Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-11
j. s. SOLDIERS ,
REFUSE TO GO
AGAINST RUSS


sociated Press advices from Arch
angel that what amounted to mutiny
occurred among the American
troops there on March go A COM
pany of infantry. the message stated,
refused to entrain for the front I'M
til personally urged to do so by
Col. George E. Stewart. command
ing the American contingent. Open
threats were made of general mutiny
unless a definite statement from
Washington insuring early with
drawal was forthcoming.
The text of the paraphrase of the
code message, dated March 81, fol-
lows, the department having elm
mated only the identification of the
company and certain military in
formation not bearing on the in
cident.
Yesterday morning, March 80,
company of infantry, having re-
ceived orders to the railroad front,
was ordered out of barracks for
the purpose of packing sleds for
the trip across the river to the rail
road station.
Agree to Pack.
"The officer, who was in charge
Of the packing, soon reported to the
officers that the men refused to
obey. At this, some of the officers
took charge, and, all except one
man began reluctantly to pack after
a considerable delay. The soldier
who continued to refuse was placed
in confinement. Colonel Stewart,
having been sent for, arrived and
had the men assembled to talk with
them.
Upon the condition that the
prisoner above mentioned was re-
leased, the men agreed to go. This
was done and the company then
proceeded to the railway station,
and entrained there for the front.
That they would not 60 to the front
line positions was openly stated by
the men, however, and they would
only go to Obozerskaya. They
also stated that Immediately gen.
efal mutiny would soon come it
there was not some definite state
ment coming from Washington
with regard to the removal OF
American troops from Russia at
the earliest possible date"
Cable for Information.
The department has cabled for
more information. From the mes
sage received today officials were
unable to ascertain whether condi-
ton of mutiny had in fact developed
III the past ten days. Pending fuller
advices, no comment was forthcom-
ing as to the course to be pursued.
Presumably it was said Colonel
Stewart already had been advised d.
rectly that it was the purpose of the
supreme war council, in charge OF
the policy governing the movement,
to withdraw the entire force from
northern Russia, when the ice block
aiding the harbors goes out. The
British relief expedition originally
scheduled to be 2,400 strong. has
sailed, as have the two companies OF
American railway engineers sent at
the request of the British authorities
to keep open the railroad south of
Murmansk.
The dispatch today did not show
to what extent bolshevik propaganda
lists could be held responsible for the
behavior of the troops. nor has any
information reached the department
tending to show the extent to which
the rebellious attitude may have
spread through the whole American
contingent.
No Action Probable.
While the action of the company
at Archangel undoubtedly is mt
tinous under any strict Interpretation
of the military code and would rem
der the men liable to severe dis
culinary action, under ordinary cir
cumstances, War department Off
Gals did not believe such action
would result. 1t was pointed out
that the men apparently obeyed their
orders substantially when the situa-
ton had been made clear to them.
Only in the event of a refusal which
ieopardized the lives of other men.
il was thought would any drastic
measures of discipline be invoked.
Officers here were frankly doubtful
that public sentiment at home would
permit any other course and many
of them expressed sympathy with
the feelings of the men.
The Three Hundred Thirty-ninth
infantry of the Eighty-fifth division
forms the bulk of the American con-