Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-12
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED
APRIL II, l9l9
sOIplEEs IN RUSSIA.


This old couplet is all very well as
to the duty of an army in COMBAT
But in democracy where soldiers
are obtained only by their own con-
sent, or by the vote of their chosen
congress, men are entitled to know
for what they are fighting.
Especially is this true when Amer
lean men find themselves in foreign
land with which congress never or
dered warfare. and after the original
purpose has been accomplished.
We sent an expedition into China
with allies TO save the lives of ma
tionals, but withdrew the troops at
once upon effecting the purpose. The
men were not kept there combating
with boxer revolutionists.
President Wilson sent forces into
Mexico for special purposes, upon
provocations, but withdrew them
without accomplishing the object.
But in Russia our men have been
kept and combat continued months
after Germany and her allied nations
ceased to fight.
There will not be much condemna-
ton by the American people of the
soldiers in the ArChangel country who
objected to further expeditions against
n Russian mob government
There may have been no wisdom
in sending troops to Russia. The
president at first declined TO yield to
the urgent efforts of the allies to have
an expedition. Finally he yielded to
their wishes and entered into what is
proving to be an "entangling' ar
rangement.
The prevention of vast stores of
American supplies falling into the
hands of Germany after shipment for
the use of the Russian army. was the
announced purpose of the expedition,
The Russian army had collapsed and
Germany was reaching eastward to
recruit from Russian sources. The
munitions and supplies from this
country were likely to be taken by
the enemy for use on the western
front. 1t was also feared that Ger
many would extend her supremacy
over Siberia and other regions.
At that time eXpedency seemed to
require an expedition to defeat Ger
man aims. 1t was asse red that the
forces were not being sent to support
or to enable any Russian element to
fhn,tol Inf
might become necessary to defeat
Germany, by attack from the east by
Japan and the United States. That
was discussed by the allies
Assurance was published that the
forces would be withdrawn after de-
feat of Germany. But within the last
sixty days hundreds of English and
French aviation and army officers,
engineers and other troops have been
quietly sailing from San Francisco
for Siberia, equipped for long service,
After the armistice was effected
there was no logical reason for con-
tinuing attacks in Russia. and the
army there should have had authority
W put UP Il lluNt nag.
This country never declared war
against any element in Russia. It
maybe that the mixed expedition, in
GLIDING the Americans, were put into
a position where they were unable to
cease fighting because of the deter
mination of the Bolshevists to exter-
inmate them.
But as fighting Germany was the
purpose of enlistment and draft, and
the whole scheme of things had been
reversed, the Amer can boys were en-
titled to be shown why they should
kill and be killed.
Probably Bolsheviki propaganda
had nothing whatever to do with
causing the unwillingness of our
troops to continue warfare. They
had been thinking and had heard
from home.
A sharp demand had been made in
our senate for an explanation of the
reason for retention of troops in
Russia and a demand for withdrawal
made. No explanation resulted but
the notice of intention to withdraw
the forces followed. This in itself
was admission that satisfactory rea-
son for keeping them there did not
exist
The young fellows in Russia are the
same sort of fighting Americans that
carried our banner to victory in
France.
The forces sent to Russia went un-
complainingly, though realizing that
they Were going rather upon police