File No. 861.00/1448
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Reinsch)
[Telegram]
Washington, April 12,
1918, 4 p.m.
Please verify following reports received from reliable sources:
- (1)
- There are sufficient locomotives throughout Siberian Railway. Large quantities of rolling stock, much of which is standing in stations unused.
- (2)
- In western Siberia there are large quantities of grain, sold in 1911. Farmers and some Austrian prisoners have apparently settled there and are offering supplies at stations.
- (3)
- No armed prisoners in western Siberia.
- (4)
- German major general, two colonels and thirty-four other officers recently arrived at Irkutsk to organize large concentration of armed prisoners there. Town and camp now commanded by 4.6 guns.
- (5)
- Preparations are being made for destruction of bridges and arches in case of Allied intervention.
- (6)
- Prisoners trying to return to Europe have been stopped at Omsk and sent back to Irkutsk.
Lansing