Office of the Historian

861.00/5636: Telegram

The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Secretary of State

Paris, November 13, 1919.
[Received 10:19 a.m.]

5156. From Gade via radio from S.S. Chattanooga.

2. Just returned from Judenitch headquarters. Leaving for Riga about 15th.

1st.
Well-informed Finnish sources stated present movement of Mannerheim sympathizers to have [raise] volunteer army to support Judenitch would probably fail. Apart from conditions made by, or to, Russians, Finnish Government can not entertain any proposal vouching for financial assistance.
2d.
Have conferred with Generals Judenitch, Laidoner, Trenissone [Tonisone], and with the Russian civil Government and British Military Mission Narva and staff corps and division commanders northwestern front.
3d.
Russian and Esthonian armies now preparing to stand Jamburg or western bank of Luga directly back of town attempting local counter-attacks along railroad, Gdoff, Pskoff. Troops much exhausted but morale not bad, while Russian staff and army organization momentarily entirely demoralized. British view situation pessimistically, preparing, when gulf freezes, to withdraw naval forces.
4th.
Last month’s campaign and resulting disaster to Russian Army may be summarized as follows.
5th.
Judenitch attack with merely 12,000 effectives opposed by originally 20,000 Bolsheviks who rapidly retreated, intending to permit Judenitch to advance and ultimately outflank him to the south. When Russians reached Tsarskoe Selo six Bolshevik divisions, numbering some 50,000, defending Petrograd, retreated.76 These were taken from Finnish, Latvian, Murman and Denikin fronts. Best Bolsheviks were three communist regiments and the student officers and the Tarlanski and Bogunski regiments and the sailors. The combined attack on Krasnaya-Gorka by British naval guns and combined Esthonian-Russian land forces failing as well as great superiority in Bolshevik troops gathered to defend capital and flank attack started by latter required immediately Judenitch’s retreat. In advancing he had taken 12,000 prisoners in starving condition. His total loss amounted to 3,000. Bolshevik peasant soldiers surrendered willingly. They lacked cartridges, clothing and discipline severely. Losses estimated at about fifth five hundred [5,500].
6th.
Judenitch army now 12,000 effectives, 25,000 unarmed. Esthonian division cooperating or acting as reserves, 8,000.
7th.
British severely criticised [by] Italians,77 Russians and Esthonians who state they practically demanded of Yudenitch he should advance rather than making him see the insufficiency of the supporters [his force]. Germans making most of this criticism, furthering anti-British feeling.
8th.
Snowy thoroughfares leading to Narva pitiful sight, similar to [northern France] early month of war. Crowded with continuous gathering [stream] of homeless starving refugees with cattle and household effects, groups of ashen-faced stupefied Bolshevik prisoners. Some 6,000 refugee peasants already arrived in Narva. Much appreciation of American relief and Red Cross.
9th.
Line runs at the present time Pepia, Babino, Kerstovo, Pustomirsha, Imienitzi, Vuoirva, Poretchie, Popkova Gora, Veino.
10th.
Lack of hearty cooperation between Esthonian and Russian lower commands evident and Russian civil Government doing [Page 740] little to invite greater cooperation and confidence from Esthonian Government. Yudenitch’s paper currency refused everywhere.
American Mission
  1. The word “retreated” does not appear on the original telegram as sent from Paris.↩
  2. The word “Italians” does not appear on the original telegram as sent from Paris.↩