
his escape from Moscow, hundreds of
miles south, had walked most .of the
distance and would have been sent
home from Murmansk if he had reach-
ed that port. But he learned of this
adventure toward Archangel, and beg-
ged Colonel Thornhill to include him in
the party. At first the colonel refused,
but Garstin insisted that with his
knowledge of the country he might be
of great assistance. He was taken.
He proved his worth. Out here they
speak of Garstin as a pian worth
while. He is asleep in the cemetery
of AreImngel, but he left behind a re-
cord of traditional valor.
At Keri the party embarked on the
Michael Archangel, a boat belonging
to the monks of Solovetsky, and were
accompanied by the trawler Sarpedon.
In the bay the flag was taken down
and the red one of revolution hoisted.
On board the monks' boat there was
suspicion of the Russian pilot, Colonel
Thornhill, who- speaks Russian like a
native, never left the man's side; it
there was to be treachery the pilot
would be the first to pay the price.
Onega was reached, and here the
real drama. began. The town was in
the bands of the Bolshevists. The
boat made fast to the pier; on shore,
a Bolshevist guard of three or four
men awaited her. The colonel dis-
guised himself as a Russian soldier,
ordered the whole of his party to stay
below, and leaning carelessly over the
rail, answered the questions of the
guard. Was this the monks' boat
and jested. The colonel stepped back
into the alleyway, dropped his dis-
guise,
isguise, and in. the uniform of a British
staff •officer, leaped ashore. The' at-
tack was so sudden that the guard
lost its head. One lunged at Thornhill
with his bayonet, but the colonel par-
ried the blow with his arm and Shot
the man through the head.
Hand -to -Hand Encounter,
Aroused by the firing, the party be-
low deck disobeyed. orders and came
up. The colonel was engaged, sintgle-`
handed, with three Bolshevists. One
of them raisedhis rifle and fired, but
an ex -Russian officer, Ouschakov,
leaped between Thornhill and the
rifle; he took the bullet in the arm.
Quickly, the gallant little party form-
ed its plan of campaign; one or two
of the guard had escaped to give the
allarna, and by 6 a.in, street. fighting
was in progress and machine guns
were rattling. Four cardinal points
were selelcted by Thornhill, and by
11 a.m. resistance was over.
There had been a force of ninety
Bolshevists in the town, under the
leadership of Popoff, an ex -sailor. Our
losses were one killed and one wound-
ed; the Bolshevists lost one killed and
had two wounded. Thornhill's party
took sixty prisoners, tbree' machine
guns, 300 rifles and a large quantity of
ammunition. Popoff escaped.
Then the expedition was resumed.
On toward Korelskaya! Near here
was found the body of Lieutenant Min-
kievitch, of the Polish army; he had
been on his way to join the allied
forces at Archangel and had been shot
from behind by a Bolshevist.
From the village of Korelskaya, the
expedition was able to get into tele-
graphic communication with Arch-
angel, and learned that British troops
had not yet been landed. Pressing
on, a forest was reached, and the con-
voy had no sooner entered than it was
fired on by the Bolshevists. The wo-
men drivers shrieked in terror, the
horses bolted, and valuable time was
lost before the whole could be reform-
ed. Severe hand-to-hand fighting oc-
curred in this forest, but it was even
worse at Chunovo, where the convoy
came into conflict with 350 Bolshe-
vists. There were six hours of hard
fighting, and that after the party had
marched all night; the difficulties for
the officers were increased by the
polygot nature of the little party, but
ten of the enemy were killed and
twenty-five wounded; casualties to
the expedition were five killed. Mean-
while, British troops arrived at the
port and landed practically without
opposition,
Captain Garstin Killed.
The expedition returned to Onega,
burning bridges as they went to delay
pursuit. At Onega they boarded the
ship Kolo, and got safely back to Kern.
Poor Garstin, who had fought mag
nificently throughout the adventurous
exploit, died on August 10 while tak-
ing part in another expedition. He
was killed after capturing an armour-
ed car, a feat that he performed with-
out assistance. Garstin was a brave
soldier with all the attributes of an
English gentleman. And his years
were only about twenty-eight.
This, then, is the rough story. There
has been no attempt to garnish it, but
it would be a dull imagination that
could not read into It a story of gal-
lantry of which the country has every
reason to be proud.
Altogether the expedition lasted
from July 19 to August 9—twenty-one
days -of crowded adventure. From
August 1 to August 6 the party march-
ed 210 verses (about 140 miles).
