The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-16
INFANTRY FROM
PHILIPPINES IN
OTANTS ARMY
Military Assistance Arrives
Opportunely to Assist
CzechO-SlOvaks.
BOLSHEVIkI ARE ACTIVE
Lenine and Germans Prepare
to Resist, but Russians
Arc Friendly.
BOLSHEVIKI ARE ACTIVE

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-Secretary OF
War Baker announced to-day that Amer.
lean troops had begun to land at Vladi-
vostok.
The first to reach there are troops
from the Philippines, tho Twenty-sev-
enth Infantry. and the news OF their
safe arrival was flashed to Washington
before they had fully debarked.
This means the beginning Of Ameri-
can military participation In Siberia,
where American as well as British.
French. Italian and Chinese troops will
cooperate with the Japanese under Gen.
Joint international force.
Advices Indicate strongly that this
military force, which has been formed
for the purpose OF assisting the Czecho-
Slovaks and other patriotic Russians
against German aggressions. is assum-
ing practical shape Just in the nick Of
time. for there IL increasing evidence
that the Germans and the Bolshevik
followers OF Lenine are planning to use
force against the Czecho-Slovaks on a
scale hitherto not attempted.
CseehS-01o~aks IN Need Gc Asa.
, There Il likewise evidence that the
Csecho- -slovaks arr badly in need Of i'm
mediate military aid.
The Twenty-seventh Infantry Of
United States regulars will be reinforced
In the very near future by troops from
the Eighth Division, which were sta
toned at Camp Fremont. Cal. The
Thirty-frst Infantry from the Philip
pines will also Join this force. Major
Gen. William S. Graves will command
the American expedltionary force but
will be under Gen, Otani, the ranking
officer and the commander in chief.
veil OF military secrecy has been
thrown over the operations which Gen.
Otani Is about to conduct In Siberia.
There is reason to believe that the
whole hearted support which the Rus
SLAMS are giving to the Czecho-Slovaks
and the pronounced hostility Of the Boil
shevik leaders to the Allies and the pa
triotic Russians who wish to have their
country freed from Germany's clutches,
will make a change in the size Of the
allied force necessary.
Japan Can Send Men Quickly.
1t Is clearly understood that the Jap
anese will be in a position to despatch
speedily considerable bodies OF troops TO
Vladivostok the moment It becomes evil
dent that such reenforcements are nec-
essary.
Military men here expect the Japanese
commander In chief TO strike first at Lake
Baikal, the most important centre Of ac-
tion on the Siberian railroad. The ad-
vantage OF this plan Is that In addition
to the forces landing at Vladivostok,
Gen. Otani will be in a position to call
upon a large number OF Japanese troops
already I'm Manchuria, and along the
line OF the railroad running northward
from Darien. These troops can be
massed at Harbin and sent from there
to Lake BaikaL
The question of maintaining control o:
the trans-Siberlan railway and prevent
ing interruption OF communication be-
tween Czecho- Slovak forces operating In
the west and the allied forces in the
east will be solved in the manner
| deemed best by Gen. otani.
Much OF course will depend on ths
character OF the resistance which tht
interallied and American force en-.
counters. There Is a general belief now
that the Germans and the Bolsheviki
are as anxious to break up and destroy
the Czecho- o-Slovsks and the patriotic
elements OF Russia as the United States
and the Allies are to build them up and
assist them.