861.00/6865: Telegram
The Consul at Harbin (Jenkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—12:56 a.m.]
Referring to Department’s telegram of April 28, 2 p.m.67 Extremely difficult to obtain reliable information from Trans-Baikal. Considerable fighting between Japanese and Bolshevik Partisans has been going on around Chita and near Sretensk since April 10th. Bolshevik Partisans use aeroplanes and artillery. Bolsheviki reported to have suffered severe set back near Chita on the 11th. Japanese said to have two divisions on Chita front and one division in Sretensk region. Most of Semenoff troops, which are not numerous, [Page 538] appear to be protecting Japanese rear on railway from Karimskaya to Manchuria. Bolsheviki not thought to have more than ten or fifteen thousand men opposing Japanese … General Voitzekovski, northern remnant Kappel army at Chita, has broken with Semenoff and is now on the way to Harbin. Only the worst elements among Russian officers will now serve with Semenoff. Group of officers, who left here recently for Chita, reported returning because Voitzekovski out. Dietrichs, Russian general formerly commanding Czech troops, has left Harbin for Chita. …
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