The Military Situation v the Reds in 1918

Below is a letter being forwarded by General "Black Jack" Pershing to Washington D.C. in December 1918 - it concerns fighting between Red Army troops and U.S. troops in Russia - after the armistice that ended WWI. US troops and their British commanders in Russia were not getting along, but as the dispatch reads things were improving. It appears that this letter, available on microfilm from the National Archives, was not declassified until 1970 (possibly 1958 at the earliest, 50 years after WWI). The letter reads as follows:
December _2, 1918.

No. 1949-S

Declassified

DOD Dir. 5200.9 Sept. 27, 1958

-- by CR Date 8-20-70

AGWAR

Washington

Paragraph 1.

For Chief of Staff. Following cable received repeated for your information "Archangel 173 November 27th ?:00 PM. The following report concerning American and Allied troops in northern Russia for your information. The morale of our troops has been low since the signing of the armistice with German. The men and some of the officers seem unable to understand why they should be kept in Russia after fighting has stopped with German, they profess to believe that America troops are being used to further selfish designs of England upon Russian territory and resources. Our troops are split up into small detachments covering numerous portions of a wide front with the chief command invariable in British hands, frequently a "local" rank being given to retain seniority. Several of these British officers have been grossly inefficient. The attitude of the others toward the Americans has been such as to cause great irritation and exasperation. As a result there is much friction and bad feeling between our troops and the British. This seems to increase rather than diminish with time. At a time grave doubts were expressed by many of our officers that orders for aggressive operations would be obeyed. Some of my assistants and myself have visited the front, talked with officers and men, and found this feeling quite general. Many thought our troops now here should be replaced by regulars or volunteers. The British Commander-in-Chief, General Ironside, is an efficient officer and is doing all that is possible to improve conditions. There has been recently a marked improvement in spirits and morale of our men. Feeling between our troops and French could not be more cordial. Ill feeling and friction between French and English is even greater than is case with our troops. One French company recently refused to obey orders to go to the front. Under pressure they moved forward following day, but it is generally believed that they can not be fully depended upon. Some of our detachments have undergone great hardships; some have received winter clothing within the past few days only. There have been numerous cases of trench feet due to long exposure in the mud and water of the marshy country in which they operate. There has been some dissatisfaction with the British ration with which no coffee is furnished. This is available by purchase. Conditions generally are improving. General Ironside is now absent on a three weeks inspection along the front. Signed RUGGLES"

PERSHING

Confidential Copy to G-2, G-3.

Right side marginal hand written note reads -- "AEF/No Russia 23-11.1"

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