LOVE'S STRATAGEMS.
Should the Ardent Admirer Always
Wait For An Introduction?
Amusing in the extreme are some
of the predicaments in which would-
be lovers sometimes find themselves.
Supposing, for instance, a man sudden-
ly conceives a passion for some fair
vision at a restaurant, at the theatre
--how is he to procure the introduc-
tion upon which he suddenly sets his
heart and soul?
Driven t sheer desperation for want
of tate one filing needful in such cases,
many a swain has boldly taken things
into his own hands and approached
the object of his affections without
the assistance of either friend or coun.
senor.
That, in seine instances, overtures
of .this type are haughtily turned
down, goes without saying, though
this Is not invariably the case. And
very happy unions have often come
about by what in the first place was
merely a casual meeting.
Taking a fancy to a girl in the
street: men have been known to fol -
"w the object of their interest at a
respectable distance, and, her address
once ascertained, have systematically
set about obtaing an introduction in
that way. Not many years ago such a
.course was actually adopted by a Mem-
ber of Parliament who, less than a
year afterwards, led his ladylove to
the altar.
One sometimes hear stories of how,
determined at all costs to make them-
selves known to the object of their de-
votion,;love-stricken worshippers have
even contrived to bring about driving
accidents and so forth.
Such a strangely divergent trio as
the author of "Waverley," the saintly
John Bright, and the chivalrous and
adventuresome Garibaldi, all fell in
love with women to whom they had
.not yet been introduced.
6 By far the most romantic of all
Disraeli's friendships was founded on
a number of letters addressed to him
by, a lady he had never seen in his
life, while a casual glimpse of a shop -
girl 'behind a London counter brought
into the life of Rossetti not only his
future life -partner, but one of the
most touchingly romantic characters
which ever figured in the history of
literature. -•
REMINISC, NC S
OF TOWNS WIII
THE ROYAL ASCOT NICKNAMES
HORSE -RACING ON. ASCOT etEATH
DURING TWO CENTURIES,
Stories of Sporting` (Kings and Queen's
of Engiand and Their Support of
The King of Sports.
More than two cerituriee have gone
since Queen Anne drove onto the AS,
cot Heath in state to inaugurate the
races; on the course which she herself -
lead designed, and to applaud. the Win-
ne of "Her Majesty's Plate of 100
Guineas."
So delighted was the. Royal' lady
with her new race -course and its suc-
tess that daring the brief remainder
of her life, she pot, only 'attended every
meeting, but took the whole world of
rank and fashion in her train, thus
cradling the infant in the•Royal pomp;
and splendor which have ever since
distinguished it.
It is true that after. Anne's death
the glory of Ascot was a, little dimmed
for the first twa Georges were seat en-
thusiasts for the "sport of kings,"
But under the patronage of George III.
it blossomed into new life and still
greater splendor as the resort of fas-
hion, and the Mecca of horse -lovers.
So popular indeed dial the meeting
become that it attracted not. only the
world of rank and of sport, bat pick-
pockets, swell mobsinen, and loafers
by the thousand. The common was
dotted with scores of gambling -booths,
in which large sums were won and
'oat; wrestling matches and prize-
fights for heavy stakes took place on
the course; and among many other
excitements cock -lighting could always
be relied on.
After Waterloo.
Seldom has Ascot seen such gloripus
times as those when George III., ac•
conipanied by his Queen and the many
members of his family, drove on to
the heath in all the magnificence of
Royal equipages, making their stately
and triumphal progress past the long
row of towering booths, crowded with
the flower of the English nobility, the
loveliest women, and the most cele-
brated personages in the kingdom, and
to the thunderous applause of the
thousands of more humble spectators.
In the long succession of brilliant
Ascot meetings net one, perhaps,
shines 'out with such splendor as'that
of 1815, when, after years of bloodshed
and terror, Europe was at last at
peace.
All the world of rank and beauty
mingled freely with the crowds, and
joined in the thunders of cheers that
greeted the dazzling array of Royal
carriages which flowed on to the
course.
First came the Czar of all the Rus-
sians, with his gorgeous retinue;
Queen Charlotte came next, followed,
amid rolling `thunders of applause, by
the King of Prussia. Another ovation
greeted the Prince Regent and his
brother of York; but when the cry
rang out "Blutcher! Biutcher!" the
enthusiasm, strange as it seems to
reach to -day, of the assembled thou-
sands burst all bounds.
In Honor of Blutcher.
