South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-13
TO
GIVE SINGLE VOTE
TO EACH MEMBER
SAY AGITATION
CAUSED MUTINY
BoISheviSt Propaganda is
Blamed for the ArChangeI
Disturbance.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON. April l2.-Ohi-
cial reports TO the war department
made public today by Gen. March,
chief of staff, show that the mutiny
among the American troops at
Archangel was directly due TO pro-
paganda circulated by bolshevik
sympathizers among the men, all Of
the questions asked by the soldiers
OF their officers having been direct
" suggested in leaflets urging the
Americans 10 revolt The mutiny
now appears to have been confined
TO the members of Co. /. 339th in
fantry, and 10 have ended when the
men entraineG for the front
we have a report from Muir
mansk, Gen. March said, Ito the
effect that the organization which
was referred to is CO. I, 539th in
fantry The dispatch states: 1t is
worthy of note that the questions
that were put 10 the officers b. the
men were Identical with those that
the bolsheviki propaganda leaflets
advised them TO put TO them
Anxious TO see Deaflet
Il have not seen this leaflet, but
[ am very anxious TO get 1t. This is
a very striking thing. 1 have had
long experience in the army and I
do not recall ever having seen
American soldiers who did not want
TO set into a fight. They AWAY s
said Lead me TO it. and went TO it.
1T is very important thing. We
want TO get hold of that bOlshevid
pamphlet and find out just what
they are up TO-"
The information as TO the source
of the mutiny, coupled with the fact
that no reports of such refusals to
do duty have come, led officers to
believe that events would snow that
the single agitator in Co. /, who was
arrested for stubborn refusal to pro-
coed with his company when the
others had decided to obey, was
very largely responsible for what
happened. They regarded it as
almost certain that ne would prove
10 be a man with bolshcvik tenden-
cies and had no thought that he
would be severely punished. The re-
mainder of the company, il was
said. would take a different view Of
their action when they realized how
it was viewed at home.
Situation Improved.
The general situation Of the forces
at Murmansk and Archangel has
been improved, Gen. March said,
through the re-opening Of the rail-
road from Murmansk south, bring
ing the distant southern outposts
into direct touch with headquarters.
The chief OF staff did not believe
the military situation in northern
Russia was at al alarming. he said
transportation was now open 10 such
an extent that there would be little
difficulty in Withdrawing the forces.
They have constant communica-
ton by LAND and water between
Murmansk and Archangel," he said.
Il do not think the withdrawal
question presents any difhcUlty.
Communicate by Rail.
Eve nave a report from the
Murmansk district that on March
IS the Onda bridge had been re-
built and direct communication by
rail hes now been established vita
the most southern post Of the allies.
OF course. the situation Of these
small detachments is not known 70
US mere. Sometimes they change
overnight and il takes about week
for messages TO get through. But
now that they have got the railroad
straight through 10 The front, the
questions Of supply and reinforce
ment are solved There should be
no trouble about il now"