The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-04-16

feeling among American, troops, of.
! ticers as well as men, Because of this
feeling it is admitted. more or less
generally, that the troops here prob,
ably would be of little use afte,
June |.
In official circles in Archangel
there is no disposition seriously to
blame the troops for this condition
On their arrival in North Russia last
September the Americans were keen
for fighting the Bolsheviki, who they
had been told were German agents.
! They have fought bravery throughout
the campaign and they are still doing
so.
| Men Losing Spirits.
However, since the urmistice with
Germany was declared, the soldiers
have been subjected to constant Boil
shcvik propaganda, which together
with their desire to return home after
| the end of the war for which they
were drafted and the hardships and
loneliness Of the Arctic winter, has
caused them to lose their spirits.
Meanwhile, they have had no of
fetal statement from the government
to answer the Bolshevik propaganda
anu IlO AHlcllCdn III AIcIldngcl is IN
4 position to tell them officially what
they are fighting for
Amounting to Mutiny.
Washington, April 1O.-The War
Department issued tonight an official
statement confirming Associated
Press ;advices from Archangel that
what amounted to a mutiny took place
among the American troops there on
March so. A company of infantry,
the message stated refused to entrain
for the front until personally urged
to do so by COL George E. Stewart,
commanding the American contingent.
Open threats were made of general
nutiny 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 departure having eliminat-
ed only the Identification of the COM
Dany and certain military information
not bearing on the incident:
yesterday morning, March 80, a.
company of infantry, having received
orders to the railroad front, was or
dered out of barraks for the purpose
of packing sleds for the trip across
the river to the railroad station.
The noncommissioned officer who
was in charge of the packing soon
reported to obey. At this some of the
officers took charge and all except
'ne man began reluctantly to pack
ter a considerably delay. The SOL
.It who continued to refuse was
! I'd in confinement. Col Stewart.
wing been sent for, arrived and had
the men assembled to talk with them.
Upon the condition that the pris-
oner above mentioned was released,
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 go to the front line positions was
openly stated by the men, however,
and they would only go to Obozer-
skaya. They also started that general
mutiny would soon come if there was
not some definite statement forth
coming from Washington with the re-
gard to removal of American troops
from Russia at the earliest possible
date.
Seeks Further Information.
The department has cabled for more
information. From the message re-
ceived today officials were unable to
ascertain whether condition of mu-
tiny had in fact developed in the past
ten days. Pending further advices no
comment was Forthcoming as to the
course to be pursued
Presumably, it was said, Col. Stew
art already had been advised directly
that it was the purpose Of the Su-
preme War Council. in charge of the
policy governing the movement. 20
withdraw the entire force from Nol tn
ern Russia when the ice blocading the
harbors goes out. The British relief
expedition, originally scheduled to be
2.400 strong, has sailed, as have the
two company of American railway en-
r~ineers sent at the request of the
British authorities to keep open the
railroad south of Murmask.
Announcement of the purpose to
withdraw the force was made official
lv to congressional military commit
tees by Secretary Baker February II
on instructions from President Wilson.
Supr iementing that statement. Gen
March, chief of staff, said last Satur-
day that the American contingent
would certainly be withdrawn by
June.
Makes 1t More Serious.
The official report makes the Incl
dent even more serious than the orig
inal press account. Intimations that
a general feeling of unrest pervaded
the entire force have come epreviously
from Gen. lronSides, the British com
nander in-chicf. Both British and
.