Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Paris Peace Conference, 1919, Volume XII

Paris Peace Conf. 184.01502/29

Report by Lieutenant Colonel E. J. Dawley

Kovno, May 15, 1919.

Military Situation in Lithuania

1. The following is a report on the military situation in Lithuania. It is based upon information obtained from the Lithuanian Government, personal inspection of points of the front and of troops and, to a certain extent, information given by the German command. A questionnaire, copy of which is attached hereto,³¹ was submitted to the representative in Lithuania of the German Ost Army on May 5th. This representative in Lithuania replied stating he had transmitted the questionnaire to the General Commando at Bartenstein. On May 14th he advised that Bartenstein had telegraphed him to the effect that they were preparing the information desired and that the same would be forwarded when complete. When this information is received it will be forwarded to be attached to this report.

2. On November 11th the general line held by the Germans in Western Russia was the Düna River, Riga to Dwinsk exclusive, thence almost due south. Early in January a general withdrawal was executed by the Germans, the reasons being given as defection among the troops and their inability to hold the advanced line against the Bolsheviks. On January 20th the line of defense of the Bolsheviks was generally Windau River–Telze–Szawle–Szalow–Hjiedny–Janow–Koszedary—exclusive Wilna–Olita–Grodno exclusive—Walkowyak. Early in February a general reorganization was made of the German forces and in connection with partisan bands in Lithuania, there being at that time no organized Lithuanian Government force, a general offensive was started with the result that by March 30th the line held today in Northern Lithuania was reached, except for the advance in the direction of Wilkomierz made May 3rd. In the southern part of Lithuania the Poles, who held the line from Grodno south, advanced until a drive north and east, coincident with a general uprising of the Polish elements in Wilna, enabled them to drive the Bolsheviks out of Wilna on April 19th. On May 3rd Polish outposts met Lithuanian outposts in Schirwinty, 30 kilometers southeast of Wilkomierz. Polish troops now hold the front from Schirwinty east to Poddrozie on the railroad Wilna–Dwinsk, and thence generally south, neither Lithuanian nor German troops being in contact with the Bolsheviks south of Schirwinty.

3. The present front is shown on Annex No. 1. There has not been and there is no unity of command of the forces in Northern Lithuania operating against the Bolsheviks; German and Lithuanian troops are interspersed. At present the Lithuanians have but few troops south of an east and west line through Kovno. Grodno is occupied by the Poles. A White Russian regiment, nominally counted as part of the Lithuanian army, is stationed in Grodno. Two battalions of infantry with a small detachment of cavalry and one 4–gun battery are located on the road Kovno–Wilna about half-way between the latter points, and are maintained there as a guard for Kovno against an offensive in that direction by the Polish troops. Polish and Lithuanian outposts jointly occupy the town of Jewie, 35 kilometers west of Wilna.

4. The Bolshevist organization on this front is shown on map, Annex No. 1. The Bolshevik forces are not important nor do they at present constitute a real menace. They lack organization, initiative, energy and equipment. However, the withdrawal of German forces from this country before an adequate Lithuanian force is built up would invite disaster in the form of an organized Bolshevik offensive if this were in any way possible. In the northeastern part of Lithuania the Bolsheviks at present hold some of the most valuable and fertile land in the country. The Bolshevik scheme of defense consists of maintaining large forces at the important centers of resistance. These centers are from north to south; the railroad east and west through Ponewiez, the highway northeast through Wilkomierz, the railroad northeast from Wilna and east and south from Wilna. No information is at present available on the Bolshevik forces further to the south on the Polish front.