The tumult of shouts rose in deafen-
ing cresendo until the very sky seem-
ed to quiver. Ladies wildly flourished
their handkerchiefs, men flung hats
and umbrellas into the air; while
hundreds fought and scrambled to
shake the veteran's hand, or even to
touch his uniform.
The glories of that wonderful year
were recalled in 1844, when the Royal
procession included, not only Queen
Victoria and Prince Albert, but Nich-
olas I. of Russia, and the King of
Saxony.
So delighted was Nicholas with the
race for the Gold Cup, which was won
by Lord Albermarle's colt by inches,
after a terrific neck -and -neck struggle
with Coranna, that he offered to pre-
sent a plate worth £500 to take the
place of the Cup, and to be known as
the "Emperor's Plate."
Another redletter year in the Ascot
calendar was 1863, which was made
memorable by the presence of the
Prince of Wales with this three -months
bride.
"So rapturous," we are told, "was
the cheering that the Princess' eyes
brimmed with tears, which struggled
for supremacy with her smiles."
Light Horses,
The proprietors of two rival livery
stables, situated alongside each other
in a busy street, have been having a
lively advertising duel lately. The
other week one of them stuck up on
his office window a long strip of paper
bearing the words:
"Otir horses need no whip to make
them go."
This bit of sarcasns naturally caused
some amusement at the expense of the
rival ,proprietor, but in less than an
hour he neatly turned the tables by
pasting the following retort on his
own window:
"True The 'Wind blows thein along."
$ OM E ARE COMFLIME.I!'ITARY,
ChTHERS ARE THE REVERSE.
T•he Old Land Has Not So Marry Nick-
names For Her Towns As We
Have on This Continent,
• Many, Canadian cities have names
not found on the map. Montrer l Ls
called the "Royal City," Toronto the
"Queen City," Kingston the "Lime-
stone:.Oity," Hamilton the "Ambitious
City,'' while Winnipeg is often refer-
red to as "The Peg."
Over in the States every other town
has a i tlu-Iiarno of some sort or an-
eerei5ae. Far instance, Boston is the
sI "xr
'Philadelphia the "Quaker
City," San Francisco is. the "City of
the Golden Gate," while Chicago, of
pig -killing fame, goes by the somewhat
ansa e ty title of Porkopolis.
9PeePle of the old land are not so
fond of nicknaming their towns, yet
there are quite a number which are
known• by names not to be found in
.the geography book.
Loudon herself is ofteu termed "the
village," or "the little village," and no
ane on his way to the capital would
dream of phrasiug his intention in
other welts than that he was going
"up to town."
Birmingham people are not at all
fond 'of the ward "Brummagem." The
town's original name was Brumwick-
ham of which Birmingham is merely
a corruption, and in course of time
the ward has come to mean worthless
or inferior articles masquerading as
genuine ones.
Manchester's title of Cottonopolis
refers of course, to her pre-eminence
in that useful manufacture.
Edinburgh Has Two Names.
Of Scottish towns there are only
two which have well-known nick-
names. Edinburgh does not feel hurt
when one of her sons calls her "Auld
Reekie." Strictly speaking, however,
this"title applies only to the old town,
of which, in earlier days, the narrow
streets were filthy beyond description.
The Southerner visiting Scotland's
fair capital will do better to speak of
her as "The Modern Athens."
It was Willis who first compared
Ediribetesp With Athens. He says that
,ms�the.Azhsbelnee .10 Athene, as 'ae
phoace from the Piraeus, is very
striking.
Aberdeen's name of the Granite City
is well deserved. She certainly has
more buildings of solid granite than
any other city of her size in the world.
To return to England, Worcester,
from her constant devotion to the
cause of the Stuarts. is still known as
the "Loyal City," and is proud of the
title.
Plymouth has recently amalgamated
with her two smaller neighbors, Stone-
house and Devonport. These three,
which are, geographically, one and the
same, are always known as the Three
Towns.
Bristol is sometimes called the City
of Masts and Spires. You have only
to see the town to realize how ap-
propriate is the title.
Advice.
"What is the secret of success?"
asked the Sphinx.
"Push," said the Button.
"Take pains," said the Windove.
"Never be led," said the Pencil.
"Be up to date," said the Calendar.
"Always keep cool," said the Ice.
"Do business on tick," said the
Clock.
"Never lose your head"
Barrel.
"Do a driving business,"
Hamner.
"Make light of everything," said the
Fire,
"Make much of small things," said
the Microscope.
