Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-11
YANKEE TROOPS
IN RUSSIA WANT
INFORMATION As
WHY THEY FIGHT
Insist That War With Germany
Is Over and That the United
States Is Not at War With
People Whom They Meet,
ALMOST REFUSE TO
GO BACK TO FRONT
Argument by RegimentaI Com
mander Prevails Upon Sol
dierS to Stick 1t Out to June
L but No LOnger.

teN MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL lhAstp WiNAl
Archangel, April (Tuesday, by the
Associated Press. lin view Of the
situation which has developed among
the American troops in Archangel, Of
ficial circles are impressed with the
necessity of promptly relieving the
| American soldiers who are now in
north Russia.
The soldiers have interpreted the
would be relieved at the earliest pos
sible moment as meaning not later
| than June /, which is the time they
| believe navigation at Archangel prob
! ably will be open and while out of
| spirit OF loyalty to their officers and
| to American traditions they express
| a willingness to stick II out until that
| date, they are exceedingly reluctant
TO go to the front and risk their lives.
A company of American troops re-
| Gently showed some hesitation in re-
turning to the fighting front south of
Archangel, declaring that the war
with Germany was over and that the
| United States was not at war with the
Bolsheviki The regimental command
er, in speech, said that they were
fighting a desperate defensive battle,
and appealed to stick it out, The COM
pany then left for the front.
The situation arose when the COM
pany named was ordered back to the
front after n rest period at Archan-
gel. The officers were informed that
the men did not wnal go to the
front again. They asked to have their
arguments answered.
The men cuntended that they were
% "a with
Germany which was finished now
that America was not at war with the
Rolsheviki, that the entire Bolshevik
question was the subjet ~ much po-
litical debate ana indec sion In the
United States and that so far as they
were concerned they were unable to
see why they should la fighting IL
there was no war.
The regimeutal commander said
that, perhaps their own lives depend
cd on the fighting OF his from and
then made his successia ppeal, recit-
ing to the men the fractions of the
American army.
Feeling Is General,
This incident was only the out
cropping OF what seems 10 be the cen
eral feeling among the American
troops, officers as we'll as men. Re-
cause of this feeling i is admitted
more or less generally that the troops
now here probably will he of little use
after June l.
In official circles in Archangel there
is no disposition seriously to blame
the troops for this condition. on their
arrival in north Russia last Septem-
ber the Americans were keen for
fighting the Bolsheviki, who they had
toll nuantg ThpV
have fought bravely throughout the
campaign and they are still doing so.
However, since the armistice with
Germany was declared, the soldiers
have been subjected to constant Boil
Shevik propaganda, which together
with their desire to return home af-
ter the end of the war for which they
were drafted and the hardships and
loneliness OF the Arctic winter has
caused them to lose their spirits
Meanwhile they have had no Off
cial statement from the government
to answer Bolshevik propaganda and
no American in Archangel is in posi-
ton to tell them officially what they
are fighting for
official Version.
The war departments paraphrase OF
the message follows:
company of infantry having received
orders to the railroad front, was ora
dered out Of the barracks for the
purpose of packing sleds for the trip
across the river to the railroad sta
ton.
"The non-commissioned officer who
was In charge of the packing soon re-
ported TO the officers that the men
refused to obey, At this, some of the
officers took charge and all except
one man began reluctantly to pack af-
ter a considerable delay. The soldier
to refuse was placed in confinement.
Colonel Stewart, having been sent for,
arrived and had the men assembled to
talk with them.
Upon the condition that the pris-
oner above mentioned was released.
the men agreed to go. This was done
and the company then proceeded to
the railway station and entrained
thore for the front. That they would
not go to the front line positions was
openly stated by the men, however.
and thev would only go to Oberzer-
skava They also stated that general
mutiny would soon come il there was
not some definite statement forthcom-
ing from washington with regard to
the removal of American troops from
Russia NJ the earliest possible date"
Asks More Information.
The department has cabled for
more information. From the message
received today officials were unable
to ascertain whether condition of
had IN fact developed. Pend
ing fuller adv'ces. no comment was
as to the course to be
pursued.
Presumably, II was said Colonel
Stewart already had been advised di-
rectlY that it was tho purnose of the
supreme war ~ouncil in charge of tho
policy governing the movement, to
the entire force from nor
thern Russia when the ice blockadinE
tho harborq COOS ~''t Th~ prit'sh
relief expedition originally scheduled
IN be 2,400 strong, has sailed as have
the two companies of American. rail-
way engineers snnt - he request of
>~.~s~~- ~ ~ .-~-~<~~.~~s~
Continued cn li&s, Two,)