Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-11
AMERICAN FORCES
REFUSE TO FIGHT
War Department Advised That
Mutiny Occurred on March
80, in Russia.
COLONEL MAKES STRONG PLEA
Soldiers Insist That They Be
Shipped Back to United
States.
lBy Associated Press ,


WASHINGTON. April lo.-The war
Department issued tonight an Official
statement confirming advices from
Archangcl that what amounted to a
mutny occurred among the American
troops there on March 80. 4 company
Of infantry. the message stated. re-
fused to cntrain for the front until per-
sonally urged to do so by Colonel
George l.. stewart. comma nding the
American contingent. open threats
were made OF general mutiny unless
a definite statemen: from Washington
insuring carly withdrawal was forth
coming.
The text of the paraphrasc Of the
code message dat ed March 81. follows,
the department having eliminated only
the Identification OF the company and
certain military information not bear
inE on the incident:
resierd morning; March 80 a
orders 10 III, .";!;oa,: 'front.'. was or
dercd out OF barracks for the purpose
or packing siedS Tor the trip across the
riNcr 10 the railroad station.
Refuse TO Obey Orders.
The noncommiss ssoned officer who
vas IN charge OF the packing soon re-
ported TO the officers that the men re-
fused TO obey. At this some of the of
nceie; took charge, and ali eScept one
man began reluctantly TO pack after a
considerable delay. The soldier who
anemen,. Colonel Stewart having
been sent for. arrived and had the men
assembled to talk with them.
Upon the condition that the oris-
oner above mentioned was released the
men agreed TO go. This was done. and
the company then proceeded to the rail
way station and enrrained there for
the front. That they would not go to
me front Iine positions was openly
oad only ny gem se to Snd fhe hey
also stated that general mutiny would
soon come If there was not some deh-
Washington with regard To- tho ren
moval OF American troops from Russia
al the earliest possible date
Ask for More Information.
The department has cabled for more
ceived today officials were unable to
ascertain whether a condition Of mutiny
da1s daH III snd iae5i deyfel1psd in the past ten
to be pursued.
Presumably. it wax sald, Colonel
stewart already had been advised di-
rectly that It was the purpose OF the
supreme war council, in charge Of the
Withdraw the entire force from North
ern Russia when the ice blockading
me me harb9r goes out. The British re-
be 200 strong. has sailed. as have
the two companies OF American rail-
va WaS ,snis;ii, ,esmsiineers sent al the request of
the railroad south OF Murmansh
:Anhonncemen Of the purpose TO
TO congressional military committees
by Secretary Baker, February IL on
instructions from President Wilson.
Unrest Among Soldiers.
Inc oihcial report makes the incl
ma press accounts. Intimations that
a general feeling of unrest pervaded
tn, ihs :, en.ire IRE force have come previously
troops have been involved. according
TO rumor, in similar incidents. but
rtit that the morale of the American
troops was too high for such an out
break.
The dispatch today did not show to
what extent Bolshevist propagandis;s $
crcld be held responsible for the be-
havior of the troops, nor has any in
tending 10 show the extent 10 which
the rebellious attitude may have spread
through the whole American contin
gent The Three Hundred and Thirty
ninth Infantry of the Eighty-nfth
Division forms the bulk of the Ameri-
can can eoT,ingen, nth zen, in the Archange re
posed OF drafted men from Michigan.
Discuss Possible Action.
While the action of the company AT
Archansel undoubtedly is mutinous
mtarS S eoda enc woud render or
men liable to severe disciplinary action
under ordinary circumstances, War De
partment officials did not believe such
action would result 1t was pointed
cut that the men apparently obeyed
their orders subsequs entity when the
situation was made clear to them
Jcopa rdiZed the lives of other men
il was thought, would any drastic
measures of discipline be invoked
Officers here were frankly doubtful
that public sentiment at home would
permit any other course, and many OF
them expressed sympathy with .h2
feelings of the men.
.-ra,r 1,o-1,o-o 20 arr