nterested in the propaganda as it
was presented and as it affected us in the campaign fighting the
Bolsheviki in North Russia in 1918-19. We write this chapter with great
hesitation and with consciousness that it is subject to error in
investigation and sifting of evidences and subject to error of bias on
the part of the writer. However, no attempt has been made to compel the
parts of this volume to be consistent with one another. Facts have been
stated and comments have been written as they occurred to the writers.
If they were forced to be consistent with one another it would be using
the method of the propagandizer. We prefer to appear inconsistent and
possibly illogical rather than to hold back or frame anything to suit
the general prejudices of the readers. Take this chapter then with fair
warning.

Keenly disappointed we were to be told in England that we were not to
join our American comrades who were starting "Fritz" backward in
Northern France. We were to go to Archangel for guard duty. The expert
propagandists in England were busy at once working upon the American
soldiers going to North Russia. The bare truth of the matter would not
be sufficient. Oh no! All the truth must not be told at once either.
It's not done, you know. Certainly not. Soldiers and the soldiers'
government might ask questions. British War Office experts must hand out
the news to feed the troops. And they did.

Guard duty in Archangel, as we have seen, speedily became a fall
offensive campaign under British military command. And right from the
jump off at the Bolshevik rearguard forces, British propaganda began
coming out. Does anyone recall a general order that came out from our
American Commanding officer of the Expedition? Is there a veteran of the
American Expeditionary force in North Russia who does not recall having
read or hearing published the general orders of the British G. H. Q.
referring to the objects of the expedition and to the character of the
enemy, the Bolsheviki?

"The enemy. Bolsheviks. These are soldiers and sailors who, in the
majority of cases are criminals," says General Poole's published order,
"Their natural, vicious brutality enabled them to assume leadership. The
Bolshevik is now fighting desperately, firstly, because the restoration
of law and order means an end to his reign, and secondly, because he
sees a rope round his neck for his past misdeeds if he is caught.
Germans. The Bolsheviks have no capacity fo