5. The organization of the Lithuanian forces is shown in Annex No. 3. The organization of the German forces in Lithuania as dictated by the best available information is shown in Annex No. 4. The total German forces in Lithuania are estimated at about 40,000. All of these troops are volunteers. Their discipline and morale are not good. Their appearance is not good. There are but few troops actually on the front, the majority being stationed in the interior. A great deal of military training is being done by the German troops in spite of the lack of discipline and morale. Their equipment is complete. So far as known, since March 30th the Germans, with the exception of a little help accorded the Lithuanians in the capture of Wilkomierz on May 3rd, have made no active aggression against Bolshevism. On May 9th the Lithuanian General Staff was officially informed by a member of the German General Staff that no further operations against Bolsheviks would be undertaken by the Germans in view of the fact that negotiations were under way looking to the conclusion of an armistice with the Soviet Government. The reason given was the severity of the peace terms imposed on Germany by the Allies. The attitude of the German forces is completely domineering. In the city of Kovno all of the best buildings and houses are occupied by Germans. The Lithuanian authorities receive daily multitudinous complaints from the civil population of robbery, thievery and plundering by the Germans. The Lithuanians make a real effort to get along and to quiet their people, hoping for action from the outside which will bridle or curb the activities of the Germans. I believe that the majority of German officers realize it is to their interest and the interest of all concerned to maintain order among the people, but I also believe that they are under the present circumstances powerless and unable to hold their men. Nor can they forget the Prussian characteristics and the domination they had over this country for four years. The Soldatenrat are powerful and are a constant annoyance to the Lithuanian government officials. The latter claim they have positive evidence of trafficking between the Soldatenrat and the Bolsheviks in which the former supply the Bolsheviks with arms, ammunition, food and even field pieces. The Lithuanian government officials openly admit that at present practically their entire source of supply of gasoline, auto tires, spare parts, etc., is by purchase from civilians who have in turn bought the stolen property either from the Soldatenrat or individual German soldiers.

6. The railway communications in operation in Lithuania are shown in Annex No. 4–A. Attached thereto is also a statement of the amount of railway material required for the operation of these roads in the event of a withdrawal of the Germans. All other rail-roads are maintained, operated and completely controlled by the Germans and it is difficult for the Lithuanians to get transportation even for their officials and people travelling on public business. The Germans admit of no boundary control with the result that they are taking out of the country large amounts of foodstuffs, timber, narrow gauge railway material and military installations of all kinds. The Lithuanian government of itself owns absolutely no rolling stock or railway material of any kind. That which was here before the war was of Russian gauge and has been disposed of by the Germans so that nothing remains. One of the conditions for the withdrawal of the German forces must, therefore, be that they leave intact and maintain in operation such rolling stock and railway material as may be necessary for the maintenance of communication and supply of the country of Lithuania.

7. The Lithuanian Government is being financed by a loan obtained from Germany in December last. Its army is being equipped by a German firm. Rifles, field pieces, and ammunition are furnished directly by the German Government. Copies of the contract for the loan and contract with the German firm for the equipment are attached hereto as Annex No. 5 and 6. A price list of articles purchased in this manner from Germany and the German firm will be sent later to be attached to this annex. By written correspondence between the Lithuanian Government and the German Government the former are obligated to pay four marks per day for all ranks for the German forces in Lithuania up to 20,000. A copy of this contract will be sent to be attached to the above annex or to the political report.

8. The political questions of the boundary of Lithuania, including the present occupation of Wilna by the Poles while of the utmost military importance will be dealt with in a separate report. The relations between Poles and Lithuanians are extremely strained. A solution of this problem must be made from the outside. At present at one point the Lithuanian and Polish forces face each other, but both have orders from their military commanders under no circumstances to be embroiled in a fight. In the event of an aggression by the Poles the Lithuanians are powerless lacking as they do organization and equipment for their available man power. It is evidently to the interest of Germany to foster and maintain this spirit of rivalry and ill feeling between the Lithuanians and Poles and while no definite information is at hand, rumors are rife concerning the German attempts to get Lithuania united with them in the event that they, the Germans, shall again go against Poland. The representative of the German Ost Army in Lithuania stated to the chief of Mission and myself that in the event of the cession of the east provinces of Germany in consequence of the peace terms, the German forces now outside of Germany would have to be withdrawn for the protection of these German provinces. A Lithuanian commission composed of two ex-Ministers has been in Warsaw for the past month with instructions and power to arrange with Polish representatives a nominal settlement of the boundary question between the two countries and to arrange an agreement regarding their future combined action against Bolshevism. To date nothing has been accomplished by this mission.