"Never do anything offhand," said
the Glove_
"Spend much
said the Mirror.
"Do the work
said the Flue,
"Get a good pull with the ring," said
the Doorbell.
"Be sharp in all your dealings," said
the Knife,
"Find a good thing and stick to it,"
said the Glue,
"Trust to your stars for success,"
said the Night.
"Strive to make a good impressiod,"
said the Seal.
"Turn all things to your advantage,"
said the Lathe.
"Make the most of your good
points," said the Compass.
"Be always on the lookout for a
snap," said the Camera.
"Never take sides, but be round
when 3 iU'te wanted," said the Ball.
_
Boys' names now in favor are
Ronald, Edward, George and Gordon;
for girls, Joan, Kathleen, Irene and
ivlarguetite are popular.
said the
said the
time in reflection,"
you are suited for."
QUEEN MOTHER'S • , *COTS OF OUR
FLOWER GARDEN - , . FLYING HEROES
SCENE OF RARE BEAUTY AT
SANDRINGHAM HOUSE,
Queen Alexandra's Favorite Flowers
Are Roses and Violets—Kitchen
Garden Covers 24 Acres,
King George has many gardens
worthy of the regal palaces of which
they are the setting, but none so per-
fect in its beauty and its peace as that
of Sandringham House, beloved by
Queen Alexandra.
Standing on the terrace -front, the
eye rests on a scene of rare beauty.
Mere are na "geometrical beds of gor-
geous mosaic," no groups of statuary—
in fact, none of the meretricious de-
vices of so-called "grand" gardens.
The velvety turf descends in shal-
low slopes to the lake, its blue sur-
face dotted with tiny islands whose
trees are mirrored in the water. There
the lake narrows until a pretty rustic
bridge is able to stride across it; and
farther on it diminishes into a stream,
trickling through purple heather and
fringes of feathery bamboos, while
over all are the singing of birds and
the soothing cry of the wood -pigeon.
Where Wild Flowers Reign.
But sweet as the picture is, and
restful beyond expression, it is not
here that Queen Alexandra finds her
chief delight. Her favorite haunt is a
certain wild garden into which the
scientific gardener never ventures.)
Here grow in luxuriant profusion all
the wild flowers which she loves so
well; and here in spring are golden
beds of primroses, which she gathers
in handfuls to send to her friends or to
fill the vases in her boudoir.
We must ramble farther into the
park to reach the most enchanting
part of the King's garden, which in
summer -time is a perfect revel of
roses. The Queen's favorites are pink
China roses; and of the variety Armo-
sa there are no fewer than 20,000
plants, So prolific have they proved
that, from a single bank four feet high,
no fewer than 10,000 blooms have been
taken in one morning.
But, although the Queen's favorite
fiowers are roses. she has also a pas-
sion for violets of every hue, to the
eeising.;;pp -which- •200 -feet of grass is
devoted:' _
The kitchen garden alone covers
twenty-four acres, of which' eight are
devoted to potatoes; and from this
garden, it is said, two bushels of spin-
ach are gathered every day all the
year round.
CHIPS FROM CHINA.
Curious Habits and Customs Preval-
ent Among the Celestials.
Chinese wag their clenched fists in-
stead of shaking hands.
A caged singing -bird takes the place
of a dog in China.
A Chinese bride and
wait upon their guests.
The needle of a Chinese compass
points to the south.
Photogra.ps of women are very rare-
ly taken in China.
A Chinese day is divided into twelve
Parts of two hours each,
When riding, they hold the bridle in
the right hand, the opposite to our
custom.
Paper -making from fibrous matter
was first discovered by the Chinese
two thousand years ago.
A teacher in a private school in
China is paid at the rate of about one
halfpenny a day for each pupil.
A church organ made of bamboo has
been built at Shanghai. The notes are
said to be sweeter than those of the
metallic pipes.
The oldest firearms were used in
China, and the Chinese were fighting
with guns at a time when Europeans
used bows and arrows.
Paper money, called "flying money,"
was first used by the Chinese 2697 B.C.
These banknotes were called "con-
venient money," and forgeries were
known in those days.
Whereas we have our hair cut, a
Chinaman artiflcally lengthens his
long lilait. (The long plait and shaven
forehead were imposed on the nation
by the Manchu Conqueror three hun-
dred years ago).
