Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-14
FEAR FOR i. S. TROOPS
IN RUSSIA AROUSED

Dispatches announcing that Japan
contempt IS withdrawal of her re-
serve tr ops from Manchuria and
Siberia. upon the heels of announce
ment of Withdrawals of British forces
from Russia, caused keener concern
in Washington today for the safety of
the 5000 o. 5000 Americans left at
Archangel.
Whatever policy is involved in the
action of the EngIi,n and the lap
anese was settled upon among the
delegates of the associated nations IN
Paris, No word has come to WASH
ington about reasons for this action.
The policy OF the United otates mas
not changed. so far as is known here.
That polly is to keep the troops at
Archanpei already there, but not 20
send reinforcements pending the de-
termination of joint allied action IN
reference TO Russia
Reasons given for keeping the
American troops there include the
safety of stores and ammunition at
ArChangei and also protection OF
Russian elements there friendly to the
Americans. Should the Americans
withdraw, it is argued, the orderly
Russians would be LETT to the mercy
of the bolsheviki.
Assurance has been given on high
authority that the United states Will
AXE no action in regard 10 RUSSIA
except a course in which 1t would
act in common with the alhes- II Is
believed here that the peace confer
ence will turn to the Russian question
early in their discussions.
In Archangel as in other sections
of Russia, the bolsl2viki, through
their control of what scant food sup
plies are to be had and by policy
of murder and violence, are getting
stronger week by week They are
abetted in Archangel. as elsewhere,
by Germans In fact in Archangel the
bolsheyiki forces are ofticered by
Germans They are plentifully sup
piled with machine guns adm with
ammunition.
Bolsheviki Are Dangerous.
Latest reports from Archangel were
that the bolsh eriki had no stomach for
a fight, but should they become bellig-
erent they already are believed to be
in a position to give the comparatively
small force of Americans no little
trouble. Indeed persons here Informed
about conditions at Archangel are be-
ginning to believe that the position of
the small American force is extremely
precarious.
In the portions of Russia where
Germans now have troops, under the
terms of the armistice. the enemy
shows little signs of trying to keep
order: They take the position openly
that they see no reason why they
should help police Russia to save the
allies from embarrassment.
1t is possible that in advance of the
determination of definite policy of
the allies ne armstice terms may call
for the evacuation of Russia by all
German troops, and if that were done
allied troops probably would be put in
their places.
The reason given for not sending
reinforeements to the American forces
at Archangel is the fear that dispatch
of more troops, except under terms of
the renewed armistice, might be con-
strued as intervention.
Russians in this country hold that
the majority of Russians would sup
port allied troops in an. endeavor to
suppress the bolshevfk excuses, but
that the Russians are not in a posi-
ton to combat the Trotsky-Lenin gov
ernment without aid since they lack
arms. ammunition and food.