What if the Japanese-American Evgenevka or Iman incidents of 1919 in the Russian Far East escalated
Jul 2, 2024 18:46:23 GMT
Post by raharris1973 on Jul 2, 2024 18:46:23 GMT
Background information on these events: Evgenevka incident - Wikipedia
Per wiki – Outline of the Evgenevka incident, which was reported in the US newspapers starting August 4th, 1919, by "girl war correspondent", Peggy Hull, on August 4th, but must have actually happened several days or a week or more earlier:
The Evgenevka incident was an armed standoff between the American 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds) and the Japanese Military in Evgenevka, Siberia (really, the Far East, maritime province/Primorskiy Krai) during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War.
The Iman incident, which also occur in Primorsky Krai, Maritime province, was reported in American newspapers on October 1st, 1919, and likely actually occurred several days or a week or more earlier:
Above also from wiki
So, what if either of these incidents had escalated into lethal encounters, especially a multi-fatality Japanese-American melee, or a massacre or capture/detention of the, on both cases, and in general, smaller American force in Siberia/Russian Far East?
For the Evgenenka incident, pathways to escalation include: A) the first Japanese soldier maiming or killing Private Smith when he blocked by him, with a gunshot or bladed weapon like a bayonet or a knife instead or slapping him with his canteen strap. B) Or, even more simply, Private Smith's gun not jamming and him shooting the Japanese soldier who slapped him, killing him instantly or causing him to die of his wounds, or killing the Japanese soldier instantly with his bayonet stab hitting a vital artery or an eye, provoking the Japanese to kill Lynch on the spot in hot blood or conduct a quick lynching before he can be recovered. C) Or, when the 250 man detachment comes to retrieve Smith, the Japanese Captain's attempted stabbing blow strike's flesh lethally or woundingly, causing a more general melee, or a causing Americans to fire guns or charge with bayonets and Japanese to respond, D) Or, the Japanese raising their guns in response to the Americans raising raising their guns after American Major Allerdice and Japanese Major Airi started to parley, either before or after Allerdice gets his warning about war translated, and someone on either the Japanese or American side, or a Russian third party nearby, starts shooting, and multiple fatalities ensue, with the outnumbered Americans likely coming out worse for wear.
If any of this escalated as described, how much further might it be likely to escalate, in terms, of the sides shooting to kill and the American and Japanese forces eventually disengaging and separating, or one compelling the other to disarm and surrender, fight to the last man, or radio or telephone or telegraph call for help? What apologies or investigations or punitive damages or other demands would either side make of the other? If the Americans break contact after losing some lives, what happens after their story of the battle gets back to the War Department, President, and US media, and Japanese version gets back to the Japanese? If the Japanese force disarmament and surrender of the American force, how do they arrange for the Americans' release and explain the situation internationally? Or does their local command succumb to a dark temptation to kill all prisoners and potentially unfavorable witnesses in order to attempt a complete cover up and cover story, somehow disclaiming knowledge of what happened to the American units, or blaming the Bolsheviks?
For the later incident at Iman, what if the American force that went to White Russian Rozanoff's headquarters thought the Russians were bluffing, and so were the Japanese who said they were on their side, and charged in to recover Corporal Sperling, and the Rozanoff's forces fought back, causing American fatalities? Even if the Japanese did nothing, would American involvement with any non-Bolshevik forces and its operations in Russia be ruined and ended early as a consequence? Would the Japanese be held responsible for the actions of their Russian partners? If the Japanese became engaged in a firefight or blade, baton, bayonet, fisticuffs melee with the Americans resulting in fatalities, maiming, or prisoner taking, how might this further escalate, or be contained by the American and Japanese government, when word gets out?
Per wiki – Outline of the Evgenevka incident, which was reported in the US newspapers starting August 4th, 1919, by "girl war correspondent", Peggy Hull, on August 4th, but must have actually happened several days or a week or more earlier:
The Evgenevka incident was an armed standoff between the American 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds) and the Japanese Military in Evgenevka, Siberia (really, the Far East, maritime province/Primorskiy Krai) during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War.
