The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-03
U. S. GENERAL HALTS
ARMS FOR KOLCHAK.
Washington Forces Graves to
d Deliver Rifles Despite Cos
N sacks Hostility.
oMSK Is "AsToNIsHED"
Fails to See Why Anti-Ameri-
! can Scurrility Should Stop
: Campaign on ''Reds."
By the Associated Press.


oMsK, Sept. 2S tdelayed) Major
Gen. William S. Graves. commander Of
American forces in Siberia, in retalia-
ton for. alleged scurrilous articles pub
lished in Vladivostok newspaper and
hostile acts Of Cossack chiefs in the Far
East, has held up shipment of $4,000
rifles which recently arrived at Vladi-
costok from America consigned to the
AlI-Russian Government at Omsk
Giving notice Of his action by tele-
graph through Major Slaughter, his rep
iesentative here, Gen. Graves, in direct
and forceful language, declares he per-
sonally will cause the arrest Of the of
Tending editor and the suppression OF
the newspaper, the Golos Rodini, unless
the Omsk Government does so. He as
serts further that unless the activity of
the Cossack chiefs is controlled he will
recommend that America refuse to rem
der further assistance to Russia. Gen.
Graves says he will retain the arms I'M
til advised as to what action the Omsk
Government proposes to take.
Waits on washingtop.
In replying. the Omsk Government
saws that in its view the subject con-
stltutes diplomatic and not military
problem, which should be approached
through recognized diplomatic channels,
and that the Government therefore
awaits a communication from the State
Department at Washington.
In respect to the holding up of the
shipment of rifles, establishment is ex-
presSed by the Government that local
troubles in the Far East which the Gov
eminent regards as an international
problem and not a purely Russian ono
should impel Gen. Graves to take steps
which might jeopardize a more far
reaching and more vital undertaking,
namely the suppression Of Bolshevism at
the critical moment when Siberian
troops are conducting a successful Of
fensive."
Rifles Are Delivered.
request of the Omsk Government the
State Department has secured the de-
livery of the $4,000 rifles held up in
Vladivostok by Mator-Gen. Graves, the
American commander, in retaliation for
anti-American articles in a Vladivostol
newspaper and because Of hostile acts
of sCossack chiefs in the Far East. Dip
lomatic efforts to persuade the Omsl
Government to suppress the newspaper
or to compel a less hostile attitude to.
ward the United States and the troops
under Gen. Graves are being made.
The. difficulties confronting the Omsl
Government are appreciated by State
Department officials, 1t was said, and
every effort is being made to assist Ad
miral Kolchak to crush Bolshevism.
In advising Gen. Graves to permit re
sumption of the arms shipments to th'
Koichak forces State Department Off
Gals took the position that Withholding
the rifles now. with wide offensive
against the Bolshevists starting. nigh
prove fatal to the success of the opera
ton. AS to the paper which arouse'
: Gen. Gravess resentment. 1t was said
the American commander had full powe
to suppress 1t, even though the Kolchal
Government might not, for political rea
sons, wish to move against the press.