861.00/3971: Telegram
The Chargé in Russia (Poole) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 8 p.m.]
920. I have just received the following note from General Ironside, dated today.
“Yesterday when the moment came for the French battalion to relieve the American battalion in the line one company absolutely refused to go. It is the same company which made the trouble before. Some 113 men are now disarmed and under guard from the cruiser Gueydon while instructions are awaited from Paris by the French military attaché.
The French commander on the railway calls my attention to the fact that it is probable than when the moment comes for the American company to go up to the line again, in about three weeks’ time, there is likelihood of there being trouble in the same way. There has been talk amongst men, and though this may be [hearsay], still I think that everything should be done during their spell of rest to prevent such a situation arising.
Service on the railway cannot be said to be hard, and casualties have been practically nil for months there, whereas on the Dvina, fighting has been heavy and casualties severe amongst the American troops.
An attack commenced on the Vaga at 3 p.m. yesterday, and the Americans have had some casualties.”
The casualties reported to include five killed and one missing. Foregoing sent to Paris as number 502 [52].