Paris Peace Conf. 184.01502/91: Telegram
The Chargé in Denmark (Grant-Smith) to the Commission to Negotiate Peace13
[Received 6 p.m.]
325A. From Greene, Libau. “Greene 10, April 20. 1. Following report on military situation based on personal inspection of front troops and situation, careful investigation information from now deposed Latvian ministry and German command. Military situation of Latvia is critical. Front held against Bolshevists across Kurland is in general Aa river held as follows: Gulf of Riga to Mitau exclusive by 200 German Baits, 1,000 Letts, 300 Russians all effectives; Mitau to Bausk, both inclusive, by 7,000 German effectives of 6th German Reserve Corps consisting Iron and First Guard Reserve Divisions.
2. Critical points of line are Schlock, Kalenzem, Mitau, and Bausk. Garrisons maintained at these points with small outposts and cavalry [Page 145] patrols between. At Kalenzem, Mitau and Bausk bridgeheads are held to depth of about 5 kilometers. Dispositions generally very suitable. Aa River now free from ice and natural line of defense. Terrain characterized generally flat, Mitau to sea wooded and swampy. Roads few and poor except metalled road Riga, Mitau, Shavli, Tilsit. Standard gauge railroad Libau to Mitau parallels front Tuckum, Mitau, Sanischki, Szawle with narrow gauge to front from Sessau and Sanischki in south of sector. Standard gauge Tuckum to Schlock intact but not yet in operation. Right flank Guard Division in air and critical. Intelligence shows concentration of Bolshevists opposite Schlock, Mitau, Bausk and exposed right flank. Stated by Germans only poor condition roads prevents serious offensive from this flank in order completely roll up force. Contact maintained with Lithuanian forces but not cooperating between them. But for defection local troops and Germans, doubt possibility Bolshevist offensive that cannot be met and held by present forces.
3. Bolshevist forces on this front, including defenses of Riga, estimated variously 30,000 to 50,000 all arms. They have some artillery and appear well supplied with munition. Believe their morale, discipline and organization worse than poor though some Red regiments appear well supplied and officered. Their numbers in nowise indicate their fighting efficiency. Information indicates their forces on this front have been and are being augmented by detachment of regiments from other fronts, notably Esthonian.
4. Total organized forces in Kurland, including interior garrisons, troops in training, supply services, etc., are 3,800 Bait Landeswehr, 3,500 Letts and 300 Russians, 20,000 6th German Reserve Corps, grand total 27,600 of all arms with 65 guns light and medium calibre, 500 light and heavy machine guns and 27 airplanes.
5. German Bait troops are officered mostly by Germans, Letts and Russians by ex-Russian officers. Morale and discipline good. All are of good physique and soldier material. Lett troops are the least well-trained, officered and equipped. Morale and discipline of German troops as such not good though command professes to have situation in hand. All forces including Germans are volunteers.
6. April 16, headquarters building of Lettish training battalion navy yard Libau looted, sacked and guards disarmed and officers’ quarters looted circumstantially by German troops and Latvian Cabinet expelled by so-called Committee of Safety representative of German Baits. No explanation from German command to date or information as to effect of this on troops or situation at front.
7. Entire front and zone of operations from Gulf of Riga to Bausk is tactically and strategically under German General Von der Goltz, [Page 146] who is also military governor of Libau and at present the only authority with power in Latvia.
8. There seems to have been no distinct agreement between Lettish Government and German command as to extent of zone of operations or administration of territory not included therein.
9. Question of supply of and blockade against German troops covered by my 7 [6], April 11.14 Attention invited to revision of strength therein. Baltic Landeswehr and Russians are maintained as to supply equipment, arms, munitions, clothing entirely by Germany to account of Latvian Government. Letts are maintained partly by Germany and part by Latvian Government. Some machine guns, rifles, and ammunition have been supplied by British and further limited supply available here from same source.
10. Germans employ requisition jointly with Latvian Government under pseudo agreement with latter and under nominal control by joint German-Latvian requisition commission.
11. Lettish provisional government had proclaimed general mobilization which was refused by German command on ground that general arming of Letts dangerous to Germans and to security of entire country against Bolshevists. I did not entirely concur in this, but did and do believe a promiscuous arming of people dangerous. This situation more complicated now in view of paragraph 6 supra.
12. German command states it contemplates no operations aside from possible improvement of communications.
13. German forces are de facto preserving order in Kurland by holding Bolshevists back under color article 12 of armistice. The deeper reasons for or advantages to Germany from maintenance armed force outside Germany not here considered. Immediate departure of German forces will deliver country to bolshevism unless replaced by other forces. No provisional government will be able to finance, arm, clothe, or equip force adequate to hold Bolshevists. Their available strength by general mobilization all factions Letts and Baits in Kurland estimated at 8,000 in addition those now in service but to accomplish this will require complete direction, instruction, finance, equipment, clothing, and war supplies of every nature by Entente.
14. Opportunity seems favorable to progressive mobilization of manpower of liberated Lettland at available bases Libau and Windau under protection naval forces; Baltic units to be organized at one base and Lettish units at other.
15. This course will require from Entente rigid definition of Germany’s position here, the attitude she is to assume toward creating such force and help to be afforded by her to this end and explicitly her part in maintaining line against Bolshevists until arrival of newly created [Page 147] Latvian force to relieve said German force of responsibility to Entente for preservation order and checking advance bolshevism.
16. I therefore recommend to consideration Peace Commission project of creation Latvian national army by progressive mobilization from all of Lettland, capable maintenance government and order against bolshevism, Entente to guarantee direction, instruction, finance, supply, equipment and war supplies of every sort under adequate organization mission from one nation either Great Britain or United States, this for entirely non-political considerations.
17. Alternative to this is occupation of Kurland by Entente force which will at once release German troops now here and rid this country of Teutonic forceful influence. Greene.”