The Washington herald., 1920-05-02
Hunger, Fever and Cold Be-
set Weary March Of Red
Foes From Russia.
BACK DOOR HELD OPEN
america Extends Helping
vsF
Hand to Distracted, Penni-
less, Sick and Wounded.

Constantinoplc. May 1.-Driven
from their homes by the onward
sweep OF the revolutionary army,
100000 Russian refugees are seeking
escape from their native land to
places of safety in friendly coun-
tries Black Sea ports, which con-
stitute the back door" of Russia
are choked with distracted, penni-
less. suffering Russians. Many Of
them are sick and wounded. Scores
are dying in the streets every day
from neglect and exposure.
The q. s. Navy is bending every
effort to relieve the situation. United
States destroyers are now at Nov
orossiisi and Sebastopol. The
American Red Cross is taking an
active part in the disembarking Of
the refugees. Twenty thousand ad-
ditional refugees are now en- route
TO Constantinople, Salonica and
other ports in the Near East.
Zero Weather Is Enemy.
Tho weather has been so cold that
the transportation OF sick and
wounded refugees from the interior
over the broken-down railways OF
Southern Russia has been attended
with great difficulty and suffering.
In some parts of Russia the temper
ature has been below zero. Many
refugees have succumbed to the
cold. The Russian Red Cross has
sent out an urgent plea for doctors.
beds. blankets and supplies.
The movement OF refugees by
water has also been fraught with
great danger and hardship on ac-
count OF snow wstorms and high seas
Three vessels were unable to reach
port. Their passengers had to be
taken off in lifeboats and on
breeches-buoys.
The American Red Cross relief
ship, Navajo" carrying 500 refu-
gees from Odessa. reached COnstan-
tinople after being tossed about on
the Black Sea for seven days. The
vessels oil and fuel gave out. With
her engines stopped. she drifted
helplessly in the storm. Then her
water and provisions became ex-
hausted. For four days the unfor-
tunate refugees were without food
or drink of any kind.
DIsembnrk mt Night.
At the height Of the storm. when
II was feared the vessel would foun-
der, the refugees became terrified.
The frightened passengers fell to
their knees in prayer and supplica-
ton. clasping cruciflxes and Bibles.
British destroyers in the Black
Sea heard the ''Navajo's" call OF dis
tress and went to her aid. They
towed the little vessel to the mouth
of the Bosphorus. The famished.
frozen and terrified Russians were
taken off in lifeboats at night and
were landed on the little island OF
Proti. off the coast of Asia Minor.
The members of the Red Cross
unit worked all night sheltering,
clothing and feeding the hungry,
storm-beaten war sufferers. Many
OF the refugees had frozen feet and
hands. Others had typhus. All
were unstrung and worn out by
their terrible voyage.
Army OdlcerS on X. p.
Several members of the Russian
Red Cross offered their services to
the Americans as operating room
assistants and nurses. Many Rus
SLAMS prominent in civil and army
life were given a hand in the work.
their duties ranging from dish
washing to delousing the clothing
OF the refugees. The governor of
a Russian province was set to work
making soup and cutting bread.
while a general was assigned to
coal the furnace Of the Red Cross
delousing plant.
But we can't take any more"
said the agitated nurse. The hos
pftal is jammed full. Who is it?''
There was no response from the
Russian stretcher-bearers, so the
nurse rushed down and lifted tn,
blanket.
Good heavens, it's a baby. a day
old baby she exclaimed.
And it was: a tiny. wrinkled NOR
Sci OF humanity asleep on its
mothers arm, totally oblivious
its tragic situation.
The next day tho Russian mite.
swept in by the Black Sea on a
Etorm-tossed typhus- infested shil
was christened at the monastery
the grateful mother insisting on
naming II after the chief nurse Of
the Red Cross. Miss Anna E. Roth
roc. OF Glenside, Pa.