World War Were Con- in Two Cases, However, This Was Ordered

Home , April 1919, Italian Army, July 1918

Chapter VIII

AM ERI C AN OPERATIONS I N I T AL Y A N D NORT HERN R U S S IA

XCEPT for small forces sent to to dissipating its strength by sending Italy and N orthern Russia, all t roops to other theaters of operations, as E American military operations in often proposed by Allied governments. Europe during the World War were con- In two cases, however, this was ordered

The 332d lnfantry (83d Division) with the ltalian Army July 26, 1918-March 29, 1919

o Mantua

O IO 20 30 40 Miles

- Front Line ) Route of Advance 332d lnfantry Scene of American Fighting --- International Boundary

fined to the Western Front. The High by higher authority and t he operations of Command of the A.E.F. realized that the these American forces, in Italy and Rus- decision in the war wo uld depend upon sia, form the subject of this chapter.1

victory or defeat on the Western Front 1 An American expedition, not u ntler the A.E.F., and, consequently, was decidedly opposed was sent to Siberia. It is mentioned in Chapter XIV. ( 429) AMERICAN TROOPS IN ITALY

JULY 26, 1918-APRIL 7, 1919

HE 332d Infantry Regiment, 83d different articles of uniform and equip- T Division, with attached medical and ment, left the city by a separate road, supply units, was sent to the Italian front circulated during daylight hours in ex- in July 1918 in response to urgent requests posed positions for both the Italians from the Italian Government. Its princi- and Austrians to see, and returned after pal missions were to build up Italian nightfall to its station at Treviso in as morale and to depress that of the enemy inconspicuous a manner as possible. by creating the impression that a large On October 24, the opening day of force of Americans had reached that front the Italian Vittorio-Veneto offensive, the

Scene in Codroipo, Italy, a Short Time After Irs Capture by the 332d Infaotry on November 4, 1918

and was preparing to enter the battle line Italian 31st Division, with the 332d In- and to take an active part in the fighting. fantry attached, was in reserve. It joined The regiment was first stationed near in the pursuit of the fleeing Austrians on Lake Garda, where it trained in methods October 29 as part of the British XIV of warfare suitable for the difficult Corps of the Italian Tenth Army, the mountain terrain which comprised the American regiment forming the advance greater part of the Italian theater of oper- guard of the corps. On November 3, ations. Early in October it moved to after several hard marches, the 332d In- Treviso, behind the Piave River Front, fantry established contact with an enemy where it was assigned to the Italian 31st rear-guard battalion which was defending Division. From there, for purposes of the crossings of the Tagliamento River deceiving the enemy, it staged a series of near the village of Ponte-della-Delizia. marches in which each battalion, with Early on November 4 the 2d Battalion

(430) AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN ITALY AND NORTHERN RUSSIA 431

1he 332d Infantry Crossing the Piave River on a Ponton Bridge in Pursuit of the Austrians crossed the river on a narrow footbridge ta go to Treviso and the 3d Battalion to and after a brief fight captured the Aus- Fiume, Austria. The 2d Battalion was trian position on the far side. Continuing stationed at Cattaro, Dalmatia, and a to move forward along tlte Treviso-Udine detachment from it was sent to Cetinje, railroad, the 2d Battalion occupied the Montenegro. In March 1919 the regi- town of Codroipo where it took possession ment was assembled in Genoa and on of large stores of munitions and supplies. April 3 its last elements embarked from At 3: OO p. m., November 4, when the that seaport for the United States. armistice between Italy and Austria- In addition ta this American infantry Hungary became effective, the leading force, 30 American ambulance sections, American elements were at Villorba. a base hospital and 54 airplane pilots After this Armistice the American troops also served with the Italian Army. formed part of the Allied forces stationed The American pilots, as members of in Austria and along the Dalmatian coast. Italian bombardment squadrons, engaged The lst and 3d Battalions were at Car- in bombing raids behind the Austrian mons near Gorizia, Austria. Later in lines, being especially active during the N ovember the lst Battalion was ordered progress of the Vittorio-Veneto offensive.