Three separate invitations are
usually sent to guests in China. The
first is despatched two days before the
banquet, the second on the day itself,
as a reminder, and the third about an
hour' before the sitting -down to the
table—they y of showing hory anarl-
ously the visitors are awaited,
Advancing years are the glory of
Chinese, and it is said to be polite tie
suppose your Chinese guest to be
much older than his or her stated age.
Actors and bankers are excluded
from competitions at literary exaus-
inations. Every other matt in Cltina
can compete, and the successful candi-
dates aro often probable mandating.'
bridegroom
QUAINT CHARMS CARRIED IN
AEROPLANES.
Commonest of All Aerial Mascots Is a
Piece of Wood From the Propeller
of a Lucky Plane.
"I don't believe in mascots," says
Mr. Hawker, but Mr. Raynlianl has a
wooden parrot known as "Emma,"
built into the cock -pit of his machine,
and mascots of all sorts have arrived
by every post at the Newfoundland
aerodromes during the past few weeks.
All through the ages seamen have
believed in charms and, luck bringers,
and if the sailor carries a caul in his
pocket, who can blame the airman
for a similar superstition? As a mat-
ter of solid fact, nearly every great
flying man, from Santos Dumont on-
wards, has carried a mascot of one
kind or another. Santos Dumont's was,
a gold chain which he wore wound
three 'times round his left wrist, and
from which depended a small medal-
lion of the Virgin. This was given to
him by the daughter of the late Em-
peror of Brazil.
When Grahame White started oa
his first great flight from London to
Manchester in the spring of 1910, on-
lookers noticed a little red velvet shoe
fixed just above his head, while, at-
tached to the front stays, were a hunch.
of white heather, a knot of violet rib-
bon, and a small golliwog ---evidently
a case of safety in numbers.
The Hun's Monkey.
• Delagrange, killed at Bordeaux nine
years ago, always. declared that he did
nct believe in charms, yet never would
leave the ground unless he was :vear-
ing a certain grey cap. And, talking
of caps, the famous Lieutenant ..,n-
neau attached patticular import en: s
to a call which he had worn from the
very first day he flew. During the :.i: -
cult of England in July, 1911, he lost
this cap at Brooklands, but it was
picked up by a sapper of the Air Bat-
talion, who posted it after him, and ha
was nearing it when he came in, th a
winner of the great prize.
Wientzlers who, at the beginning of
the war, made a considerable reputa-
tion as the boldest of Hun airmen,
never flew without his monkey. This
was-9--Xery_erdine y -looking tay made_
of brown velvet, shabby and weather
stained. It was still attached to his
broken 'plane when Ire was at Ia„t
brought down in 1915.
Sydney Pickles, the Australian air-
man. captured a little rabbit alive
while waiting one day at Llanelly
make a flight, and this was his mas-
cot for some time.
The Lincoln Imp, the "Gobbo," the
horseshoe, two lunar crescent:, thea
Swastika --all these are to be seen at-
tached to the stays or framework oa
aeroplanes, while many a flying mon
carr !as in his pocket. -book or purse a
morsel of wood from the propeller of
a 'plane which has crashed without
damaging its occupants. This is sec-
retly believed to be "very big medi-
cine," and is perhaps the catnmene:t
of all aerial mascot:.
Notable Firsts.
The first concrete ship built in Eng-
land made her maiden voyage hi
February. Despite heavy weather, tiro
Armistice behaved satisfactorily,
steered remarkably well, and showed
entire absence of vibration.
London will have her first sky-
scraper when a famous emporium hi
Oxford Street is crowned by the pro-
jected clock tower 450 feet above the
pavement.
Europe's first Chinese newspaper r•e.
cently commenced publication in
Paris, under the editorship of Mr. Y.
C. Yen, Its price is one penny, and it
was issued for the benefit of. the
Chinese Labor Corps,
The first Prince of the Royal Family
to be attached to a Government De-
partment for service is Prince Albert,
who commenced duties at the Hotel
Cecil early in March. He is engaged
on special work in connection with the
Air Ministry, in which he had his own
attendants, and occupies a separaie
office,
The Great Wall of China.
The great wall of China is one of the
wonders of the world and has endured
for many more than tevo thousand
years. It was constructed in the reign
of Chi Hoang Ti, is 1,600 miles long,
twenty feet high and of an nverage
thickness of twenty-five feet. In many
places there are lunge towers and tale
wall is re -enforced with blocks of
granite.
A great many teen. forced by the
cruel emperor to work on the wall,
perished of the hardships they were
forced to endure. Every third mean in
the empire was drafted to help in its
construction and 400,000 died before
it was 1111181101