An American unit of the 27th Infantry Regiment was based at Evgenevka, Station on the Trans-Siberian Railway. An American sentry, known as Private "Little" Smith, was guarding a portion of the station when a Japanese unit was disembarking from the train. One of the Japanese soldiers tried to pass into the American section but was blocked by Smith. The Japanese soldier, angered by Smith's refusal, smacked the American across the head with his canteen strap. In response, Smith raised his gun to fire but his rifle jammed and so he stabbed the Japanese soldier in the neck with his bayonet.[2]
After their soldier was wounded the Japanese unit seized Smith and threatened to execute him. Alerted by American soldiers, the commander of the American 27th Infantry Regiment, Major Fitzhugh Lee Allderdice, mobilized all 250 men under his command and marched to the station to free Smith. When they arrived at the station a Japanese Captain tried to stab an American but the blow was blocked by his heavy sheepskin jacket. Major T Airi the commander of the Japanese then arrived and started negotiating with Allderdice. When the Japanese Captain became enraged he lunged at the Americans again but Major Airi blocked the blow with his body receiving a wound on his shoulder. The Americans drew their guns and Allderdice spoke through the translator stating that "If you want war with the United States you'll get it if you raise your hand against this command."[2] [3]
Smith was eventually freed after it was agreed that the Americans would salute the Japanese officers in the station
After their soldier was wounded the Japanese unit seized Smith and threatened to execute him. Alerted by American soldiers, the commander of the American 27th Infantry Regiment, Major Fitzhugh Lee Allderdice, mobilized all 250 men under his command and marched to the station to free Smith. When they arrived at the station a Japanese Captain tried to stab an American but the blow was blocked by his heavy sheepskin jacket. Major T Airi the commander of the Japanese then arrived and started negotiating with Allderdice. When the Japanese Captain became enraged he lunged at the Americans again but Major Airi blocked the blow with his body receiving a wound on his shoulder. The Americans drew their guns and Allderdice spoke through the translator stating that "If you want war with the United States you'll get it if you raise your hand against this command."[2] [3]
Smith was eventually freed after it was agreed that the Americans would salute the Japanese officers in the station
The Iman incident, which also occur in Primorsky Krai, Maritime province, was reported in American newspapers on October 1st, 1919, and likely actually occurred several days or a week or more earlier:
On October 1, 1919, it was reported that another incident almost led to a confrontation between Japanese and American forces. Two American officers, Captain L. P. Johns of the 27th and Corporal Benjamin Sperling of the 31st, were arrested by Anti-Bolshevik forces under the command of General Rozanoff, in Iman, Russia.[4] They were seized by the Russians for not having passports. Captain Johns was able to escape to alert his superiors. An American force quickly arrived and attempted to free him but the Russians refused and the local Japanese forces backed the Russians and said that if fighting broke out between the Americans and the Russians the Japanese would back the Russians.[4] Eventually it was discovered that Sperling had been moved to General Kalmykov's HQs and that he would be freed. When Sperling returned to the American base it was revealed that during his captivity he had been flogged.[4] On October 9, 1919, the White Russians offered an official apology for Sperling's flogging.[5]
Above also from wiki
So, what if either of these incidents had escalated into lethal encounters, especially a multi-fatality Japanese-American melee, or a massacre or capture/detention of the, on both cases, and in general, smaller American force in Siberia/Russian Far East?
For the Evgenenka incident, pathways to escalation include: A) the first Japanese soldier maiming or killing Private Smith when he blocked by him, with a gunshot or bladed weapon like a bayonet or a knife instead or slapping him with his canteen strap. B) Or, even more simply, Private Smith's gun not jamming and him shooting the Japanese soldier who slapped him, killing him instantly or causing him to die of his wounds, or killing the Japanese soldier instantly with his bayonet stab hitting a vital artery or an eye, provoking the Japanese to kill Lynch on the spot in hot blood or conduct a quick lynching before he can be recovered. C) Or, when the 250 man detachment comes to retrieve Smith, the Japanese Captain's attempted stabbing blow strike's flesh lethally or woundingly, causing a more general melee, or a causing Americans to fire guns or charge with bayonets and Japanese to respond, D) Or, the Japanese raising their guns in response to the Americans raising raising their guns after American Major Allerdice and Japanese Major Airi started to parley, either before or after Allerdice gets his warning about war translated, and someone on either the Japanese or American side, or a Russian third party nearby, starts shooting, and multiple fatalities ensue, with the outnumbered Americans likely coming out worse for wear.
If any of this escalated as described, how much further might it be likely to escalate, in terms, of the sides shooting to kill and the American and Japanese forces eventually disengaging and separating, or one compelling the other to disarm and surrender, fight to the last man, or radio or telephone or telegraph call for help? What apologies or investigations or punitive damages or other demands would either side make of the other? If the Americans break contact after losing some lives, what happens after their story of the battle gets back to the War Department, President, and US media, and Japanese version gets back to the Japanese? If the Japanese force disarmament and surrender of the American force, how do they arrange for the Americans' release and explain the situation internationally? Or does their local command succumb to a dark temptation to kill all prisoners and potentially unfavorable witnesses in order to attempt a complete cover up and cover story, somehow disclaiming knowledge of what happened to the American units, or blaming the Bolsheviks?
For the later incident at Iman, what if the American force that went to White Russian Rozanoff's headquarters thought the Russians were bluffing, and so were the Japanese who said they were on their side, and charged in to recover Corporal Sperling, and the Rozanoff's forces fought back, causing American fatalities? Even if the Japanese did nothing, would American involvement with any non-Bolshevik forces and its operations in Russia be ruined and ended early as a consequence? Would the Japanese be held responsible for the actions of their Russian partners? If the Japanese became engaged in a firefight or blade, baton, bayonet, fisticuffs melee with the Americans resulting in fatalities, maiming, or prisoner taking, how might this further escalate, or be contained by the American and Japanese government, when word gets out?