The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-27
Newspapers T ell All
Sorts of Wild Yarns
About United States.
REFUGEES ARRIVE
Tell Narrowing Tales of
Mistreatment and Pri-
walton on the Way
to Freedom.

An Atlantic Port. May 70
Several Americans who had been
I'm Germany since the wars out
break were passengers on
scandinayian.A merican line
steamship which arrived here to-
day together with 80 others from
Denmark. Sweden and Russia.
Two German submarines halted
the ship two hours out from
Copenhagen. but permitted her
to proceed after cxaminging her
papers.
4 report that Alexander
Kercnsky was hoard the vessel.
seeking sanctuary in America.
brought the following statement
from Baron Ma ydell, a Russian.
who IL interested in the Interna-
tiOnal shipping corporation, of
New York.
'Kercnsky certainly Is not on
this ship and it's just as well
I'd hate TO have to sail ON the
same boat with him. All Russia
feels that way too. Kercnsky was
the curse OF Russia.
1T he comes here. ask him and his
friends three questions:
First Who issued the order in
Russia for soldierssnot to salute their
officers?' Second. Who suggested
that the soldiers have the right to
vote. whether or not they fought the
enemy? Third. Who furnished arms
to the Red Guard?'
II fancy Kerensky will have some
dificulty in answering these questions
truthfuliy and stll retain his pose
of martyr and hero with which he
hopes to impress the American
people"
The Baroness Maydeli accompanied
her husband. They had ak trunks
all they had been able to save from
the Bolsheviki. they said. III
Treatment .Unhearnble.
Miss Ronavantura Sphinx, of 1nffa-
napolis. who had been in Berlin since
1912. singing with the Dresden Opera
company was another passenger.
She declared she left Germany be-
cause the treatment Of Americans be-
came unheara BILE. They were not so
cruelty prosecuted until President
Wilson'S last message was made pub
lie The failure of their spring drive
and rumors that American troops In
large numbers are arriving in France,
made the Germans especially bitter.
Miss SPHINX said
Mrs. Ester D. Inclan. another pas
senger. said she had been in Berlin
over two wears and was taking her
two young sons to their home in Mex
| leo City because they were on the
verge OF starvation in Germany.
Prince Traidos rrabandh, uncle of
Slams king. formerly Siamese minister
to Germany and now representing his
country in Denmark, was on the ship.
together with his favorite wife and
fourteen OF their children. They are
on around the world trip via san Fran
cisco and Japan.
Several Passengers Held.
--
were seized and their baggage ex-
| anined by federal intelligence depart
m emit officers. Several passengers
were held for examination.
II have been trying since the first
| Of March to get home" said Miss
SPHINX There are but few Americans
left In Berlin and they are trying to
get away but find 1t difficult to OBJ
tain passports.
During the winter all the Germans
rejoiced over the coming spring
drive when the drive came the pa
ners printed glowing accounts of over
whelming victories and reported their
troops but few miles from Parts.
AS late as March II was vigorously
denied in the papers that any Ameri-
can soldiers had landed In France.
The burden Of the editorials was that
II would take the United States At
least fve years to equip and transport
an army OF any considerable size to
the French shores and by that time
an overwhelming German Victory
would be won.
British army discipline was ridi-
culed The newspapers reported in
! eubordination and mutiny In the Brit
| ish military and naval forces almost
! daily.
ChilSr~~ Are starved.
"Ali over Germany the children are
1 kAlr -
! be fed. In fact. all civilians locked
| starved and emaciat4d Most Of the
| children are being kept from school
because they haven't enough strength
| to study.
The Miiroads are In bad shape.
All leather straps and metal parts. ex-
| cept the wheels. have been taken
| from trains.
| Every day for months saw from
1 my hotel window thousands OF Ger
man troops. fresh from their rest on
the Russian front. being rushed 70
the western front.
| "The disturbance In Russia lost the
allied army . decisive victory At that
time. as the German linsa could not
have held out without the reinforce.
! ments from Russia. and the food sup.
ply would not have been sufficient
without that commandeertd In Rus
STA"
Baroness MaydeH told OF the per-
] iious flight of her husband and her-
! self from Petrograd to Stockholm.
/ They were robbed. beaten. compelled
! 10 walk 4 great part OF the day, euf-
fered privations from lack Of food Tor
| days Il . time. ana considered Il =
miracle that they tinAliy escaped with
/ their lives.
1 lfontincre Kahn. said to ~ conf act-
"a with I well.known Nav yak ax-
| sssrt AausA, wrna one ~ tAA SAaaanmssnrn
4 several thousend cellars Wor4lseR 1oN-