New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-29
900 Children
Here in Flight
From Red Peril
Russian Waits Forced to
Cross Siberia and Then
Circle Globe in Order to
Reach Their Homes Again
Proteges of Red Cross
Little Ones Sing ''Star Span
glcd Banner on Seeing
Statue Of Liberty 2 A. Nj.

Tie Japanese steamship Yomei Maru
sailed up the bay yesterday with its
port rail doing reverence to the Statue
Of Liberty beneath the weight of 900
children, going around tho world on
their way home. They are waits from
Russia. youngsters who were away
from home at school when the turbu-
lence which followed the advent of
Lerine and Trotzky made exiles of
them.
Half way across Russia, clear across
forlorn Siberia. over the Pacific.
through the Panama Canal and up the
coast Of the United States they have
travelled on their way home. To them
the great bronze goddess with her
torch and books was at once a mile
stone and symbol Of that nation
whose men and women had made their
weary way easier.
So when the upthrust torch doomed
into view beyond the headlands of
Staten Island $50 boys and girls rushed
10 the port rail of the Yomei Maru. A
moment later a chorus of almost 1000
treble voices saluted the statue with
The Star Spangled Banner
Awakened to Sing Anthem
It was tribute which they had
planned for days and OF which they
had dreamed at night. When inspect
oys from Quarantine awakened the
small pilgrims at , q. N. yesterday for
the pert examination, they lined up,
a. rosy and tousled with sleep. and
SAN The Star Spangled Banner'
That is one thing they VIII take
fome with them into Russia-that and
t. memory Of kind faces and gentle
hands whose owners paid homage TO
tins hymM.
A thousand or more Of the children
embarked upon the incredible adven-
tura They were IN various schools in
western Russia when dire rumOrs.
which had been Oozing across the land
suddenly were substantlated by frantic
mes sages from home.
Schoolmastcrs. believing that the
crisis might pass soon, assembled their
charges and started eastward, away
from Bolshevism At first they were
able to travel by train and had money
with which to purchase provisions.
Upon finding serene community they
would get out and settle there, wait
ing for the moment when 1t might be
pos bic to return.
Each Sanctuary Brief
Bat the menace from which they fed
suread fearsome.y. Reports of the
advance OF the Red Guard soon would
b. received from points in startling
proximity to their sanctuary and the
exodus would begin anew. Always
they fed to the east and, as railroads
and highways began TO converge
against the dreary stretches Of
Siberia. the refugee bands which had
started from various schools, began to
NEE each other and join forces.
Before the Siberian frontier was
reache there were more than l 600 Of
them children and teachers in dis
ma but still hopeful caravan. 1t was
difficult after that to find trains by
winch to travel Sometimes they
trude-d the whole Vt distance from
or village 10 the next, provis toned
WITH black bread and tea and clad in
layers Of such rags as kindly peasants
had Given them.
When night overlook them on the
road they slept beneath the stars. In
the morning they brought water from
the nearest brook, hung their kettles
over fires and munched their black
prevalent or WEAKNESS so general, that
camp would be maintained for several
days. Sometimes q train Of carriers
overlook them. and then the sick and
those who were weariest could ride.
Americans Sent Relief
They were deep in Siberia when the
Siberian Comm ssion o. the American
Eed Cross heard Of this now crusade
@ children and sent an expedition to
is relief TheAceforth provisions and
food were plentiful, and when convey
ance was 10 be had, no child walked.
TIE 500 who reached this port yester-
cay pn the Iomei Maru were sturdy,
bright-eyed, red checked crowd OF
Youngsters. with scarcely trace of
taeir two-vear homeward journey
across me world
An army barge was waiting for them
a. the jersey City pier, at which the
Yomc! Maru locked, and they were
tas.. TO Fort Wadsworth where they
vii be housed IN barracks, each way
f4rng child with cot all to itself, dur
ing the ten days that the Yomei Maru
remains in port. When that vessel has
ooaied and renewed its supplies, the
children viii start for home again.
Iney sailed from NiadivQstok July
-. The American Red Cross sent