AMERICAN WAR COMMISSION TO RUSSIA. On 1 May 1917 it was announced hat Elihu Root had been appointed head of he war commission from the United States to 2ussia; and a fortnight later the commission eft Washington, carrying greetings to the new lemocratic government of Russia and author zed to pledge aid from the United States, not inly in the prosecution of the war against the Zentral Powers, but also in the rehabilitation 3f Russia. With Mr. Root were: John R. vlott, S. Reading Bertron, Cyrus H. McCor nick, James Duncan and Charles Edward Rus ;ell, envoys extraordinary; Maj.-Gen. Hugh L Scott, chief of staff of the army, military -epresentative of the President; Rear-Admiral lames H. Glennon, naval representative of the ?resident ; Col. R. E. L. Michie, aide to the chief f staff ; Col. William V. Judson, military at ache to the diplomatic mission; Lieut.-Col. T. 3ently Mott, military aide to the ambassador extraordinary; Surgeon Holton C. Curl, United States Navy; Lieut. Alva D. Barnhard, United States Navy, aide to Admiral Glennon; James McKenna, disbursing officer of the mission, and a number of clerks, etc. The commissioners :raveled overland to the Pacific coast, and there boarded a fast warship for the voyage. On 13 June the commission arrived in Petro grad, where it was greeted by a large delega tion of Russians and Americans. The American ambassador, David R. Francis, issued a state ment explaining the aims of the mission, which have been given above. On 15 June Mr. Root, addressing the Council of Ministers, expressed the desire of the people of the United States to defend and preserve democracy. M. Tere
schtenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs, respond ing in behalf of the council, expressed the cor dial attitude of the Russian government toward the United States, and said that the Russian people considered the war inevitable and would continue to do their part. On 23 June, in Mos cow, Mr. Root addressed six important organi zations; and in company with the Foreign Min ister he subsequently visited staff headquarters at Mohilev, where he was welcomed by the commander-in-chief, General Brusiloff, Major General Scott and aides, escorted by officers of the Russian staff, visited Kiev and the south western front. The members of the commis sion in general received favorable impressions of the new Russia; their elucidation of Ameri can purposes and their authoritative promises of co-operation proved to be of great service in nullifying the effects of German intrigue; and their diplomatic efforts received valuable support from the activities of the American Railroad Commission, which had arrived at Vladivostok about the beginning of June, to assure and to provide indispensable aid to Rus sia in the construction of railways and the supply of materials. Preparations to fulfil such engagements on a vast scale were already far advanced in the United States, when the commission made its report and its appeals for public approval of the new Russia at Washing ton and New York in August. The commis sion's leader then said: "We took to the Rus sians a message of faith and democracy. We return to repeat it."