ts well-meant censorship and its
attempts to allay fear might have done some good.

As it was the day, March 31st, 1919, came when a not unwilling British
cable was scandalled and a fearsome press and people was startled with
the story of an alleged mutiny of a company of American troops in North
Russia. The "I-told-you-so's" and the "wish-they-would's" of the States
were gratified. The British War Office was, too, and made the most of
the story to propagandize its tired veterans and its late-drafted youths
who had been denied part in war by the sudden Armistice. Those were
urged to volunteer for service in North Russia, where it was alleged
their English comrades had been left unsupported by the mutinous Yanks.
Yes, there was a pretty mess made of the story by our own War
Department, too, who first was credulous of this really incredulous
affair, tried to explain it in its usually stupid and ignorant way of
explaining affairs in North Russia, only made a bad matter worse, and
then finally as they should have done at first, gave the American Forces
in North Russia a Commanding General, whose report as quoted from the
Army and Navy Journal of April 1920, will say:

"The incident was greatly exaggerated, but while greatly regretting
that any insubordination took place, he praised the general conduct of
the 339th Infantry. Colonel Richardson states that the troops were
serving under very trying conditions, and that much more serious
disaffections appeared among troops of the Allies on duty in North
Russia. He further says the disaffection in the company of the 339th
Infantry, U. S. A., was handled by the regimental commander with
discretion and good judgment."

Colonel Stewart, himself, stated to the press when he led his troops
home the following July:

"I did not have to take any disciplinary action against either an
officer or soldier of the regiment in connection with the matter, so
you may judge that the reports that have appeared have been very, very
greatly exaggerated. Every soldier connected with the incident
performed his duty as a soldier. And as far as I am concerned, I think
the matter should be closed."

In a letter to a member of Congress from Michigan, Secretary Baker
refers to the alleged mutiny as follows:

"A cablegram, dated March 31, 1919, received from the American Military
Attache at Archangel, read in part as follows:

"'Yesterday morning, March 30th, a company