Evening star., 1916-04-27
JEWISH REFUGEES FIND
ROUTE THROUGH SIBERIA
Enter the United States by Way Of
Seattle, Many Coming on
Japanese Freighters.

SEATTLE, Wash, April e7.-Since
July is last $50 Jewish young men and
a dozen Jewish women and children.
refugees from Russian Poland and the
other portions of western Russia over
run by the German armies. have ar
rived in Seattle after journeying
through Siberia by railroad and cross
ing the Pacific on steamers. mostly
japanese freighters. A few have come
directly from vladivostok. but most of
them took steamer In Yokohama and
Kobe. Many Of the young men are
graduates of the Gymnasia, which
sity. All are well educated and be-
longed to the better classes in their
native land. Some were wealthy.
When it became apparent to the Rus
slams that they could not hold Warsaw
and supplies that would have been OF
benefit to the Germans, and they sent
away the young Poles, Jews and Rus
slams whom they feared the Germans
might impress as soldiers. These young
men received from the Russian com
manders slips of paper emitting them
to travel eastward on the Russian
railways without charge. The Russian
and Polish young men stopped their
travel when they reached districts
which were not threatened with Ger
man invasion, but many Jewish youths
continued to travel eastward. They
rode free when they could, but often
they were obliged to pay the trainmen
Tell Stories Of Adventure.
The stories the immigrants tell OF
their adventures in crossing European
Russia and Siberia are highly interest
ing. Those who were well provided
with money arrived in Vladivostok
first, made their way to Japan by
freight or passenger steamers. and, in
time. arrived in Seattle. Here those
who had the required sum Of money
entered without hindrance. but those
who were without funds were ordered
deported. The detained immigrants
made their plight known to public
spirited Jews in Seattle. who assisted
ton against the order Of deportation
Then, when the Department of Labor
said the men would be admitted II
bonds were furnished guaranteeing
that they would not become public
charges. these Seattle Jews provided
the bonds, and they are still signing
bonds.
When it was seen that the influx o1
young Jews probably would not END
while the war lasted. the Seattle Jews
Society Of America, which has head.
quarters in New York. This society
assumed part of the burden of caring
for the refugees. 1t provided funds
arranged to handle the cases of the
moneyless immigrants at Washington
and assisted in the organization Of a
branch of the society in Seattle, with
Leo S. Schwabacher as president.
Lease and Equip Home.
The Seattle branch looks after the
refugees from the hour they arrive
until they are self-supporting. It has
leased the former residence of United
States Senator Squires here and
equipped it as home for the immi-
grants. Those who come with pockets
full of Russian roubles need only to
have their bills exchanged for Ameri-
can money and to be assisted to learn
the language and communicate with
friends and relatives in the United
States. If they have any. The mer
without money are instructed in the
English language and in American cit
izenship. Most of the immigrants dc
common labor at first Some have be-
come merchants in a small way. Others
have been able to get work at their
own professions, and a few have done
so we'll that they have sent to Russia
for relatives.
These young men are now arriving
in Seattle at the rate of 100 a month
One hundred and fifty, 1t is said, are
now in Japan seeking passage to the
United States.
Abraham Spring, an attorney who
is directing the work of the Seattle
Aid Society, in speaking of the immi-
grants. said; This immigration is the
most remarkable and most valuable
that has ever come to America. These
immigrants are the first Europeans to
come to our shores by way of Asia
They are in perfect health. highly edu-
Gated and intend to become American
citizens. This society wishes the inn
migrants not to gather in one quarter
Of the city. and we located our new
home long way from the Jewish set
tlement that has lately grown up here"