The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-04


undeclared war, and attempted to o'
The allies, of course, believe them
selves thoroughly justified They
we're fighting for their lives They
believed the Bolshevih were bent
on helping Germany destroy them
But the SovietS take another view
The Bolshevist revolution ex-
ploded on Europe in November, 1917
The following spring. a counter
revolution broke out, led by the
czaTist generals Alexiev, Kornilov,
Semenov, Admiral Kolchak and
others
Wilson Delays Entering
To the allies, this seemed a
propitious time to join in. Since
the first of the year they had been
contemplating Intervention in Rus
STA. They wanted to save the large
stores of war materials piled up at
Vladivostok, along the Trans
Siberian railway, at Archangel and
along the Thurman railway leading
southwark from the Arctic ocean.
They also wanted to strike a blow
at Germany to prevent her using
all her troops on the western front.
Britain, too, was afraid Germany
might try to reach India. via Rus
STA, and Japan had her eyes on
eastern Siberia and the strategic
port of VladivoStok.
Alone the United States was cold
to the project. 1t wanted to win the
war against Germany, but it did not
want to tackle the job from the
direction of Russia. For months,
therefore. against a perfect torrent
of propaganda. President Wilson
held out against the Russian adj
venture, only to give in at last.
Fighting Breaks Out
Upward of 100000 Czechs and
Slovaks-former Austro-Hungarian
soldiers who had made their way
into Russia there to fight against
the central powers for their own
INTERCHANGEABLE been caught in
Siberia. They were en- route to the
western front to join the allies.
Hostility had developed and fighting
had broken out between them and
released and armed German prison.
ers in Siberia, the allies informed
the President, and unless rescued
they would be wiped out.
Before he ordered an American
expeditionary force to join the
others in Russia, however, Wilson
demanded. and obtained certain
guarantees.
First Japan had to forswear any
territorial ambitions in Siberia.
Second, as soon as the job was
done, the allied forces, including the
Japanese, would Immediately with
draw
Japan Breaks Past
Third, he made it part of the Off
cial record that when he embarked
upon the undertaking he did so
mot for interference in internal af-
fairs of Russia, and not to distract
from the western front" but ito
protect CZechoSlovakS against armed
Austrian and German prisoners who
are attacking them and to steady
any efforts at lf-government or
self-defense in which Russians
themselves may be willing to ac-
cept assistance"
The United States understood
that, all told, a force of about $4,000
allies would be required. OF these,
Japan would provide her share, or
10000 to 10000 men. She actually
sent nearly $4,000 into Siberia, and,
despite every effort to dislodge them,
the last of them did not withdraw
until 1925.
The Japanese especially behaved
as victors in a conquered land.
They and the allies broke up Soviet
councils in the occupied territory,
ordered new elections, then broke
up the new councils, which always
turned out politically as before. 1t
was like sweeping back the tide
with a broom.
U. S. Prevents War
No matter how the allies may look
at it. therefore. the new Russian
regime which withstood these
efforts to destroy it. regarded inter
vention as war. Accordingly. when
the allies asked for about S13000,-
100000 from Russia, she replied
with huge claims Of her own.
Her claim against the United
States is unimportant compared
with what she might demand of the
allies. Furthermore. should she
nress her claims, Washington, in
turn. may counter by pointing out
that but for the firm stand OF the
ITnited States before, during and
otter the Washington conference,
the japanese might still be in
Siberia whence they could not be
dislodged save at tremendous eX-
nense to Russia and a long and