The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1919-01-10
u. s, IN RUSSIA
TO BALK HUNS
American and Allied Operations
Friendly to inhabitants, Sen
ate Is Told.
HITCHCOCK DEFENDS MOVES
Declares There Is No Russia Now,
Only a Vast Dsorganized Aggre-
cation Of Local Governments
Cites Reign of Terror.

Washington, Jan. IO.-OperatiOns in
Russia by the United States and its
allies are friendly and not hostile to
the Russian people, although in oppo-
sition to German bOlshevik forces,
Chairman Hitchcock of the senate for
eign relations committee said in an
address, replying to the recent demand
Of Senator Johnson of California for
an official statement Of the American
policy in Russia.
"There is no Russia" he declared.
"What was Russia is a vast disorgan-
lied aggregation of local governments.
"Lenine and TrOtzky have the great
cities of Petrograd Moscow and some
others and thus have the center OF the
wrecked nation, but it is the most un-
happy, most lawless, brutal and most
bloody. Other parts of Russia are
comparatively calm and orderly
ConsuIts With State Department.
Senator Hitchcock prepared his ad-
dress after consulting with Acting Sec
retary Polk at the state department.
After pointing out that seizure of the
ports of Vladivostok, Murmansk and
Archangel was proposed by the su-
preme war council to prevent Germany
from obtaining valuable stores he
said:
SIN each case it was done as a meas
ure of war against Germany and not
against Russia. In each case the attl-
tude of the Russian people at the ports
named and in the neighbOrhood was
friendly and remains so today. In
each case the local Russian govern
ment exists and functions in co-opera-
ton with the American and allied sol
diers.
Regarding the American operations
in Russia, Senator Hitchcock gave the
following details, in specific reply to
Senator JOhnson's recent request for
information:
"We sent about 10000 men to Vladi-
vostok, the Pacific port, and about s.
900 to Archangel the arctic port in
European Russia, and Murmansk, the
port which leads to the Murman coast.
"Those landing at Vladivostok are
neighbOrhOOd. Those landing at Arch
angel and across the White sea at
Murmansk, while still holding those
ports in connection with the British
and French troops, have penetrated a
short distance inland, in each case
probably about 100 miles, as a meas
ure of protection for their bases"
Reign of Terror Is Cited.
Citing the bolshevik reign of terror
and the movement to protect the
Ckecho- -Slovaks in Russia, Senator
Hitchcock said the bolsheviki, inspired
by German agents aad with German
troops and prisoners, attempted lin
most disgraceful bad faith to capture
the CzechO-Slovaks. With Russian al
lies, Senator Hitchcock said, the
Czechs have maintained a battle front
inland nearly 5000 miles.
Senator Hitchcock said that the
Murman coast and harbOr were seized
when it was learned the Germans had
10000 men headed for that district,
with plans to establish a submarine
base at Murmansk. Archangel, too, was
held, he said, to prevent it's becoming
a German base.
After Senator Hitchcock spoke Sen
ator johnson renewed his demand for
an official statement from the admins
tration regarding it's plans in Russia
and why American troops are being
kept there. Senator BOrah supported
the California senator's demand when
the latter pointed out that Senator
Hitchcock disclaimed speaking official
ly for the administration.
"What possible objection can there
be-" asked Senator Johnson, ito the
governments saying why we're there.
what it intends to do and what it ex-
poets to accomplish? Why is it the
government cannot tell US why we're
there, what we intend to do and what
we propose to accomplish"
Americans Burn Village.
Archangel, Jan. 10.-Activities were
renewed by the American and allied
forces on the KadiSh front Accord
ing to incomplete reports to headquar-
ters here the Americans burned the
village of KadiSh, retired from ii and
then went forward and reoccupied
the ruins.