9. The total organized Lithuanian forces number about 11,000. These include Kommandantur detachments which are stationed all over the northern part of liberated Lithuania. They have nothing in the way of arms and equipment except that furnished by the German Government and the German firm referred to before. As shown in Annex No. 3 there are less than 8000 rifles now in the hands of the Lithuanians. It is impossible to organize the recruit detachments at many of the Kommandanturs owing to the lack of equipment, shoes, clothing, arms and ammunition. The deliveries of these supplies from Germany have not been regular nor in the quantity desired. Of the present forces now organized, 67% are volunteers and 33% are conscripts. Of the 31 districts in Lithuania, but 21 are liberated and available to the Lithuanian Government. So far, in but 13 of these districts are figures accessible on available mobilization. From these 13 districts by taking the men born in 1897 and 1898 an additional force of 12,000 could be formed. Based on these figures it is estimated that if the age limit were extended to 35 a force of 7,000 additional could be mobilized. These figures I do not regard as extremely reliable, but I am convinced that there is enough available man power in Lithuania to maintain the country against Bolshevism without the aid of German or Polish troops. The Lithuanian soldier as such I regard as very good soldier material. What they require is organization, direction, training and equipment, and it is believed that if the arms, clothing and ammunition were available that a sufficient and suitable force to maintain the government and the country against Bolshevism could be raised in one month, enabling all German troops to be withdrawn. To organize this force will require the loan or sale to Lithuania against her natural resources of equipment for her forces, complete in every detail. There are no industries in Lithuania producing war materials or equipment of any kind. The Lithuanian Government can handle the food supply of this army with what help has already been given in the way of flour by the American Belief Administration.

10. While the Lithuanian soldier material is good there is a lamentable lack of competent officers. General Zaukauskas, an ex-Russian division commander, arrived the latter part of April and has been made Chief of Staff and Commander in Chief of the field of the Lithuanian army. He is a man of considerable force of character, energy and apparent talent and ability for command, and he has associated with him a number of ex-Russian officers of long experience, force and ability. Junior commanders and officers are, however, lacking. The organization of the Lithuanian General Staff which went into effect on May 15th is shown as Annex No. 7. An ex-Russian General Staff Officer was largely responsible for this organization and is now in charge of instruction of the General Staff. Among the Lithuanians themselves there are but few officers who were allowed under the Russian government to attend their staff school; this for the reason that Lithuanians are Catholics. There is in operation in Kovno a school for junior officers and candidates for commission. Detailed information of this school with course of study is attached as Annex No. 8.

11. An effort is being made by the Lithuanians to recruit a force of 6,000 to 7,000 Lithuanians in America for service in the Lithuanian army. To this end a commission has left Lithuania for the United States. Aid for this mission in its project was ardently sought but no encouragement was offered in any way. In order to have more definite information on the method of procedure and the full project, a questionnaire on this subject was submitted to the Ministry of War. This questionnaire and the answers are attached as Annex No. 9³² and is submitted without comment.

12. While from one standpoint the German forces are necessary in this country to protect it from Bolshevism, it presents itself on the other hand a constant menace in the form of Bolshevism. Positive and definite proofs are lacking and yet I am convinced that there is and does exist a definite agreement between the German command in Lithuania and the Bolsheviks. It is appreciated that what follows is not conclusive proof of this and it is given only for what it may show of the danger that exists to this country by the retention here of the Germans. It is reported to me that an Inter-Allied Commission for the repatriation of Russian prisoners was put in telephonic communication from the German command in Kovno with the Bolsheviks. A United Press correspondent, Mr. Frank J. Taylor, with credentials to the Soviet Government in Moscow passed through Kovno on May 5th. Mr. Taylor went to the German command for information as to how he could best get in touch with the Bolsheviks to assure his passage through the line. He stated to me that the German representative for the Ost Army in Lithuania told him that he could not put him in telephonic communication at once with the Bolsheviks due to the fact that the Bolsheviks had been retreating so fast that they had not kept up their communication. A Bolshevist Jewish agent with German credentials was captured by the Lithuanians on May 14th. He had with him a large sum of money in German Reichsbank notes. The German command immediately demanded the release of this agent to them, which, of course, was done. As stated above, these are not submitted as conclusive proofs of accord between the Germans and Bolsheviks but they are a few instances related to indicate the mass of intrigue that is being carried out by Germans here.

