The sun., 1919-07-26
WILSON TELLS OF
TROOPS IN SIBERIA
Continued from First Paoe.

comprising a total Of approximately
10000 men. were sent under the COM
mand OF Major-Gen. William s. Graves.
The troops began to arrive at Vladi-
voetok In September, 1913. Consider
ably larger forces were despatched by
Japan at about the same time and much
smaller forces by others of the allied
Powers. The net result was the sue
cessful reunion OF the separated Czecho-
Slovak armies and the substantial elimi-
nation In eastern Siberia of the active
efforts Of enemy prisoners of war. A
period Of relative quiet then ensued.
Railway Service Corps Formed.
"In February. 1919, as a conclusion of
negotiations begun early in the summer
of 1913, the United States accepted a
plan proposed by japan for the super
vision Of the Siberian railways by an
international committee, under which
committee John f. Stevens would as
sumo the operation Of the Russian Rail-
way Service Corps. In this connection
1t is to be recalled that John F..
Stevens. In response to request OF the
provisional Government Of Russia, went
to Russia in the spring of 1917. A few
months later he was made official adj
wiser to the Minister of Ways Of Com
munication at Petrograd under the pro-
visional Government.
AT the request of the provisional Gov
eminent, and with the support of John
r. Stevens. there was organised the So
called Russian Railway Service Corps,
composed OF American engineers. AS
originally organized, the personnel OF this
corps constituted fourteen skeleton divi-
sion units as known in this country, the
idea being that these skeleton units
would serve as practical advisers and
assistants on fourteen different sections
of the Siberian railway, and assist the
Russians by their knowledge of long haul
problems as known IN this country, and
which are the rule and not the exception
in Siberia.
lowing to the Bolshevik uprising and
the general chaotic conditions, neither
Mr.. Stevens nor the Russian Railway
Service Corps was able to begin to work
in Siberia until March, 1918. They have
been able to operate effectively only
since the railway plan was adopted In
February, 1919.
THE most recent report from Mr..
Stevens shows that on part of the Chinese
Eastern and Trans-Baikal Railway he is
now running six trains a day each way.
while little while ago they were only
able to run that many trains per week.
''In accepting the railway plan 1t was
provided that some protection should be
given by the allied forces. Mr.. Stevens
stated frankly that he would not under
take the arduous task before him unless
he could rely upon support from Ameri-
can troops In an emergency. Accord
ingly. as provided in the railway plan,
and with the approval Of the interailied
committee, the military commanders in
Siberia have established troops where II
is necessary to maintain order at differ
ent parts Of the line.
Location of American Troops.
THE American forces. under Gen.
Graves, are understood to be protecting
parts of the line near Vladivostok and
also on the section around Verchne
Udinsk There is also understood to be a
small body of American troops at Har-
bin. The exact location from time to
time Of American troops is. however,
subject to change by the direction OF Gen.
Graves.
1.-THE instructions to Gen. Graves direct
him not to interfere in Russian affairs,
but to support Mr.. Stevens wherever
necessary. The Siberian railroad is not
only the main artery for transportation
in Siberia, but it is the only open access
TO European Russia to-day. The popula-
ton of Siberia, whose resources have
been almost exhausted by the long years
of war and the chaotic conditions which