The stated goals were to help the Czechoslovak Legion, to secure supplies of munitions and armaments in Russian ports, and to re-establish the Eastern Front but after the Bolshevik government withdrew from World War I, the Allied Powers openly backed the anti-communist White forces in Russia.

Allied efforts were hampered by divided objectives, war-weariness from the overall global conflict, and a lack of domestic support.

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.

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.

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 Rozanov, in Iman, Russia.