Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-19
ANTI-YANKEE
GRIP STRONG
ON SIBERIA ?
Report Systematic Cam
paign Against U. S.
Being Carried Out.

Vladivostok, Monday. March II.
-(By the Associated Press.)-
Never since the landing here of
troops in August has there been
such widespread criticism of the
United States. The newspapers are
full of TRADES and ingnious dis
tortions of facts calculated to SOW
discord among Americans, Rus
SLAMS and Americas allies. 1t is
ssR unquestioned fact that there is
a systematic campaign on. Some
newspapers of Siberia. 1t appears.
have been subsidized and are dis
tinctly hostile to the United States.
The Russian, never Over-confi-
dent regarding the intentions of
the Americans. have ever been
ready listeners, and the legitimate
Russian press reprints and editor
ialiZes on the fabrications that
have been put in circulation.
Beginning with the disappoint-
ment over the passiveness of
American intervention, the senti-
ment developed mistrust, and an
outspOken hostility. in many quar-
ter. The Princes Islands proposal
for a conference of all Russian
factions with the allies. justly or
otherwise, is credited to President
Wilson.
lanks Dubbed BOlsheviki Friends.
Americans were instantly dubbed
friends of the bolsheKiki,-and the
idea was quickly utilized by an un-
friendly press and accepted in the
political circles of the Russians
generally. There is nos effective
means here of combating this
propaganda and the result is that
the United States has few cham
rlons in any class or party.
The giving of asylum to the Co.'S
sacks in revolt recently was con-
strued in a similar way This Incl
&nt, however, was the only one of
n maligning character to draw fire.
Colonel Henry D Styr, who has
been active for the Americans in
the Cossack controversy, wrote to
the newspapers an explanation OF
the affairs in which he fully out
lined the stand taken by General
Graves.
Loyal SlaVs Wavering.
Other diatribes have been receiv-
cd since and as a consequence the
loyal friends of the United States
among the Russians are wavering
The silence and do-nothing policy
cf the Americans is plainly getting
on the nerves of the Russians
France and England have few
troops here and these are not ac-
lively engaged, but their commits
sioners are visiting and counsel
ing the Omsk government with the
result that they are being credited
with being the best friends of Rus
5ia. The Japanese are regarded as
having rendered positive service in
~ military way. Only the Ameri-
cans, to whom the Russians looked
for help and sympathy, are consid-
cred to have failed. not because of
their failure to send more troops,
a hope which has long since been
abandoned. but for lack of moral
and material support such as other
nations are giving.
Officials Mystificd.
This is not solely the govern
ment's view though it naturally |
Graves sympathy and aid. Among /
its officials there are others who |
resent the presence ana passivity !
of the troops and the alleged en-
couragement by America of their !
enemy. the bolsheviki. A repre- I
sentative of the Omsk government, |
in discussing the situation, CON !
fessed himself and his superiors |
mystifed by the silence of the
United States on vital matters of
policy. He complained Of the mis-
use Of American citizenship by for
mer refugees, who have returned
and become agitators, and declared
persons of this character were dis
crediting Americans
The OmSk official also said there
was a tendency to judge several
acts of expediency and necessity
which his government had taken.
He said these acts were not fully
He cited the recent
arrests of members of th6 Zemstvo,
which had been declared justifi-
able and were made in accordance
witl( military law The arrested
pFen were safely lodged in Jail at
progranitchnaya and he'd for a
civil trial on charge of reasonable
conspiracy.
People Grow More Sullen.
Among the troops and villagers
along the railways there is a sui
lenness and unfriendliness which
did not exist a month ago. This is
due besides the Cossack incident, to {
a refusal of General Graves to re-
spond to appeals by the inhabitants
along the UsSurri and Amur rail-
ways and the Suehan mine district
where the Americans are stationed
-or protection against outrages by /,
Russian soldiers. To these appeals, I