File No. 861.00/1918
The Chairman, of the Advisory Commission of Railway Experts to Russia (Stevens) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 31, 2.50 a.m.]
From information received from General Horvat; his word can be depended on:
Conservative, 3,000 German and Austrian prisoners are fighting with Bolsheviki against Semenov, Trans-Baikal, command of Taube, German general. They have field and machine guns served by prisoners. There are 15,000 armed organized prisoners Chita, Irkutsk, Omsk, holding out, more available. Some apprehension prisoners Semenov would be [omission]. Have been notified Irkutsk line cleared, service restored. Peasants anxious to aid him, but in [Page 182] fear of the ruin of themselves if he fails on account weakness. Eighty percentage Siberian people would welcome cooperation Allied, especially American, assistance to Semenov movement. If it is given promptly, Bolshevik Siberia will collapse.
I agree wholly the above, have no faith in their eleventh-hour repentance. They know the end [of their] power is in sight and are desperate. Heavy concentration prisoners from east and west towards Irkutsk is going on. German propaganda, influence, occupation, increasing daily. Quick effective Allied action Siberia against treacherous combination necessary. The idea of organizing effective Bolshevik army to fight Germans eastern front purely visionary; if Allies expect to save Siberia they should move. Imperatively feel is my duty to give matured convictions in view of situation and conflicting reports.