New-York tribune., 1919-01-10
Senators Flay
Wilson Policy
Toward Russia
Presence of U. S. Troops Is
Criticised and Defended
During a Vigorous Debate
Reds Called Pro.Gersnan
Hitchcock Says Occupation
Is Necessary; Ayers People
Welcome Forces as Saviors

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Operaions
Of American troops in Russia was de-
tended and criticised to-day in the
Senate. half a dozen Senator's parti-
cipating in a vigorous debate which
continued several hours.
Senator Hitchcock, OF Nebraska.
chairman Of the Foreign Relations
Committee, opened the discussion by
delivering d prepared speech in reply
to recent addresses of Senators John
son, of California, and La Folette. of
Wisconsin, Republicans, VINO had
sharply criticised retention of Ameri-
can soldiers on Russian soil. Sen
ators Johnson, Borah, of Idaho, and
France, of Maryland, Republicans, re-
plled to Mr.. Hitchcock, and Senators
Swanson, OF Virginia, and King, Of
Utah, Democrats, defended the Admin
istration's course
Chairman Hitchcock justified inter
vention in Russia, denounced the Bol-
shevik government as pro German, and
oeclared that the expeditions in both
northern Russia and Siberia were
purely defensive and entirely friendly
Reports Of fighting by American
forces in Russia have been grossly
exaggerated" Senator Hitchcock de-
clared, as only 1875 Americans have
been killed since landing at Archanqel.
From Vladivostock to tie Ural Noun
talns, he said, there has been no fight
ing for months and the intcr-Allied
forces have ben received by the Rus
sian people with "open arms"
Done as Step Against Germans
After pointing out that seizure of
the, ports of Vladivostok, Murmansk
ana Archangel was proposed by the
supreme War council to prevent Ger
many from obtaining valuable stores.
Senator Hitchcock said:
III cacA 1t Was done as a measure
OF war against Germany and not
AGAINST tsussla. In each case the att-
tude OF the Russian people at the ports
named and in She ncighborhood was
friendly and remains so to-day. In
each case the local Russian govern
mcnt exists and functions in coopcrs-
ton with the American and Allied
soldiers.
"1hus we and the Allies seized these
h'%hly important strategic points with
a handful of soldiers as an important
offset to German operations in Russia
There is no Russia. What was Rus
sIa IS vast disorganizcd AGGREGATION
Of local governments. Lcnine and
trotzky have the great cities of Petro
grad, Moscow and some others. and
mus nave the centre of the wrecked
nation. but 1t is the most unhappy.
m., nos Ia"iess, brutal and most bloody.
other parts of Russia arc compara-
lively calm and orderly.
Ga'ts Russians Our Friends
The very fact" said SENATOR Hitch
cock, that line of comr1unico zion
across &lneria, 5000 miles long. fran
ladINostok, where our troops are. IN
me Iral Mountains, where the .tloons
81 the L Ia government and Czechs are
f"T"fnor with small force of British
and French, is the best evidence that
w. i-'a the Allies arc on good terms
WIN The Russians and are there as
friends and not as enemies"
Regarding the American operations
III Russia. Senator Hitchcock rave the 20
foiioWng details. in specific replv ia
Senator .Johnson's recent request for
information:
We sent about 10000 men to Vladi-
yostok, the Pacific port, and about
2ooo to Archangel, the Arctic port in
European Russia, and Murmansk, the
port which leads to the Thurman coast.
"Ihose landing at Vladivostok are
tor the most part still there. Or in
that ncighborhood Those LANDING at
Archangcl and across the White Sea
1T Marmansk, while still holding those
ports in connection with the British
and French troops, have penetrated =
snort distance inland, in each case
probably about one hundred miles. as
measure Of protection for their bases.
IN one case they have gone up river.
IN the ether they have held the line Of
rail"ay-both means Of transportation.
No Responsible Russia Left
In all cases the occupation of these
Russian ports was made as war n,oas-
Hre, urged by the supreme war council
IN Farls, at time when our war With
W., iNHny was It its height"
Remarking that the Administrations
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