Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-19
KOLCHAK LOSES (,
IN BRAVE FIGHT
TO SAVE RUSSIA
Continued From Page One.)

final appeal. and spoke to the sailors on
the meaning OF democracy. He paid
generous tribute to their ships. He spoke
Of Russla's bravery and urged the sailors
to stand Loyalty by the cause for which
the allies were lighting. He referred
feelingly to the cordial relations which
had always existed between Russia and
the United States and made much Of the
argument for their continued friendship
and cooperation, which lay in the fact
that they were now the two biggest re-
publics in the world. But not q word did
he say OF the depOsed officers.
Admiral GIennon is a big man, with
commanding appearance, but with a
kindly and genial bearing. His speech
made a most favorable impression on the
sailors. Evidently they talked over the
things he had said and decided to show
their appreciation in some way.
OBTAINS RELEASE
FOR KOLCHAK.
So when the American admirals and
other officers were boarding their train
again at SebastopOl on the return jour
ney to Petrograd, representatives of the
sailors came on board and told Admiral
Glennon that they had voted to restore
the arms to all the depOsed officers ex-
Cept KOlchak and SmirnOff. These two,
they said, they would probably keep in
prison and give them a trial.
Admiral GIennon saw his chance. Man
ifestly these sailors wanted to please the
Americans They were a little afraid of
Kolchak and Smirnoff, so they felt OBJ
iged to keep them in prison, but prob
ably, if KOlchak and sSmiroff were to
leave SebastopOl and the region of the
Aod
So the admiral, smiling down from his
towering height upon the shorter Rus
SLAMS, made a proposal. In effect he
said:
Release Smirnoff and Kolchak and
we win take them to PetroGrad with us"
Petrograd was far away; moreover,
the authority of PetrOgrad was still
recognized, so the sailors agreed.
KOlchalk and SmirnOff were taken from
prison and put on board the train with
the Americans.
PAYS UNITED
STATES VISIT.
For them it was deliverance from al
most certain death. It is little wonder
that KOlchak regarded GlennOn with the
greatest affection and gratitude. A few
weeks later KOIchak came to the United
States at the head of a Russian naval
mission, and his renewal Of acquaint-
ance with Admiral GlennOn was like the
meeting of brothers.
The visit of the Russian naval mis-
sion had for its primary purpose, prob
ably, a study Of how discipline was
maintained in the navy of a republic
However, its officers told US many in
teresting things about the organization
and operation of the Russian navy
hud oh -. H. =
Kolchak while the mission was here. 1t
was said of him that he was Of Tartar
descent. and his appearance gave some
weight to this rumor. He was Of me-
dunn height, very dark, with piercing
eyes and a determined expression. He
was famous for his resolute purpose in
all undertakings, and his face gave clear
evidence of it He was intensely Rus
sian and patriotic. but broad minded.
simple and practical. He admired Far
ragut greatly, and made special trip to
his tomb to place a wreath upon it He
was also great admirer Of our arctic
explorers. probably because Of his own
polar service.
NOT MAN
FOR LEADER.
But he was not fitted for the sort Of
leadership the Russians required after
L.
he was, he was too conservative aud 100
class conscious to inspire the sympathy
and confidence Of millions of Russians
who had vowed they were through for
ever with aristOcracy and militarism.
Moreover, he was lacking in faith, lack
ing in optimism and enthusiasm. When
1 heard he had become leader of the
counter revolution, I expressed my be-
lief that it was doomed to failure You
can not win a great campaign with
man upon whom melancholy and hope
lessness have set their seal.
I remember the dinner Admiral KoI-
chak gave at the ShOreham Hotel In
Washington, to the Secretary OF the
Navy and prominent officers Of the Navy
Department just before the Russian naval
mission took its departure in 1917.
Beyond all question 1t was the gloomi-
est, most funeral occasion 1 experienced
in all my eight years in Washington.
News had just arrived of a German
victory over the Russians in the Baltic
The kerenski government was in
perilous situation. These facts were re-
fected in the lugubrious countenanees
and solemn words OF those who sat at
that banquet table. I did my best to
cheer Kolchak. predicting a wonderful
future for a democratic Russia when the
allies and America had won the war.
WITHOUT HOPE OF
RUSSIAN PEACE.
do you really believe Russia can
again have peace?" he asked me, and the
tone Of his question spoke his own de-
SPAR.
You have read OF the depression which
sometimes wrote itself upon the face OF
Lincoln in his darkest hours. I never
saw Lincoln. but accepting the most de-
pressing accounts, his sadness must have
had a ray of hope in comparison with
the utter hopelessness which sat upon
the somber face Of Kolchak.
I think the premonition of tragedy was
in his soul
At the end of October, 1917, he sailed
from San Francisco for Japan, intending
&c return to European Russia by Siberia
When he reached Japan he found the
Bolshevists had seized power and Keren-
ski was a fugitive. The Bolshevist gov
eminent offered him and his officers safe
journey to Petrograd If they would rec
ognize its authority and swear allegiance
Kolchak refused.
So he became leader of the anti-Bol-
shevtst movement In Siberia. In the
spring Of 1919 the world thought he was
uEw Nw ga