Arizona republican., 1919-02-18
TO WITHDRAW TROOPS IN RUSSIA
Johnson of California Says Presidents Hand Forced Calls Attention to Fact Yankees Were Fighting Country Against Which War Had Not Been Declared Only Weather Now Pre- vents Immediate Return.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1I.-Amerlcan and allied troops operating in north Russia will be withdrawn 'at the earli- est possible moment the weather will permit To facilitate this, President Wilson has approved the sending of two additional companies of American railroad troops to Archangel.
 This information, cabled to the war department by General Tasker H. Bliss, at Paris, by direction of the president, was transmitted today to Senator Chamberlain and Representative Dent chairmen of the senate and house mili- tary committees, by Secretary Baker.
 The announcement brought express sions of approval from several sena- tors, including Senator Johnson of California, republican, who has been pressing his resolution providing for declaration by the senate in favor of withdrawal of the American forces. General Bliss also informed Secre- tary Baker that Great Britain had de- cided to send 2400 additional soldiers to Archangel to reinforce the army in north Russia. In this connection Gen eral Bliss said the British military au- thorities felt no apprehension over the military situation in north Russia.
 Secretary Bakers letters to the com mittee chairmen were identical.
 Johnson Claims Victory
 After reading MT. Bakers letter, Senator Johnson issued this statement:
 When on December F last we com menced the agitation for the return of our troops in Russia, for the sole pur- pose 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 government the denial of in formation of any sort, either to con gress or to the people, comes todays communication, the first of it's kind to the military committees, that our soldiers would be returned The strangeness of this communication does not detract from my great satis- faction.
 When the subject was first preached in December, 5000 American boys, ap- : parently, had been abandoned and for | gotten by their government. They . were making a valiant stand against : overwhelming odds in all the severity Of an Arctic winter, suffering untold privation and hardship, and fighting a war which had never been sanctioned e or declared by the American people. U The government either would not or could not tell it's policy or the activ- :, ities of our soldiers. or why they were : killing or being killed. We are yet in U total ignorance, but it is significant | that the letter today, foreshadowing the
 early withdrawal of our troops, conclu- s sively demonstrates the utter lack of = foundation of every statement by those S who have sought to excuse this un- \ jutificable invasion.
 Borah Praises Johnson sfE,ipo1Ix- ;, e lie opinion compelled an alteration of . England's course, and now apparently d the course of America is changed. We " cannot make whole again the maimed '.e or bring back the dear ones who have ,f 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 us." Senator Borah of Idaho, republican
 issued statement declaring that tC
 Senator Johnson was due the credit fol
 the change of policy regarding Russia
 made by the American government. Secretary Bakers letter, sent to tht
 chairmen of both the house and sen
 ate military committees, said:
 q have just received a cablegran
 from General Bliss, sent by the presi
 dents direction, in which I am tolt
 that the president has approved tn
 sending of two American railroad com
 panles to Murmansk for the followin;
 objects: First, to assure greater safety l during this winter, of the allied forces
 both along Murmansk and at Archange
 and south of Archangel; second, tn
 much better supply, and if necessary
 the reinforcement from Murmansk. 0
 the advanced attachments south o n Murmansk and Archangel; third, t | facilitate the prompt withdrawal O III American and allied troops in mort - Russia at the earliest possible momen
 that weather conditions in the sprin
 will permit.
 Send Railway Troops
 The president has directed me f te communicate the foregoing to the head e. of the allied governments, which hay f. done. The president desires that hi ,r action and the reasons for it be com e municated to the military committee or of the senate and house for their ir ew formation.
 ng Tn addition to the foregoing, Ger ,g eral Bliss tells me the British gover1 ID ment is sending force of about 24( IT. men to Murmansk, and that they ha, u requested the cooperation of the pres he dent to the extent of two companies a iehNd llOoPo, SuOfe TeIeTTeQ to. IT
 desire for the railroad troops is base n- upon the fact that supplies and reil in forcements for Archangel during u ed winter have to go by railroad sou ,f from Murmansk to point near Il southern extremity of the White SC er- and that the operation of this railro; |. is believed by the British to be abs ,as lutely necessary to guarantee prom
 movement of endorsements and su my plies to Archangel. General Bliss al st. informs me that the British militia by authorities do not feel any apprehe as- sion as to the military situation its Archangel.'
 ,il- TO DISCLOSE SECRET PLANS