The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-09
RUSH TROOPS
TO AID RUSSIA,
ADVISES ROOT
Tells President of Peril Ger
mans May Crush Way Far
Into Slav Lands.
WORK DELIGHTS WILSON
Mission Found German Agents
Sent Scores From New York
to Defame 1t.
WORK DELIGHTS WILSON
Special Despatch TO THE Sun.


WASHINGTON, Aug. s.-President VIII
son to-day heard from Elihu Root and
members OF the American mission to
Russia the anxiously awaited report on
conditions in Russia and the recon-
mendations which are to guide the
United States in its policy toward as
sisting the new republic.
Hopeful assurances that the worst OF
the Russian crisis Ia passed and formu-
lation of plans which may mean the
early despatch Of American troops to
the Russian front summarize the sali-
ent features OF the White House con-
ference.
Mr.. Root believes that the Russians
have risen safely above the dangers Of
Internal chaos which were threatened
from the activities OF extreme Socialists
and the highly organized and wide
spread German propaganda. He has
confidence in Russia's ability to main
tain its present form of government
against all internal obstacles. But the
greatest danger now is that the Ger
man military machine may crush its
way far enough into the heart of Rus
sa to dominate the country, as Ger
many has dominated Poland or Bel
gium.
America Must Act Speedily.
1t is against this menace that the
Entente and the United States must
how take speedy action. All depends on
whether the Russian armies will weaken
under lack Of organization at home or
whether, as hoped, the Russian troops
will be maintained on an efficient fight
ing ba sis and encouraged at this critical
juncture
This latter phase Of the situation
lends particular color to reports that
Mr.. Root believes the sending OF ar
American force to the Russian from
would have a most beneficial effect or
the military and economic situation.
The President and Mr.. Root spent
more than an hour discussing the more
Important phases Of the missions work
U Is known that the President is more
encouraged tonight than he has beer
for weeks, and that he personally con.
graduated Mr. Root and his associate:
on the results they achieved. They are
Consolidation OF the Russian fac
tions into so-called national party.
fired by determination to follow the
! leadership OF men like Kerensky,
MlluhiHs I'4dH'llAlI anu fIlUtt NIp-
potku and prevent internal discord
from defeating the basic aims OF the
new republic
Defeat Of the wholesale German
propaganda by exposing the intrigues
/ Of Teuton agents and frustrating the
! widespread campaign about every
] thing American.
Demonstration to the Russians that
! lasting peace cannot come until Ger
! man militarlsm has been eliminated.
Baked German Peace Plot.
/ When Mr. Root reached Petrograd h,
/ found that "A large element OF the Rus
sian people were sincere in their belle
that their duty was to oppose further
war and seek lasting peace on a sort o
I brotherhood OF man basis Under guild
ance of German agents their number
was growing in leaps and bounds.
II was for their special benefit tha
Mr.. Root set out TO prove that tn
realization of such ideas could not b.
had while German autocracY dominates
Europe. Mr.. Root and his associate
succeeded in opening the eyes of thes
people so that when the American mis-
sion left their numbers had dwnded I,
1 practically nothing.
Astonishing evidence has been brough
back by Mr.. Root regarding the organ
lied German propaganda which is estab
lished all through Russia and whc
forms part OF a system which has activ
agents in every city throughout tn
United States. The most unbelievabl
ramifications of this system have bee
unearthed by the American mission. !
has been proved that German none
brlbed hundreds of soAcalled naturalize
Americans OF Russian birth to leav
New York for Petrograd and there ex
pound theories hostile to the Unite
States and the Entente.
In explanation Of the apparent eas
with which the Russian people hay
thrown off the forms OF a despotic MOI
archy and turned so readily to the ide
Of representative government Mr.. Roc
referred to the fact that the populatlo
is nearly so per cent. agricultural,
seIf-goVerened Locally.
The present farmers had long been a,
customed to the idea of local self-go'
ernment through their mayors in the
little communities and in a large wa
through the Zemstvos which gathered
every district and exercised large mea
ure Of control over local affairs. 1t W,
conparatively easy with this foundatiC
10 tAldllu NllN lANn VI i''f'i ''ll -kONtIl
ment to national government. II
Russian people were accustomed to coul
ell among themselves, making repr
sentative gatherings easy.
"The extreme element, that favorir
; the destruct ion of all property, has be-
got under control" said Mr.. Root "l
fact it had practically been driven o.
of its temporary ascendancy before Il
commission left Petrograd. believe
exclusion Is permanent and that 1t ca
not regain control against the forces
; law and order.
1--WE took a long time to form tn
> Government of the United States
| America" said Mr.. Root, adding with
smile, "and Judge from the newspape
+ that we have not yet perfected 1t al
that a good deal remains to be done,
will take some time for the new Russia
Government to take form. though 1t is
fact that in the short period of its exis
ence remarkable progress has been ma,
in that direction. II cannot be said tn
. the bottom has been struck, but Il
prospects certainly are bright"
Americas part in the reorganizatit
, OF Russia, Mr. Root said, has been ind
Gated. What Is needed are moral su
mort, railway materials, money and e
Z pert help in the development of inlu