Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-10
AMERICAN MISSION
. SEES DETR|MENT
IN SUCH COURSE
Only One Member Thinks It
Desirable to Put Soldiers
on Eastern Front.
OTHERS DECLARE NEED
OF NATION Is NOT MEN
Organization and Encouragement
on Part of United States
Earnestly Urged.
ENTERTAINED By LANSING
Written Report, Submitted to Presi.
dent Wilson, May Not Be
Made Public.
ENTERTAINED By LANSING
Written Report, Submitted to Presis
dent Wilson. May Not Be
Made Public.
lRy Associated Pre.s.l

WASHINGTON, August 3.-Emphatfc
disaprroval Of the suggestion that
American troops be sent to the east
ern front was brought home by all
except one of the members Of the
American mission to Russia.
1t was authoritatively stated to-
night that Charles Edward Russell 10
the only commissioner who believes II
desirable to put soldiers from the Unit.
ed States in Russia, and that the
others are convinced that their pres
ence would be detrimental rather than
helpful to the armies of the democracy.
Elihu Root and his associates on the
mission lunched with Secretary Lam
sing to-day, and told him more OF
their experiences and conclusions.
Their written report. submitted to
President Wilson yesterday. probably
will not be madc public.
Organization and encouragement. and
not men, 1t was explained Tonight,
are Russias needs, in the opinion OF
the majority of the commissioners.
With 100000 men Under arms, they
think. Russia requires no more SOL
diers: particularly she does not need
few thousand strange soldiers. speak
Ing an unfamiliar tongue. drawing
better pay and eating better food.
than her own men. AS an aid to ac-
tual fighting. II was pointed out, the
small number of American troops that
could be maintained in Russia, would
be OF little or no value.
MUST LEND ASSISTANCE
TO MEN IN FIELD
Lending assistance to the men now
In the field. rather tnan putting moro
men there to drain the already scant
supplies. is the duty of this country.
the commissioners feel Rolling stock
for the railroads to carry supplies and
equipment to the native soldiers, and
the supplies themselves. are the real
requirements. and they will grow.
Both Russian and Roumanian forces
will need supplies and equipment worse
next winter than they do to-day. and
the transportation problems then will
be greater also.
Or the greatest importance. the com.
missicners say. is constant encourage
ment from citizens and the newspa-
pers of the United States. Anti-Ameri-
can propaGandists. headed by former
residents OF this country. and now
financed by German money. are seek
ing to paint Americans in the black
est shade and thus discourage Rus
slams from accepting their good Of.
fees.
The story OF the origin OF this ex-
traordinary propaganda is vouched for
by every member OF the commission.
Shortly after the outbreak of the rev.
olution. il is declared. the propaSand-
lists. composed chiefly of Socialists ia
vorablc to abolishing all present forms
of government and establishing with
out delay rule by the brotherhood of
man. returned to their native land
and began berating the United States
and it's people. Germans. quick to
see TIE advantage of controlling these
agitators. began supplying them with
money. and to-day, flushed with wealth.
they are going through Russia spread
ing the most vicious canards.
SELDOM IN CONTACT
WITH AMERICAN CITIZENS
One OF the commissioners. discussing
these men tonight. said he could only
explain their attitude before coming
into German money by their never hav-
ing become an integral part of the
United States citizenry. Many OF them
1t is understood. lived in the congest-
cd foreign sections OF New York, and
seldom came in contact with Amcrt-
can citizens.
While the propagandists' efforts are
being discounted now that Russia ts
becoming better organized, they have
instilled dangerous seeds in the simple
minds OF many Russians
Six special reports probably will be
submitted to different departments OF
the government. Upon arrival in Rus
sia. each commissioner was given a
special assignment to cover some par
ticular branch OF the new government
The assignments were as follows:
Mr.. Root. ministry; Charles Edward
Russell, workmens council. political
parties and Socialists; Cyrus H Nc
Cormick and Charles r. Rertron,
finance: James Duncan. labor: John
Il. Mott and Charles r. Crane, re-
lision; Major General Hugh l.. Scott,
army; RearAdmirai James H. Glen.
non, navy.
Reports on labor conditions particu-
larly are being eagerly awaited by
government officials and labor Leaders,