The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-11
Infantry Company Rebels
at Order to Entrain
for Front.
OBEYS COLONEL'S PLEA
Washington Must Make In
tentiOns Known to Save -
Situation.
MICHIGAN UNIT DEFIANT
jBolshevik Propaganda May
Be Cause of Action of
Yankee Troops.


WASHINGTON, April 1o.-The War
Department issued tonight an official
statement confirming Associated
Press advices from Archangel that
what amounted to a mutiny oc-
curred among the American troops
there on March 80. A company Of
infantry. the message stated, refused
TO entrain for the front until person
ally urged to do SO by Col. George E.
Stewart, commanding the American
contingent. Open threats were made
OF general mutiny unless a definite
statement from Washington insuring
early withdrawal was Forthcoming.
The text Of the paraphrase of the
code message dated March 81 follows,
this department having eliminated
only the Identification of the COM
pany and certain military informa-
tion not bearing on the incident.
Men Refuse TO obey.
'Yesterday morning, March 30. a
company OF Infantry. having received
orders to 60 TO the railroad front. was
ordered out OF barracks for the purpose
of packing sleds for the trip across the
liver to the railroad station" said the
message.
The non-commissioned officer who
v.ns in charge OF the packing soon re-
ported to the officers that the men re-
fused 10 obey. At this some OF the Of
fcers took charge. and all except one
man began reluctantly TO pack after a
considerable delay. The soldier who con-
i!Hued TO refuse was placed il confine-
nient Col. Stewart, having been sent
for. arrived and had the men assembled
to talk with him.
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 rail-
way station and entrained there for the
front. That they would not go to the
front line positions was openly stated
Ivy the men, however. and they would
cnly go TO Obozerskaya. They also stated
that general mutiny would soon come II
there was not some definite statement
forthcoming from Washington with re-
gard to the removal OF American troops
from Russia at the earliest possible
date"
Announcement OF the purpose to with
draw the force was made officially to
Congressional military committees by
Secretary Baker February II on in
structions from President Wilson. Sup
plementing that statement, Gen. March.
chief Of Stan, said last SATURDAY that
the American contingent would certainly
b. withdrawn by June.
situation Is Serious.
The official report makes the incident
Na, he rteyfy, y,aI q
accounts limitations that a general
feeling OF unrest pervaded the entire
force have come previously from Gen.
Ironsides. the British commander in
chief. But American officers on the
scene have felt that the morale of the
American troops was too high for such
an outbreak
The despatch to-day did not show
10 what extent Bolsheyik propaganda
ists could be held responsible for the
beha vior Of the troops. nor has any
information reached the Department
tendin.. 10 show the extent to which
the IeOellious attitude may have spread
through the whole American contingent
Tlfe 33s;h Infantry OF the Eighty
fifth Division forms the bulk OF the
american contingent in the Archange
region The unit Is already wholly
composed Of selective service men from
Michigan. 1t is. commanded by Col
George Z. Stewart of the Regular Army
who served In some OF the most north
erly posts in Alaska.