Evening star., 1919-04-11
MUT|NY OF TROOPS
MAY HURRY ACTION
REGARDING RUSSIA
Apparently CrystaIIizes De-
mand for Investigation Why
U. S. Men Kept There.
CONGRESS LIKELY TO ACT
SOON AFTER CONVEYING
Refusal of Unit to Go to Front Is
Confrmed-General Revolt
Not Anticipated.

Not Anticipated.
Demand for investigation by the
Senate of the circumstances under
which American troops are still held
on fighting fronts in Russia, oppos-
ing bolshevik forces. apparently has
become crystallized by accounts of a
more or less serious mutiny of MEM
bers of an infantry unit at Arch
angel, and it is believed now that one
of the first acts of the new Congress
when il is convened will be a whole
sale opening up of the entire Russian
situation and probably congressional
action.
Oficial advices to the War De-
Press cables of yesterday as to the
mutiny. which, however. it appears.
was quelied by intervention in person
of Col. George +. Stewart. in COM
many of the American contingent at
Archangel.
his efforts to restore discipline. how
ever, until he had ordered the re-
lease of the one soldier who had been
placed in confinement.
When this man was released the
soldiers proceeded on the way to
Obozerskaya- though the men repeat
ed their refusal to go to the actual
front-line fighting area. The cable
message to the War Department was
dated March 81, the mutiny having
occurred the previous day
War Department officials, while
awaiting with considerable anxiety
further information, do not believe a
general mutiny of American troops
in northern Russia, such as was
threatened by the disaffected unit,
formation of it reaching the de-
Text of Message Detailing Mutiny
Text of the paraphrase of the official
dated March 81 and giving details of
the mutiny, follows, the department
having eliminated Identification of the
infantry company concerned. which is
a National Army unit:
Yesterday morning, March 80. a
company of infantry, having received
orders to the railroad front, was or
of packing sleds for the trip across
the river to the railroad station.
The non-commissioned ofiicer who
was in charge of the packing soon
reported 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
after considerable delay. The SOL
dier who continued to refuse was
placed in confinement. Col. Stewart.
having been sent for. arrived and had
the men assembled to talk with them.
Comrades Release as Condition
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
there for the front. That they would
not go to the front line positions
was openly stated by the men. how
ever, and they would only go to
Obozerskaya:. They also stated that
general muriny would soon come if
there was not some definite statement
Forthcoming from Washington with
regard to the removal of American
troops from Russia at the earliest pos
Sible date.
Criticism of Policy Recalled.
Presence of American troops in Rus
sia, and the fighting in which they
were engaged against bolsheviki
forces, were subjects Of severe criti-
cism in the Senate last winter. though
no action was taken there or in the
House. Senator Johnson of California,
author of a resolution proposing in
vestigation of the matter. which fail
ed of adoption. and one of the severest
critics at that time, has made public
a statement on the Russian situation,
based on the contents of a letter he
has received from an American officer
in Russia
The letter describes hardships and
cruelties suffered and endured by the
men men,
can hang his head in shame. The only
explanation so far for the existing
situation is that recently. given by
The Secretary of War. that the mat
ter is in the hands of the supreme
allied council IN Europe"
Fighting Under Foreign Command.
Continuing his statement Senator
johnson says:
American boys we're sent to north
and American soldiers sent to Sibe-
ria under Japanese command. Amer
ican boys are fighting in north Rus
sia under British command against
overwhelming odds and, to the ago
nized appeals of their fathers and
mothers, the answer of our govern
ment is the matter is in the control
of the allied council.
Five months after the end of the
war for which they enlisted they are
fighting another war. This isn't a
question of bolshevism or of fighting
the horrible doctrines of Lenin and
Trotsky. This is waging a war with
American blood on foreign sofia
war undeclared by America but de-
creed by foreign council. In the COM
posite world banner Old Glory is for
gotten"
Would Arouse Public.
Senator Johnson said today he had
no plans for bringing an investiea
tion of the entire Russian situation
by the Senate, or for reintroductior
of his resolution, introduced last win
ter.
He said, however, that he PURPOSES
# possible, to arouse righteous public
feeling over the situation of American
troops in Russia, and that he intends ts
call the attention of the country to the
conditions under which these troop:
6ave been and are being held there
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,, Wit
is in the city today, declined to max,
any comment on the latest development
ON the Archangel front. saying merely
that he hoped American troops soon viii