Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-04-11
Lack of fWord of Recent Dc.
velopments ReassUes
Washington
DID NOT SPREAD
BEYOND COMPANY
One Rsbsiiious Man Believed 20 havs
Been Cause Of Unpleasant incident
Morale Of American Troops on
Arehanssl Front Excellent Ceos'dsr>
ing Hardships Which Thsy Must
raes-snows Hamper Operations.

Washington, Aprtl 11~-Therc were :
no additional reports at tho war de-
partment early today on tho situation
at Archangei. where a company OF
American troops involved nearly two
weeks ago, In threatened mutiny. re-
fused to obey orders to entrain for tho
fighting lines until appealed TO by
their regimentai commander.
Absence OF news since the report
made public last night. after an Asso-
ciated Press dispatch from ArchanGei
had described tho incident, was re-
garded a. n favorable sign.
II was assumed that the general
mutlny' which members OF this on~
company said would develop uniess
prompt measures came from WashinS-
ton that American forces In Russia
were TO be withdrawn. could not have
INA aterializcd unless Col. George h.
Stewart, the American commander
had found no means to rush thru re-
port.
1t was noted I'm an official statement
given out last night by the war de-
partment that only one member OF tho
company continued to refuse to obey
orders after Colonel Stewart had fak-
en- personal charge OF the situation.
1t appeared possible to some officers
here that the entire situation had been
created by this man. A single agitAt-
or. Ii WAS said. can do much TO upset
\ command. and .he fact that Colonel
Stewart was obliged to agree to ro~
lease this man from confinement be-
fore the company would obey orders
and board the train for the front lines
indicated that this soldier had obtains
cd grip on his comrades.
Washington Anxious,
Additional reports that would dis
close the extent to which the unrest
has spread thru the entire command
were awaited with considerable anx-
iety. II was recognized by officers
that the situation OF the American
forces In northern Russia was pecui-
iarly unpleasant. Weather conditions
| are trying. because of the extreme cold.
There is little of the dash about the
work there that characterized the war
in France, and reports from home tell
of the return OF the army to civil life
and of receptions. paradcs and cele-
hratIons ~ victory. The whole pie
ture is one well calculated. 1t is said.
to make the troops homcsick and easy
victims of bolshevik arguments or sim
liar agitation In their own ranks.
The units at Archangel are not sea-
soned regular soldiers They are sc-
leCtivc service men. but in the past
they have shown very high quality
of morale in facing tho Unpleasant
task before them SO long without
openly manifested discontent. Even
now. officers argued, tho mutinous
company probably would show an inn
mediate change Of, heart II general
| attack on the bolsheviki forces which.
are harra ssinE the command was un-s
dertalSen.
No uneasincss Is felt concerning the
American contingent in siberia. which
Is largely composed OF old time recu-
lar units from the Philippines. Tho
percentage of professional soldiers IL
is thought, Is 80 high In Major Gem
eral Graves command. that II is high
ly improbable an agitator could gain
a hearing among the men.
Melting Shows Hamper Operations.
London. April 10.--A war office COM
mun!cation dealing with the situation
on tho Archangel front. issued tonight.
says:
"rhe frozod surfaces and the melt
ing snow are making movement dtffi-
cult. In the action Mt Sred Mekhrenga
April : the defense was carried out py
the Liverpool and Yorkshire troops
and company from tho Russian
army supported by artillery Of the
Slav- British allied legion under British
officers Tho defense OF Bolshoia
Ozerki against the attacks OF April I
was carried out by the Russian nation
al army. whose artillery had French
officers II was their first fight and
they behaved with exemplary steadi-
ness
Tn one case section OF the RussIon
field howitzers were taken out of the
gun pits and reversed at range Of
400 yards against a large body OF. the
enemy on skis. a company ef AM
crican infantry was in support on this
sector.
"The royal air forte was greatly
assisted with Canadians. South Az
ricans and Russians as pilots and OBJ
seryers"