The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-27

London, July 26.--"Pray Heaven
no Russian Napoleon may arise!" WAS
the cry OF Sir Donald Maclean In the
house OF commons during a passion
ate speech attacking the govern
! ment's policy of armed Intervention
| in the affairs OF Russia
His hearers needed no chart to see
the analogy between Russia in revo-
luton today and France in the throes
OF her republican rehirth more than a
hundred years ago, when the ragged
revolutionary legions OF General Du-
| mouriez met the armies of the allies
dispatched to crush a government Of
regicfdes in France, scattered them to
the winds and opened the path for the
ensuing conquests Of Napoleon.
It is significant thing that British
statesmen and publicists are begin
ming to ask more and more insistent-
ly: What business have the allied
armies on Russian territory?" The
same questions are being asked in the
senate OF the United States. in the
chamber OF France-in every legis-
lative body representing a flag flying
on Russian soil except that OF the
empire OF Japan. There the answer
Is SO obvious that none raises a uues-
ton. bee ause in this instance. at least,
the Japanese are more straightfor-
ward than their allies. Their flag
stands in Siberia for revenue only"
To put the matter very bluntly. has
something been put over" on the
peoples Of Britain, the United States
and France by certain ast.te states
men having their own or intimate
allied interests to serve?
In common with other American
correspondents in London and Paris,
the writer remembers very poign-
ant1y certain circumstances occurring
late In March. Out OF a clear sky
suddenly came the announcement
from Winston Churchill. minister of
| wnr. that the allied forces In the
Murmansk and Archangel sectors Of !,
North Russia were In grave peril"
unless they were Immediately rein
forced, said the minister. the Bolshe-
vik armies might be able to drive
| them into the sea as soon as the
spring thaw permitted the moving OF
their gunboats on the rivers
! This astounding announcement
was followed shortly thereafter by
an official statement from that bu-
reau OF the war department in
London which supplies communiques
to the press. This statement was in
| the nature OF a military technical
| ampI1ncatlOn or Mr.. ChurChlil' 8
alarming speech in the commons. It
was couched In the typical repressed
| phrases which correspondents who
| had not been In London during the
darkest days Of the war had learned
! to interpret as indicative OF the worst
| fears.
/ News" Sent Broadcast.
The correspondents put this COM
! munique on the cables in all good
| faith. Obviously there was no posi-
! Bile means of verifying the state
ments set forth: Murmansk and Arch
angel were about as inaccessible as
/ the moon.
| Shortly thereafter a succession Of
refugees from Russia arriving at
Helsingfors. Stockholm, Beku and
even at Ravens as far distant as Rome
and Paris began to food the press
with horrendous accounts OF Bolshe-
uk outrages--w wholesale slaughters,
the gouging out OF eyes. crucifxions
| and nameless outrages on women.
From Geneva. If my memory serves
me, came the prize story OF all; the
account OF the official .'nationaliza-