Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-18
.SOLDIER
o ORDERED.
WITHDRAW
IN SPRING
England Sends Reinforce
mentS to ArChangeI; Agita-
tion Started to Save Lives
of American Soldiers.
By Associated Press.

w asnington, Feb, H,-AneTlcau
and allied troops operating in north
Russia will be withdrawn "at tie
earliest possible moment that
weather conditions in the spring
will permit" To facilitate this
movement and to improve lines OF
communication for the supplying of
the forces that have penetrated into
the country President Wilson has
approved the sending of two addi-
tional companies of American rail-
way troops to Archangel.
This information cabled 10 the
War department by General Taskcr
H, Bliss at Paris, by direction Of
the president, was transmitted TODAY
to Chairmen Chamberlain and Dent
of the senate and house military
committees, by Secretary Baker.
The announcement brought express
sions Of approval from senators. in
cluding Senator Johnson of Calls
fornia, republican, who has been
pressing his resolution providing
for a resolution by the senate In
favor of withdrawal of the Ameri-
can forces.
England to Send Troops.
General Bliss also informed Sec
retary Baker that Great Britain has
decided to send 2,400 additional sol
diers to Archangel to reinforce the
army in north Russia. In this con-
nection General Bliss said the Brit
fish military authorities felt no ap-
prehension i'll north Russa.
Secretary Bakers letters to the
committee chairmen were identical
After reading Mr. Bakers letter,
Senator Johnson issued this state
ment:
when on December l2, last, we
comenced the agitation for the re-
turn of our troops in Russia for the
sole purpose of saving the lives OF
American boys there, we had little
sympathy and less support. After
more than two months of absolute
silence on the part of the govern
nent the denial of information OF
any sort either to congress or TO
the people comes today's commune
cation. the first of its kind to the
military committees, that our sol
diers would be returled. The
strangeness of this communication
does not detract from my very great
qualification.
"When the subject was first
broached in December, 5000 Ameri
can boys apparently had been aban-
doned and forgotten by their gov
ernment
Fighting Unsanctioned War.
They were making a valiant stand
against overwhelming odds in all of
the severity of an arctic winter. suf-
fering untold priyations and hard.
ship and fighting war which had
never been sanctioned or declared
by the American people. The gov
ernment either would not or could
not tell its policy or the activities oil
our soldiers or why they were kill
ing and being killed. We are YET
in total ignorance; but it is signifi-
cant that the letter today fore
shadowing the early withdrawal OF
our troops, conclusively demon
strates the utter lack Of foundation
of every statement made by those
who have sought to excuse this I'M
justifiable invasion.
Finally in England a righteous
public opinion compelled an altera-
ton Of England's course, and now
apparently the course of America is
changed. We cannot make whole
again the manned nor bring back the
dear ones who have been killed IN
defiance of the law and in violation
of the constitution in this miserable
misadventure in Russia. but thank
God, the American boys who are
yet alive, are to be returned TO as.
Senator Borah of Idaho, republi-
can. issued a statement declaring
that to Senator Johnson was due the
credit for the change of policy re-
garding Russia made by the Ameri-
can government.