The New York herald., 1921-10-15

which Russians apparently opposed to
the Soviet regime had set up at Chita,
and those engaged In trying to pro-
mote the establishment OF the all-Rus-
sian (Merkuiov) Government at Vladi-
vostok.
If these reports were to be believed
land seasoned observers accepted them
with a grain Of salt") no less than
sixteen distinct groups were engaged
In warning over the new anti-Bolshe-
visit enterprises. The Japanese re-
ports were that these groups. organ
lied into so called armies" were os-
tensibly fighting one another. but that
most of them were really engaged In
trying to spread Bolshevism and iin-
dermine the new democratic govern
ments. These bands were said to be
made up OF Ukranians, released pcliti-
cal prisoners sent to Siberia by the
Cars Government. Coreans, Hung
ties, Jews, Christian Russians. Ia
tars, Buriats and several nomad,c
tribes of mercenaries holding ellegi-
ance to no known country or Govern
ment.
The frequency with which the re-
ports Of the alleged atrocities were
committed by these bands were per-
mitted to reach the outside world
through Japanese agencies created
natural suspicion that there was an
other side to the story. This nave
gathered piecemeal from various
sources, making allowance for the par
tisan influences from which some OF
them were obtained.
Most Reports Probably Untrue.
I am of the opinion that not per
cent of the sensational reports OF the
battles" burning Of towns" whole
sale Killings" 'conflscation Of pop
erty," kidnapping Of prosperous mer-
chants" had the SLIGHTEST fourdat'on
In fact. On the contrary, ! believe
that most of them were pure fakes :
designed to impress the world at large
with the necessity for maintaining an
adequate Japanese military force In
the regions where the disturbances are
alleged to have occurred to prevent
complete decentralization.
This opinion was decidedly strength
-
independent origin which tended to
show that the reports OF alleged bat
ties were nothing more than raids OF
bandits and that most OF them had
been apparently staged by the jap
anese military forces under the direc-
ton Of Col. Kuroli. son OF the jap
anese Field Marshal who won great
distinction in the war with Russia.
Out Of the almost hopeless confusion
(also cleverly staged) surrounding
conditions in northeast Asia there
developed certain very definite impress
sions forced upon observers at Har-
bin, Mukden and Seoul. where there
are quite q number of Russians con-
centrated and awaiting the removal
of the embargo established against
them to return to their homes.
Despite the vigilance OF the Jap
anese military authorities and censor
ship these Russians have succeeded in
maintaining "a grapevine" communi-
cation with vladivostok, Kamchatka.
Primorsk. north Saghalien, Chfta
Ntkolsk and other Siberian centres
over which the Japanese military nov
exercises dominion. Through these
channels have come reports that have
established beyond peradventure the
responsibility Of Japan for most OF the
disorders that have actually resulted
from the unsettled conditions.
Japanese Inspired Revolts.
Instead Of trying to propagate So
vietism Cor to resist it, most Of the
leaders who have figured in some of
the "tall stories" regarding alleged
revolutions. wholesale killings and de-
struction Of property have been really
revealed as mercenaries engaged In
carrying out the plans Of Japan
Seminoff, the Russian Mongol; Won
Ungern- -Sternberg. the Hetaman An
enkov, and several Chinese and Mon
golian bandit chieftains who have fig
ured in the sensational dispatches Of
alleged military operations.
Russians with whom have talked,
and who based their statements upon
information that appeared reasonably
accurate, seek to show that the So
called armies" led by these men were
nothing more than drunken mobs who
were supplied with a limited amount
of the implements OF modern warfare.
a supply of food and a great deal of