Middletown transcript., 1917-05-19
MISSION To RUSSIA
WILL START soon
EIihu Root Will Have Support
of Noted Men.
ROUTE TO BE KEPT SECRET
Chairman To Have Powers Of Spe-
cial Ambassador - Associates
Chosen With Special Regard
To Conditions.

Observation-Disclosures announcement
of the personnel of the American Com
mission to Russia marked forward
step in President Wilson'S effort TO
thwart Germany's intrigues for sep
arate peace with the new democracy
and to hold the Provisional Govern
ment fast to the cause of the world
against Prussian autocracy.
Headed by Elihd Root, with powers
of a special ambassador. the personnel
of the commission was chosen with
special regard to conditions in Russia,
and the character of the new Govern
ment.
Besides Mr. Root, who represents
the element of craftsmanship with the
distinction of having held many mgh
offices in the United States, the COM
mission comprises a Socialist, labor
leader, a banker, a manufacturer,
business man, a man celebrated for
his international activities in human
welfare and ranking army and navy
officers.
The commission will be accompan-
led by large suite and will depart
from the United States at an early
date by route which will not be pub
lished in advance.
Men On Commission.
The members of the commission
a.e:
Elihu Root, New York, chairman.
Charles r. Crane, Chicago, manu-
factUrer and business man.
John r. Mott, OF New York, general
secretary international committee of
Young Mems Christian Association.
Cyrus Mccormick, Chicago, presi-
dent of the International Harvester
Company.
Samuel r. Berton. New York banker.
James Duncan, vice-president Ameri-
can Federation of Labor
Charles Edward Russell, New York.
author and Socialist.
Maj-Gen. Hugh l.. Scott, Chief of
Staff. United States Army.
Rear-Admiral James H. Glennon, L.
S. N
Bliss Temporary Chief Of Staff.
The appointment Of MajorGeneral
Scott as member of the commits
sion will only temporarily detach him
from his office of Chief of Staff, and
it was stated at the War Department
that he would resume these duties I'M
mediately upon his return from Russia.
During his absence Maj.-Gc1. Tasker
H. Bliss, assistant chief. will discharge
the duties of Chief Of Staff.
Brig. Gen. Francis J. Herman, for
merly colonel of the Twenty-eighth In
fantry and stationed at Ell Paso, Texas,
and who has just been promoted to
be a brigadier-general has been de-
tailed to the General Staff as assistant
to General Bliss during General
Scott's absence
Secretary Baker, in formal state
ment. declared General Scott goes to
Russia "in order that the people of
Russia may realize from the dignity
of office the full compliment and cordi
ality OF our great mission to them"
Three Officers AS Aides.
Three officers will go with the mis-
sion as aides to General Scott. They
are Col. Robert E. L. Niche, of the
General Staff; Lieut.. Col. T. Bentley
Mott, retired, former military attache
to the American Embassy at Petro-
grad, and Lieut.. Col William V. Jud-
son, of the Engineer Corps, military
observer with the Russian Army dur
ing the Russo-Ja IL Il war
Colonel Judson previously had been
assigned to organize and command one
of the nine army engineer regiments
to be sent to France for work on mil
itary communication lines.