The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1919-04-18
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
THREATEN To REVOLT
Yanks In Russia Anxious To
Quit Russia Fol
Home

Washington, April 10.-The first
mutiny Of American troops in the Eu-
lropean war is confirmed today by
. advices to the War Department from
IArchangel, Russia, A company of in
fantry, when ordered to pack for the
! front, refused to obey the order Only
one man was arrested for the out
break and he was afterwards releas-
( ed.
/ The munity was coupled with a de-
mand by the Americans that they be
brought back to their homes. 1t was
intimated that unless officials here
make some immediate announcement
as to why the American soldiers are
kept longer in service in Russia the
mutiny will become general.
The War Department gave out only
paraphrase of the cable message, as
follows:
The War Department authorizes
publication of the following para
phrase of code message received
from Archangel, dated March 81:
Yesterday morning, March 80, a
company of infantry, having received
orders TO the railroad front, was or
dered out of the barracks for the pur-
pose of packing sleds for the trip
across the river to the railroad sta
ton. The noncommissioned officer
in charge of the packing soon report
ed to the officers that the men refus-
ed to obey. At this some of the Of
licers took charge and all except one
man began reluctantly to pack after
considerable delay. The soldier
who continued to refuse was placed
in confinement. Colonel Stewart be-
ing sent for. arrived and had the men
assembled to talk with them. Upon
the condition that the prisoner above
mention was released, the men agreed
to go. This was done, and the COM
pany then proceeded to the railway
station and entrained there for the
front That they would not go to the
front line positions was openly stated
by the men, however, and they would
only so to Obozerskava. They also
stated that general mutiny would
soon come If there was not some
definite statement forthcoming from
Washington with regard to removal
of American troops from Russia at
the earliest possible date"
Fear Move May Spread.
What has alarmed officials more
than any incident of the mutiny is
that the mutineers indicate to the
government that if the American
troops in Russia are not brought
home at the earliest possible date"
the refusal to obey the officers will
be general.
Some of the War Department Off
Gals said tonight that the mere fact
that the soldiers knew that mutiny,
refusal to obey orders under such cir
cumstances, would be a capital Of
tense, making them liable to be shot
after court-martial was an evidence
that the officers who yielded to them
We're well aware that the men were.
for reasons not made public, actually
desperate. 1t is plain, officers here
say, that when the officers were com
PEELED to release a man ordered into
confinement, that the latter were
pOwerless and regarded themselves
as in the hands of their men.
When the order to pack was given,
the men obviously understood this to
be an order, for them to go to the
front in the interior
Prepare To Send Transports.
The men are said to have been in
formed that they would be withdrawn
just as soon as the ice conditions per-
mitted. 1t is known that the Navy
and War Departments are making
ready to get transports as near as
possible to Archangel. 1t was the
President who made the statement
that the men in Russia would come
out when conditions made it possible
and il is understood if there is to be
any expediting of the withdrawal he
will give the order to the War De-
partment from Paris.
Senator Johnson, of California,
who conducted fight in the Senate
to have the American troops in Rus
STA ordered home, declined to make
any comment IN the mutinV