861.00/3713: Telegram
The Chargé in Russia ( Poole ) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received January 25, 3:02 a.m.]
781. To Paris as Number 15, same date. In recent actions near Ust Padenga on the Dvina River front, American casualties as officially reported but not yet finally confirmed, 10 killed, 17 wounded, 11 missing. According to today’s report Allied position around Shenkursk being attacked from three sides. Evacuation of Ust Padenga has been necessary and the Allied troops to the west and east of Shenkursk are falling back on that point under pressure of greatly superior numbers. The Military Attaché informs me that [Page 607] the situation of our forces embracing two companies of Americans, two of Russians, and a small detachment of British is considered serious.
This information adds to uneasiness about the military situation, which has been growing since the effective miscarriage of the offensive operation reported in the Embassy’s 720, January 3, 3 p.m. In response to the Embassy’s request the Military Attaché has prepared a confidential memorandum on the situation which is commended to the Department’s careful consideration. Memorandum follows:
“The military situation of American and Allied troops in northern Russia is considered by most officers to be very unsatisfactory. Our American troops are widely scattered over the entire front from Indus through [Onega along] the railroad, Vaga and Dvina river[s] to Pinega, occupying more than a dozen positions. Owing to this extension there is seldom more than one company serving at one position and frequently the companies are broken up and the platoons separated. Communications are slow and difficult, many being separated by several days’ travel. The enemy greatly outnumbers us both in men and artillery; his morale, numbers and efficiency have increased (see Embassy’s 736, January 9, 6 p.m.). We are more and more put upon the defensive, subjected to more and more frequent attacks and bombardment suffering many casualties. We have no reserves. Our men are often called upon to remain on duty for long periods without relief. There has been much criticism of the commanding officers, almost always British, and in some cases this has been amply justified. Owing to the increasing strength and morale of the enemy and his apparent intention to start a vigorous offensive later on, I am of the opinion that there is considerable danger that we shall be compelled to evacuate most of our advanced positions with grave possibilities of heavy losses both [in] men and supplies. Successful operations westward from Perm would of course tend to relieve the situation here, also possible events in the Petrograd region.”