File No. 861.00/2199
The Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris) to the Secretary of State1
[Received July 5, 11.58 a.m.]
Supplementing my telegram 15th. The trouble began early on morning of June 14, when city was attacked by few hundred White Guard. The jail was attacked and about 100 officers released, who joined White Guard. In the course of day Red Guard was augmented by revolutionists, numbers of armed Austrian and German prisoners, many of whom were in their own uniforms. These armed prisoners form strongest element in Red Guard amounting to fully 60 per cent. Armed prisoners are in charge of all responsible posts in Irkutsk and all military motor cars and all machine guns are under command of armed prisoners. Soviet power in Irkutsk sustained only by armed prisoners. There is a lull at present but trouble likely to begin at any moment.
- Sent via the Consulate at Vladivostok (No. 23).↩