New-York tribune., 1919-07-13
Children, Sent From Menace
of Bolshevik i'm Petro-
grad, Are Fed and Clothed
by Americans i'll Siberia
Refugee Colonies Opened
Report From Commission
Tells of Efforts to Protect
and Care for Youngsters

WASHINGTON. July l2-Boys and
girls still laugh and play in parts of
Russia. the natural buoyancy of child
hood refusing to be submerged in the
welter of misery and disorder that has
all but enveloped the once powerful
empire. Proof of this statement is
found IN report dealing with the care
maintenance and education of more
than 1000 refugee children which has
just reached Red Cross Headquarters
from it's commission to Siberia.
Though thousands of miles from
home. cut off from parents and friends
tor more than year. these young
sters-children of wealthy families
and of peasants included in the group
are happy. healthy and thriving in
the seven colonies established for them
by the American Red Cross. In hap
pier times the children lived in Pctro-
grad. Their parents and all their rea-
tives have, in many Instances, been
killed in the fighting and rioting about
Petrograd Too young. in most cases.
to realize the tragedy that has befallen
them, they romp and play as do normal
youngsters IN the peaceful countries of
the world.
Fed by American Charity
Through the generosity of the Ameri-
can people they are clothed and fed
and given the opportunity for study
amid healthy surroundings. Their
steady progress, as shown by Dr. S.
Scudder who is in charge of American
Red Cross refugee work in Siberia.
shows that the cost OF their maintc-
nance is money we'll spent. Dr. Scud
der, an American, had been engaged in
missionary work in China many years
at the time he took up his duties in
Russia
The children cared for in these Red
Cross colonies located at Potropavlosk
Ufa. lrbit, Tumen and Shadrinsk. are,
unfortunately, only small part of the
great number of youngsters who were
sent out of Petrograd by their parents
IN April, May and June a year ago
when famine and cholera, following in
the wake of anarchy, threatened the
lives of all those who remained in the
capitol. Investigation by the American
Red Cross shows there were many
thousands of these children removed to
| Orenburg, Perm, Tobolsk and other
distant provinces where food and fresh
air were plentiful. Tue children, rang
ing in age from two to nineteen years
came from every class in the com
munity. Petrograd teachers and physi-
clans accompanied them to their desti-
nations for the purpose of looking
after their educational and physical
welfare.
All went we'll with the various col
onies until the advance of the Czecho-
Slovak forces across Russia to Vladi-
vostok., The bitter fighting which
marked the attempt of the German
Austro and Bolshevik elements to halt
the movement OF the Czecho Slovak sol
dlers isolated the communities in which
the children were situated. cutting off
the supplies and funds on which de
pended their existence From that
time on these youngsters, known as
"Petrograd Refugee Children" have
had hard time of it and many of them
are believed to have perished in the
struggle.
Promised Aid Delayed
Word of their plight reached the gov.
ernment at Omsk from time to time
and the officials promised relief but as
the government itself was in financial
straits this assistance failed to ma
terlallze. Left to their own resources
teachers and children raised money by
every possible means. concerts ar
ranged by the older children and lot
teries providing most of the funds for
food. Through the summer of 1918 the
children managed to exist in one way
OR another, but with the approach OF
early Siberian winter their situation
became critical in the extreme. As all
were but lightly clad, the first spell OF
cold weather brought much Illness
One by one the colonies split Up into
smaller groups. eacn group starting OF
an aimless journey through the coun.
orrh cr
protection from the cold. While {
majority of the teachers and phys
clans who left Petrograd with the chill
dren stuck with their charges through
all the hardshlps and made every etfor
to keep them comfortable, some o.
these guardians proved false to then
trust, deserting the children assigned
to their care at the first reverse anl
leaving the youngsters. many of then
mere babies. 20 Shift for themselves
The fate OF those who were abandoned
in this cruel way is too heartrending K
dwell upon.
The teachers who remained faithful
to their duty had a difficult time as tht
months went by maintaining the mo
rale of the children. weakened as it wa!
by cold. lack OF food and the fact tha
The winter weather made il Impossible
for them to attend school because 0
lnSuHclent cIOthlng. lney grew lndo
lent and careless Of their personal ap
pearanee, some took to begging, ant
others. the weaker characters. TO steal
ing. In q short time, according 70 th
Red Cross report. the children in on
of these colonies We're literally in rags
Nermin added to their general discom
. fort.
How Children Were Aided
This was the general condition Of tn
children in such of the colonies as re
NAMED intact when the situation wa
brought to the attention Of the Re-
. Cross mission in Siberia just befr-
last Christmas. Red Cross worker
: were dispatched to the colonies. AM
, after wide search managed to gathe
. in more than 900 of the children, VII
were soon reestabliShed in more cheer
tul environments. OF this work o
reclamation the report says:
Reorganization and equipment o
| the newly formed colonies was starte
at once, although very few Red Cros
stores were yet available. Every effor
, was made at local purchase. and b
collecting clothing in adjacent town
the children were soon equipped wit
fur caps, overcoats and felt boots an
= were able to leave their overcrowdec
stuffy rooms and run and play in tn
t open, like other boys and girls Got
or material for upper clothes was oh
. tanned only with great difficult
' through the Czech military headquar
ters, and it was not until Christina
! that Red Cross supplies were svailabl
fror, he ad nun rtera o+ Or,et Won1l a