File No. 861.00/2692
The Chargé in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 14, 11.55 a.m.]
Consul General at Irkutsk telegraphs to-day:
In view of retreat from Kazan, Czech staff at Samara asks me to inform Allies that help is urgently needed. There are also needed at present 600,000 rifles and 500,000,000 cartridges. They must have them at once. Prince Lvov, former minister president, is now en route to Vladivostok and America to purchase supplies. Minister of War Ivanov informs me that he has supply of cartridges sufficient only for three weeks. Czechs have 7,000 Japanese rifles but not yet cartridges, have asked me to urge that immediate supply be sent.
There are between 30,000 and 40,000 Bolsheviki and Austro-German war prisoners around Ekaterinburg commanded by an Austrian general who was formerly in command at Przemysl. It is doubtful if the town can be held as there are only some 12,000 Czechs and Cossacks opposing them.
The above repeated to the Department. Communicate to the American military and naval authorities.