The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-20
GEN. BALDING IS
 BACK FROM RUSSIA
Ry HOLLAND.

Fly HOLLAND.
 New York, August 19.-tSpecial. )--At last General Balding who at one time ,, was quartermaster general of all the Russian armies. has arrived at New York practically penniless and yet vigorous notwithstanding the hardships to which he submitted after the coll lapse of the Russian army. Further-l more although his trials were many and his chargin and disappointment which were occasioned by the fall oe
 Russia, were very great, as was also r ignorance as to the place where his family are now living, if in fact they are living. these things havernot caused him to be depressed. He has come to the United States inspired oy courage and the belief that here he can again find himself in honorable vocation. General Balding found friends in New | York within few hours after he ar riyei. He was able to do fms because heNss the representative If Russia in the early years of the war bought many commodities in the United States. In that way he came in pleasant rela- tions with number of American manu-s facturers. With him the manufacturers were always able to come to an agree ment without friction or tedious bar gaining. By means of his authority Russia paid millions to the United States as long as there was any Russia and as long as Russian credit, obtained in the United States. made it possib le to secure funds.
 About a year after the war began when the Russian armies were at the full flush of their first successes, there came from General Balding, represenr- ing Russia and with authority as quart ermaster general of the Russian armies, a request that the United States fur nish as soon as possible large number of military tractors In the hands of J. P. Morgan and company this request vas placed Speedily MT. Morgans house negotiated with American tractor anufacturers so That at last con .iact which was entirely satisfactory to both parties to it, Russia and the Am erican manufacturers was signed and then began the manufacturer of these military tractors.
 GREAT SPEEDING UP
 These American manufacturers speed ed up to the highest point the manu- facturer of the military tractors. In little while they began to send them to Russ l., some by the way of Arch angle, some by way of the Russian sea port on the east. Twelve hundred of these tractors were delivered in an al most incredibly short time. And more would have been delivered had not Rus sia and her armies collapsed The az gregate- amount paid by Russia, rep resented by General Balding was twenty million dollars and the pay ments were prompt.
 With these American made military tractors it was possible to transport supplies ammunition. even great ar tillery across very difficult country which even the modern tank could not have surmounted. Thick mud, ice, snow large boulders in the pathway. trees, were conquered by these military trac- tors and the employment of them serv- ed in great measure to enable the Rus sian armies to make it's advances to the west, which were not stopped until General Won Hindenberg almost de- stroyed these armies.
 There were other American commodi- ties which were necessary for Russian armies and whose purchase came withss in the responsibility of the quarter r aster generals department which the United States supplied to Russia in large amounts, not ceasing in the manu- facture and export of these commodi- ties until Russia broke down and the revolution began. ri
 It was by reason of these Contracts and General Baldings relation to them that he was able to gain not only ac
 7uaintance but friendship with some of the American industrial leaders. These have already welcomed him They will
 
 again to, get upon his feet and also furnish him the means by which he can make search for his family. He
 knows nothing more of that fanily's present day existence than was con tained in rumor or report that his wife and children are somewhere in southern Russia
 GENERAL BALDING'S TRAITS When Russia fell and her armies were disbanded or scattered General Bidding found himself in a very pre- carious condition. He was without money Nor was there any acylum for him in Russia. He therefore de- cided to seek the United States, relying solely upon his capacity for enduring hardships as he travelled from central Russia toward a seaport He walked every step of the way across Finland. He received kindly assistance. not in nonsy but in food and at last reached