13. Future operations: An operation is contemplated by the Lithuanian forces for the capture of Ponewiez in the next few days. This operation was scheduled for May 14th but had to be postponed on account of the German refusal to assist. An effort will now be made without them by flanking from the north and south. It is believed it will succeed.

14. The reason of the German occupation of this country is on the surface in consequence of Article XII of the armistice. The more subtle reasons are:

1. The maintenance of an armed force outside of Germany.

2. The maintenance of German influence outside of Germany.

3. A scheme for colonization and a pretext for domination and control of a country which is furnishing vast amounts of food and timber supplies for Germany.

At present Lithuania is as completely dominated by Germans as if it were part and parcel of Germany. The Lithuanian Government is such in name only. The German forces cannot be withdrawn without danger of complete domination by Bolsheviks. German occupation is but the lesser of two evils. If this country is to be saved from ultimate domination by Germany, the German forces must be withdrawn and must be kept out. Until that time a Lithuanian national army must be organized, equipped and trained. This requires complete supervision, direction, finance and equipment from the Entente. It will require personal equipment for the soldier, arms, ammunition, transportation of all kinds and war supplies of every nature. No attempt is made to delineate the separate items that are needed. If equipment and aid are to be furnished, they should be furnished according to accepted tables of organization and equipment, the reservation being made that the Lithuanian soldier does not need, and that this kind of war does not demand the high standard of maintenance of this equipment that our American soldiers require. It is believed that a great deal of this equipment could be furnished from salvaged and captured stock of any equipment of any of the three great powers in the Entente. The natural resources of this country, which could be used for the security of the loan and sale of arms and equipment, are limited entirely to agricultural and forestry products. There is little or no industry of any kind in the country. Formerly leather manufactory was important. It is stated that the Germans have taken out of the country 200,000 horses and 300,000 head of cattle, as well as large numbers of sheep, swine, etc., with the result that there remain but few of these animals in the country and it will require intensive breeding and propagation before the needs of the country in that respect can be restored and the leather industry ever again become important. In spite of the shortage of horses and cattle, the spring agricultural work has progressed remarkably well. It is estimated that two-thirds of the tillable land in Lithuania is at present under cultivation and with a good harvest Lithuania should be able to export food stuffs in some quantity within the year.

15. Coincident with help in the formation of a National Lithuanian Army must come from the Entente an absolute and rigid definition of Germany’s position in this country and it must be explicitly stated as to:

a. Her relations with the Lithuanian civil government.

b. Her attitude toward and help she is to afford in the formation of a national army.

c. The aggression she is to maintain against Bolshevism until such time as the newly created national force will be able to relieve the German forces from their responsibility to the Entente for the preservation of the country against Bolshevism.

There must also be an agreement or arrangement effected by the Entente between the Lithuanians and Poles in regard to their boundary dispute, guarantees being exacted from both that their military operations will be limited solely to the aggression against Bolshevism. While the race question is acute, it is believed that both Poles and Lithuanians will readily submit to the mandates in regard to their boundaries from the Entente. It is believed that assistance in the formation of a national army for the protection of the country against Bolshevism can only be accomplished by a directorate who shall practically administer civil and military affairs of the country. This directorate must have an adequate military mission, financial and legal experts. It is also held that this can best be accomplished by one nation, reporting to one government rather than by an Inter-Allied directorate or commission, and although it is not desired to see America involved to that extent, it is believed that American men and American brains can solve this problem more readily and more rapidly than can any other of the Allies. In this connection attention is invited to the fact that there is at present in Kovno a French military mission which is doing valuable work for the Lithuanians in the matter of assistance in organization and training. However, a larger and more important work in this regard is being accomplished by three Swedish officers who are here solely as volunteers to aid the Lithuanians in their struggle against Bolshevism.

16. Recommendations: In view of the above it is recommended that the Entente consider the immediate relief of Lithuania by:

1. Guaranteeing to the country against her natural resources, which are agricultural and forestry products:

a. Finances;

b. Equipment and supplies of every kind for her army; and,

c. Complete direction, supervision and organization of her army.

2. Defining rigidly the position of Germany and German troops in this country as to:

a. Germany’s attitude toward the Lithuanian Government and the creation of a Lithuanian National army;

b. Her modus operandi in this country; and

c. Explicitly her part in the maintenance of an aggression against Bolshevism.

