New-York tribune., 1918-05-23
Wilson Will Be Asked To-
day to Let Russian Vol
unteers Go Home
Seek Real Republic;
Indorse Kerensky
Leaders Say Natives, Dis.
gusted by German Peace,
VIII Welcome Them

Two hundred thousand Russian vol
unteers, pledged to take up again the
fight against Germany on the Eastern
front, and, at the same time, to re-
establish the Kerensky regime in their
native land, to-day will petition at
Washington for the official sanction Of
the United States to their project.
At 1880 o'clock last night a COM
mission of four, representing the new
the Pennsylvania Station in this city
for the Capitol. Among the quartet
are inclded two former officials Of the
Kerensky government. They will lay
their plans and purposes before both
President Wilson and Secretary Baker.
If the expected approval is secured
from these quarters, the Russians de-
clare they are prepared to begin as
sembling their forces on the coast at
once, whence the plan is that they
shall proceed by way of Siberia into
Russia, and thence to the front line
trenches.
Plan Carefully Detailed
Sensational though this scheme may
sound in the first breath, the commits
sion-composed of Appolinary Dimitrie-
witch Semenoffsky, formerly Military
Minister of Ways and Communications
under Kerensky; Colonel L. R. Koch,
member of the Russian commission
sent by Kerensky to this country;
Whitney Wishnevietzky, representing
the Russian labor party, and Elias Ro-
senthal, for thirty-fve years a leading
Russian attorney in this city-declared
before leaving here last night that all
the details have been most carefully
thought out.
This is in no sense an irresponsible
action, taken on the spur of the mo-
ment," said Mr.. Rosenthal. "The prof.
ect which we are undertaking repre-
sents the considered judgment of the
Federation of Russian Organizations of
America, which comprises all the repu-
table Russian societies in this country
and Canada. 1t is the upshot of the
five-day all Russian Congress held early
last winter in this city at Arlington
Hall. 1t is the action which represent
ative Russians in this country all feel
must be taken if the nation is to be
saved"
According to the commissioners, all
the phases of this ambitious coup have
been worked out in collaboration with
authorized Kerensky representatives
abroad. 1t is in large measure to lend
cohesion to this movement, they said,
that the proposed coming of Kerensky
to this country was first broached
For more than a fortnight, they
added, they have been considering the
most propitious time for making pub
haJ ,,Io Nd -
request for American sanction formal
ly at Washington. Last Saturday,
President Wilson's open avowal of his
intention to "stand by Russia as we'll
as France" decided them that the
moment for action had arrived. I'M
mediately the executive committee of
the Federation of Russian Organiza-
tions of America was called together
and the commission which left here
last night was appointed.
"Prior to that" said Mr.. Rosenthal.
meeting of Russians had been held
throughout the country. Here. under
the auspices of the Federation of Rus
sian Organizations of America, the best
means of saving the nation and re-
aligning it among the Allied powers
were discussed. AS soon as we were
assured that an armed force from
America would be acceptable, Russians
here were only too eager to enlist"
Opposed to Bolsheviki
This organization though Mr.. Rosen-
thai was explicit in pointing out, is
in no way connected with the so-cailed d
American Red Guard" which, with q
great flourish of trumpets the Bolsh-
evik sympathizers here tried to organ
ize some months ago. On the CON
1rary. ne said, it is made up of Rus
publicans at heart, are disgusted with
the chaos and excesses into which their
county has been driven through
Bolshevist leadership"
Also. Mr.. Rosenthal stated, no men
who would be subject to the American
draft have been included in its mer-
bership. They are all either exempt
outside the. American draft ages, OF
Russians who have never been natural
ized in this country. This, the COM
mission believes, is further reason
Why the Administration should look
hIev