Detachment of the 332d lnfantry Near the Front Lines Norrheast of Treviso, Italy, October 5, 1918 AMERICAN TROOPS IN NORTHERN R USSIA SEPTEMBER 4, 1918-AUGUST 5, 1919

RIOR to the collapse of Russia in there. Consequently an Allied force P1917, vast quantities of military sup- under British command was dispatched plies had been assembled in the northern by sea and on August 3, 1918, seized the part of that country at the ports of Arch- city of Archange! and drove the Bolshe- ange! and Murmansk, the latter being an vik troops to the south of that place.

American Forces in Northern Russia Sept. 4, 1918-Aug. 5, 1919

Bolshie-Ozerki

Seletskoe

<-,sereznik

) Kitsa

62°

* Headquarters American Forces Northern Russia Scene of American Activity open port the year round though north of The British Government, through its the Arctic Circle. The Supreme War Ambassador at Washington, urged Ameri- Council believed that Allied troops should can participation in the undertaking. As be sent to secure these ports for the use of a result the War Department on July 23 the Allies and to save the supplies located directed the Commander-in-Chief of the

(432) AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN ITALY AND NORTHERN RUSSIA 433

American Expeditionary Forces to send places were as great a distance as 200 three battalions of infantry and three miles from their main base at Archangel. companies of engineers to join this Allied The American soldiers soon partici- venture. The 339th Infantry, lst Battal- pated in the figbting, their first casualties ion of the 310th Engineers, 337th Field occurring on September 1 G in the general Hospital and 337th Ambulance Company, area to the south of Obozerskaya. ail of the 85th Division, were designated. During their service in Russia the Amer- They sailed from England, and arrived ican troops conducted many small opera- in Northern Russia on September 4. tions un der arduous conditions, the normal Operating under British command, this bardships of warfare being intensified by

An Advanced Outpost of ch e 339rh Infancry in Northern Russia, February 21, 1919 small American contingent was soon split the deep snow, intense cold, darkness of up in isolated detachments protecting, winter in the Arctic Zone and the long with Allied troops and Russian volunteers, lines of communication, which were in con- the vital points on the railroads and ri vers stant danger of being eut by the enemy. which were the main avenues of approach During January 1919 the Bolsheviki to the coast. 'fhe Americans were spread launched an offensive northward between out over a front of 450 miles and in some the Dvina River and the railroad, forcing 434 AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN ITALY AND NORTHERN RUSSIA

American Soldiers in Archange!, Russia, Octoher 25, 1918

Convoy En Route from Archange! to Bereznik, Russia Typical view of the terrain of the region AMERICAN OPERATIONS IN ITALY AND NORTHERN RUSSIA 435

American Blockhouse at Tulgas, on the Dvina River, Russia Two parrols are in front of the blockhouse, one rerurning, the orher just scarting the evacuation of Ust-Padenga, Shenkursk May 1919. They were assembled at Arch- and Shegovari after heavy fighting. This ange! and soon thereafter sailed for caused the Allies to establish a new line of France, being replaced by British troops defense, and in garrisoning it the American newly arrived from England and by Rus- forces became more widely dispersed than sian soldiers. On August 5 the headquar- before. In March severe fighting devel- ters of the American force in N orthern oped around Bolshie-Ozerki and on May 1 Russia was officially closed. a long-threatened attack in the vicinity of In the opinion of the senior American the Vaga River, 18 miles southeast of officer the expedition was not particularly the town of Bereznik, was beaten off. well managed and his troops were sub- During April 1919 the American 167th jected to needless hardships. and 168th Railroad Transportation Com- More than 400 casualties were suffered panies joined the expedition, operating by this small American force, most of them mainly in the M urmansk region. After occurring after the fighting had ceased on performing valuable service they were the Western Front. In spite of this, how- returned to France three months later. ever, and the trying nature of their serv- The American soldiers began to be with- ice, the American uni ts performed their drawn from the forward positions late in duties with great fortitude and bravery. Outpost of the 339th Infantry at Ust-Padenga, Russia This was the most distant post frorn rhe base at A rchangel Americao Docks at Nantes, November 3, 1918 Third Jargest port of the A.E.F.