File No. 861.00/2652

The Consul General at Irkutsk (Harris) to the Secretary of State1

[Telegram]

Following message just received at Consulate at Omsk through courier from Consulate at Moscow:

Bolshevik battle order July 20: First army, region Syzran and Simbirsk, 8,800 infantry, 250 machine guns, 120 cavalry, 32 field pieces, 2 heavy guns, 9 armored automobiles, 1 armored train; second army, retiring toward Kama River, 2,000 infantry; third army, including the detachment in the Ekaterinburg region, 15,000 infantry, 331 machine guns, 750 cavalry, 21 field pieces, 4 heavy guns, 4 armored automobiles, and 11 aeroplanes; total of the three armies collectively, 27,130 infantry, 500 machine guns, 835 cavalry, 6 heavy field pieces, 6 heavy guns, 13 armored automobiles, 3 armored trains, 11 aeroplanes. Since this date great reinforcements of Red Army have arrived [from?] city of St. Petersburg and from the German front with numerous commissars from Moscow. According to a German [Page 370] order, a desperate effort is to be made against Czechs’ victorious advance. It is therefore of great importance to come in touch toward Vyatka with the Allied contingent landed on Archangel. In view of the pro-German policy of Bolsheviks certain elements of the Lettish regiment may be disposed to join Czechs or Allies. It would be useful to receive the first deserters for the purpose of provoking a more important movement.

I have given this information to Czech staff, Irkutsk. Since above was written the situation has changed somewhat, inasmuch as Simbirsk, Kazan, and Ekaterinburg have been occupied by Czechs but otherwise the situation is a heavy strain on Czechs.

[
Harris
]
  1. Sent via the Legation in China.