The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-10-03
laps OPPOSE YANKS
IN SIBERIAN CLASH
American Soldier FIogged by Or
der of Cossack Commander.
U. S. GENERAL TAKES ACTION
Demands an Apology From the Cos
sacks-Japsnese Major Warns
That His Men viii Side With
the Russiana

Washington, Oct 1.--Major General
Graves, commanding the American
forces in Siberia, Is understood to
have acted upon official instructions
from the war department in demand
ing an apology from the COssack COM
mander for the fiOgging of an Ameri-
can soldier and an investigation Of jap
anese interference between the Ameri-
can and COsSack forces. IS
General Graves has reported the In
cident In detail and army officials said
the situation was the most serious
which has occurred since the Ameri-
can forces went into Siberia.
Yank Corporal FIogged.
VladivOstOk, Oct. Mai Gen. Will
liam s. Graves, commander of Ameri-
can forces in Siberia, has demanded
an apology from General Rozanoff, In
command of Russian troops in Pria-
muir province, for the arrest of Capt.
l.. 2. Johns of the Twenty-Seventh reg
iment and Corporal benjamin Sperling
of the Thirty-first, and the flogging OF
the latter by Cossacks commanded by
General KalmikOff
An investigation of the conduct of
a Japanese officer at Imam, the place
where the arrests took place, has also
begun by the Japanese high command.
The incident, which occurred Septem-
Der 5, is considered one of the most
serious since the allies landed in ST.
IBERIA.
American Troops to Rescue.
The two Americans, in uniform and
on official business. went to Imam,
town 40 miles north of this city, on
the section of the railroad guarded
by Chinese troops passports being un-
necessary by agreement between the
allies.
While they were at the hotel there
a detachment of COssacks entered and
arrested the Americans, claiming they
were not provided with Identification
papers Captain Johns managed to
escape, and catching a moving train,
went to Spasske, where he reported to
the American officer in command.
A detachment of $50 Americans from
the REIMBURSEMENT regiment at once
entra med and went to Imam to effect
Sperling's release. and on arriving
there took three Cossacks as hos
tages.
Japs Side With Cossacks.
They found General Kalmikoff's
men intrenched near the station and
were preparing to use force against
them when a Japanese major inter-
fered for the Cossacks, stating it is
alleged that in the event of hostilities
between the Americans and COssacks
the Japanese troops at Imam would
side with the latter.
He at last told the Americans that
Sporting had been taken to Khabor-
Ovsk, where General Kalmikoff has his
headquarters.
telegraphic demand for Sporting
was sent to KhaborOvsk and reply
was received that he would be released
at once The Americans returned to
Spasske, taking their hostages with
them.
A preliminary Investigation of the
incident shows, it is said, that Sper-
ling was fiogged, punishment that is
usually melted out to recalcitrant Cos
sacks.
General KalmikOff. who is consld-.
cred by Americans here as siberian
Villa" has, with his band been a
constant source of trouble, it is
charged, his raids being marked by
cruelties and atrocities He was re-
Gently appointed military commander
of KhabOrovsk district by General Ro-
zanoff, and 1t is alleged this has
brought about an increase in his ac-
tivities.