3. Creating a control of German import and export to and from this country and stipulating what German property such as railway rolling stock materials and military installations may be withdrawn.

4. Demanding from the Lithuanian and Polish Governments a military coalition against Bolshevism with full agreement that racial problems and boundary questions shall be reserved to a later date for adjudication.

E. J. Dawley

[Enclosure 1]

Annex No. 9

Statement in Regard to Lithuanian Mission to the U. S. for Purpose of Getting Volunteers for Lithuania

questionnaire proposed to lithuanian minister of war

1. Names and present occupation and status of members.

2. Proposed method of procedure.

3. Number of troops or men it is believed possible to obtain from America.

4. Brief outline of work already accomplished in this matter.

5. How were men in U. S. enrolled.

6. By whom is the expense of transportation, equipment, etc., to be borne.

7. What assurances have already been obtained that the U. S. Government will approve the project.

8. When is it expected to get these troops here.

9. Have any arrangements been made to get similar volunteers from other countries.

10. To what use is it proposed to put these troops.

11. Is the Lithuanian Government in a position financially to assure payment and maintenance of these troops while here.

12. What assurance is contracted to these volunteers to:

1. Return them to the U. S.

2. Indemnify them or relatives for loss of life or property.

3. Definitely define their status and rights here—Lithuania and afterwards as citizens of the U. S.

E. J. Dawley

memorandum

1. Col. Galvidis-Bykauskas, chief of the Military school, and 2nd Lieut. Natkevieius, adjutant of the artillery regiment.

2. By permission of the government of the country, by the Lithuanian societies of the countries and by advertisements in the regions inhabited by Lithuanian colonies.

3. We hope to obtain from America 10,000 men.

4. Up to the present time we have enrolled in the Lithuanian army about 7,000 volunteers who are expecting to be sent to Lithuania.

5. They were enrolled by the societies of the country and by advertisements in the Lithuanian colonies.

6. The expense of transportation and equipment is to be borne by the Lithuanian government.

7. Up until now no assurance has been obtained that the U. S. Government will approve of the project.

8. It is desirable to get these troops from America to Lithuania as soon as possible.

9. Arrangements have been made to get volunteers from Sweden.

10. The troops obtained from America will be used only on the front to defend Lithuanian frontier.

11. The Lithuanian Government is in a position financially to assure the payment and maintenance of these troops while they are in Lithuania.

12. (1) With regard to the U. S.—These men will be given full liberty and help.

(2) For loss of life or property, they or their relatives will be indemnified as Lithuanian soldiers.

(3) American volunteers will have the same rights as Lithuanian soldiers.

Merkis

Minister of War

[Enclosure 2]

Supplement to Military Report on Lithuania

Warsaw, May 20, 1919.

1. The information contained in the following sub-paragraphs was gotten by me in Vilna while en route to Warsaw. Inasmuch as I am not accredited to Poland, no attempt has been made to verify or pursue the matters further. A copy of this Supplementary Report has been left with the American Minister in Poland for his information.

(a) Referring to the statement in the Military Report that there exists an agreement or accord between the German and Soviet Governments and that the two are in constant communication, the Chief of Staff of the Polish garrison in Vilna informed me that the wireless station at Vilna intercepts a great many messages in cipher and in clear between Kovno and Dünaburg and Moscow; the messages in the clear being invariably on the subject of the exchange of prisoners.

(b) On Saturday, May 17th, a Mrs. Harrison, American newspaper correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, attended a meeting in Vilna of Jewish representatives. Mrs. Harrison informs me that resolutions were passed extremely socialistic in nature and in reality Bolshevistic; the Jews contending that the administration in Vilna by the Bolshevists was far preferable or acceptable to them than the administration by the Poles. I have not a copy of the resolutions but I have every reason to believe the statements made to me. In this connection, the attitude of the Jewish element in Wilkomierz which was taken on May 3rd by the Lithuanians and Germans, toward Bolshevists and toward the newly occupying force is identical with that of the Jews in Vilna. Attention is invited to the capital which is being made by the Lithuanians of the excesses committed on the Jews in Vilna. While I have no positive evidence, I believe excesses to a lesser degree were committed by the Lithuanians themselves in territory occupied by their own troops. This evidence is only given as indicative of the feeling which exists between Lithuania and Poland and of the necessity for some strong action by outside power as regards these two people, their present racial, political, and boundary disputes.

