The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-03-20
ANT|.AMER|CAN PROP.
AGANOA IS SWEEPING
RUSSIAN S|bSER|A

sNNNti SilCt lHt IuIuinR mere VI lTOODS
in August has there been such wide
spread of the United States. The
newspapers are full of TRADES and in
genious distortions of facts calculated
to sow discord among Americans, Rus
slams and Americas allies. Some
newspapers of Siberia, it appears,
have been subsidized and are distinct
ly hostile to the United States.
Beginning with the disappointment
over the passiveness of Americas in
tervention, the sentiment developed
mistrust, and an outspoken hostility,
in many quarters, to the Princes Is
lands proposal for a conference of all
Russian factions with the allies, justly
or otherwise credited to President
Wilson. Americans were instantly
dubbed friends Of the Bolsheviki and
the idea was quickly utilized by an
unfriendly press and accepted in the
political circles of the Russians gen.
orally.
Reinsurance by Major General
William s. Graves the military COM
mander here, regarding Americas
non -partisanship, were Offset in the
Russian mind, by definite charges of
pro- Bolshevism here and abroad, aris-
ing from the refusal of the Americans
to cooperate with the military
against the alleged Bolsheviki in the
Amur district. The giving of asylum
to the Cossacks in revolt recently was
construed in similar way. This in
cdent, however, was the only one of
maligning character to draw fire.
Colonel Henry d. Styer, who has been
active for the Americans in the Co.'S
sack controversy, wrote to the news
papers an explanation of the affair in
which he fully outlined the stand TAX
en- by General Graves.
Other diatribes have been received
in silence and as u consequence the
loyal friends Of the United States
among the Russians are wavering.
The silence and do-nothing policy of
the Americans is plainly getting on
the nerves Of the Russians. France
and England have few troops here
and these are not actively engaged
But. their commissioners are visiting
and counselling the Omsk government
with the result that they are being
credited with being the best friends OF
Russia. The Japanese are "eyarded as
having rendered positive service in n
military way. Only the Americans, to
whom the Russians looked for help
and sympathy are considered to have
failed, not because of their failure to
send more troops, hope which has
long since ben abandoned, but for
lack of moral and material support
such as other nations are giving.
This is not solely the government s
view, though it naturally Graves sym
pathy and aid. Among it's officials
there are others who resent the pres
ence and passivity Of the troops and
the alleged encouragement by Amer
lea Of their enemy, the Bolsheviki. A
representative of the Omsk govern
ment. in discussing the situation
confessed himself and his superiors
mystified by the silence of the United
States on vital matters of policy.
He also said there was tendency
TO Judge severely acts of expediency
and necessity which his government
had taken. He said these acts were
not fully understood. He cited the
recent arrests of members OF the
Zemstvo, which he declared were JUS
tifable and were made in accordance
with military law. The arrested
men were safely lodged in Jail wait
ing for IA civil trial on charge OF
reasonable conspiracy.
His government wanted sympathy
this official added, in its efforts Il
reestablish order and greater mater
ial assistance, but If it could not hav'
il, he said he believed it was entitled
to strict neutrality towards its enc
mics.
Among the troops Of the villag
ers along the railways there is a sull
enness and unfriendliness which di
not exist a month ago. This is due
besides the Cossacks incident, to re
fusal of General Graves to respon
to appeals by the inhabitants alon
the Ussuri and Amur railways an
the Suchan mines district where tn
Americans are stationed, for protet
ton against outrages by Russian so
diers. To these appeals, as well as
Blagiovestchensk district for CON
pany of troops to fight the so calle
Bolsheviki, General Graves has mad
the same reply, namely, that b
would be exceeding his authority an
violating the American policy towar
Russia.
General Graves entertains stron
doubt whether all Russians who hay
taken up arms in eastern Siberia ca
be properly termed Bolsheviki.
The peasants for months have bee
subjected to brutality at the hands
troops, chiefly Cossacks, most
whom represent the Omsk gover'
ment. On the pretext of searchir
for Bolsheviki the troops have raid'
villages in the countryside, murde
ing and imprisoning men and beatir
and maltreating women.