Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-04-26
WHITE TROOPS MUTINY.


tho battle-ftclds Of France. They
Oboycd orders without complaining
and were lionzcd by tho French pco-
pie on account of their soldicrly
qualities and bravery. Just what
would have happened had they been
sent to Russia and had been guilty
of mutiny is not to be surmiscd. They
would have been sentenced to death
and every colored enlisted man in
the service would have been made to
feel the full measure Of tho disgrace.
But tho Richmond, Va, Times-Dis-
patch and othor daily papers in this
country have discussed tho situation.
Tho Timcs-Dispatch said:
There is decidedly unwholcsomc
ring to tho frank announcement
through tho war department OF tho
fact that n company OF American sol
dcrs to move against the Russian
Reds. and that the officers who com
mandcd the men were able to bring
them into action only on a basis of
compromise. This Is the first time
since tho war began that any body
of American troops hns mutinied.
There have been conscientious objec-
tors aplcnty in tho army. They have
IN CT
but they did It on moral grounds and
rs Individuals.
But here is a case of $50 men com
posing military unit who flatly
warned their officers that they would
not 30 into battle against tho Rus
slams that they wero not disposed to
make war upon the Bolshevist forces
and did not and 80 far as known have
not even now taken their place in
the line. They proceeded to a point
behind the limo and went no furth-
er.
1t continues:
.,77Jf..;1- ~ 3; 2'E 2!E$:7yl
This contrary action on the part Of
the soldiers did not result in their
Imprisonment for disobedience to or
dcrs. 1t has not resulted in their
court-martial or oven in their arrest.
Instead of taking drastic measures
against them tho officers in command
fell back upon suasion in an effort to
induce them to do their duty. Is it
possible that those officers realized
that the mutiny might spread If other
Americans were ordered to arrest
their comrades? Is it possible that
tho feeling of dissatisfaction on the
part OF the little American army in
Northern Russia is too strong for
their Officers to act against it?
These are interesting questions.
They require answers. Who will give
them? But the Times Dispatch pro-
ceedcd to guess 1t said:
The answer to these questions can
only be guessed. Only tho bare facts
of the uprising have been made pub
lie and they were kept from the coun
try for nearly two weeks. 1t would
appear from what information now is
available that the American troops
who have been thrust INFO their Eres
ent situation in Russia are tired of
tho whole business. They are told
that their country is not at war with
Russia or even at war with the Boil
shevist regime in that country and
yet they are being ordered to kill Rus
slams and to expose themselves to
fire Of the army before them. 1t is no
wonder that there is discomfort in
that body of soldiery. Their govern
ment owes it to them to withdraw the
whole force or else to declare war
upon the people against whom they
are fighting.
Surrounding conditions are taken
into consideration in this case. This
is just the opposite Of the position
taken when the Houston, Texas riots
were heralded over tho civilized world
to tho discredit OF tho colored SOL
diery. A soldiers duty is to obey or
dcrs. There is no doubt whatever an
TO the utter disregard of law and pre-
codcnt Of having the American fore
cs engaged in fighting a people with
whom this country was not at war
70 order them into Russia was a
blundcr and to direct them to Kill
the inhabitants after they got thcre
vas Il crime.
This is the logical result OF q poll
cy that Is dcmora.iZing, not only this
country, but is running the civilized
world. The seeds OF revolution and
anarchy are bcing sown and tho indi
cations are that they have taken
deep root in this country. The incar-
ceration Of Eugene v. Debs at Mounds
vile penitnntinry, to our way OF
thinking Is the beginning OF the