(c) The Chief of Staff of the Polish garrison in Vilna informed me that about May 13th or 14th approximately three hundred Russian prisoners of war from Germany walked into the Polish lines west of Vilna and were being kept by the Poles. He could not state the exact disposition made of these prisoners by the Poles but he was positive that they had not been sent into Russia.

2. I have been in conference with the Lithuanian Delegation, headed by Dr. Shaulis, here at Warsaw. This Lithuanian mission was sent to Warsaw to enter into negotiations looking to the solution of the present political and boundary disputes between Poland and Lithuania. They report that there has been no progress made as yet and that they are leaving this day, May 21st, for Kovno, at which place a conference is taking place between Polish and Lithuanian representatives. Before leaving Kovno, I was informed that the Ministry of War had attempted to effect an agreement with the Polish military authorities. The basis of the agreement desired was the evacuation of Vilna by the Poles in favor of the Lithuanians, on the ground that Vilna was necessary as a base for the Lithuanians in their future operations against the Bolshevists. The Poles refused the evacuation of Vilna. However, Gen. Szeptycki, commanding the Polish army in the north, expressed on May 15th his willingness to start negotiations with the Lithuanian command. The Lithuanians in turn asked that a Polish delegation be sent to Kovno or Vilna.

3. From what information I can get from the Lithuanian delegation now here in Warsaw, the bone of contention is positively Vilna. I have been furnished by our American Minister to Poland with a copy of a proclamation issued by General Pilsudski on April 22nd.³³ I am also informed that this proclamation caused considerable political unrest and alarm in Polish circles; that, however, Prime Minister Paderewski insisted that the proclamation should stand—at the same time stating that this was exactly his attitude and commending General Pilsudski for his breadth of view in the matter. The proclamation, however, has had little or no effect on the Lithuanians, as they regard it as merely camouflage. Withal, I believe that an agreement can be reached by the intervention of the Entente in the matter of the present disputes between Lithuania and Poland.

4. I have asked the Lithuanian delegation here in Warsaw for statements in writing, setting forth their instructions, the propositions they have put to the Poles, the counter propositions, if any, made by the Poles, and in general the answer of the Polish Government to the propositions of the Lithuanians. If possible, a copy of these will be forwarded with this report.³⁴

5. I am suggesting to the American Minister that an investigation and study be made for the benefit of the Peace Commission of the measures and agreements and general methods employed by the Poles and Germans relative to the disposition of railway material, communication systems of all kinds, at the time of the evacuation of Poland by the German forces. I believe that this information will be valuable as an index of a solution of the similar questions which will arise when the Germans are required to evacuate Lithuania and Latvia.

E. J. Dawley

[Subenclosure—Translation]

General Pilsudski’s Proclamation to Lithuanians

April 22, 1919.

Your country has been deprived of liberty for nearly a century and a half. The Russian, German and Bolshevists tyranny have oppressed you one after another imposing on the whole population forms of existence that were strange to you, which denied you all liberty of action and which often oppressed even the very principle of life.

This state of permanent slavery, which is only too well known to me as a son of this unhappy country, must now be abolished. Liberty and the right to express openly and without restriction the wishes of the people must now prevail in these regions which seem to be forgotten by God Himself.

The Polish troops which I have led here in order to drive out tyranny and expel the authorities governing the country against its will bring you liberty for all.

I desire to offer the means of solving all internal, national and religious questions according to your own inclinations without oppression of any sort from Poland.

This is why—although the cannon still roar in your country and blood flows in rivers—I establish a government, not military, but civil; and to this government I summon the inhabitants of the country.

The duty of this government will be—

1. To help the population to express its desires freely thru representatives elected by universal suffrage.

2. To help the poor in the provision of food, protection of labor, of order and tranquillity and to protect all the inhabitants regardless of their religion or nationality.

31. None of the annexes to this document are printed except annex 9, p. 192, and the supplement, p. 193.
32. Enclosure 1, infra.
33. Infra.
34. Not attached to file copy of report.