Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-09
WRANGEL DELIVERS
CRIMEA FROM CHAOS
Firm Hand Creates Regime Of Law and Safeguards
Observation-Disclosures Soldiers Fight Like
HerOeS-SaIe of Liquor Prohibited
WOMEN OF RUSSlA'S "40O" ACT AS MATTRESSES:
FOOD GREATEST NEED OF SEBAST0POL PEOPLE
by b. r. KOSPOTH
STAFF Corresr1ndent Evening Public J,dser
CopVriDht. 1879. bu PubNc Lrdncr Cn

ecbastopol. Oct. 0.--Out Of chao
md anarchy. which re gned supreme il
Sspestopol after Denikin's downfall
veneral Wrnnccrs firm hand has ere
atec q regime Of law and order safe
guarding every citizens life and prop
srty and equally benefiting al! classes o
the population.
through discipline and organization
ne has transformed the dangerous snri
OF unrest among the woTkmcn and sail
ors. which threatened 20 deliver tn,
historic Russian naval base once NOR,
INTO the power Of the Bclshevista. int
q normal atmosphere of content auC
work. in spite Of far from normal con
ditions of existence.
Members Of the American md Rrit
tsh naval and military missions her,
with whom | have spoken do not hcsi
sate to declare that Wrangcl has per
FORMED miracle since Druikin',
ius. ~
personally. I can vouch for the fact
that there are mere evident signs of 81
ncient administration in the capitai OF
the Crimea. which i at war and str-lg
giing Tor existence against a powerful
roc tnan in Constantinople. where
there is peace and plenty and which
" governed by a score Of allied high
commissioners and commissions. Com =
ing from Turkey to the Crimea is an
escape out of hopeless confusion and
failure into land Of intelligent recon .
struction and promise.
1t is also return to the scenes
inspiring and nathetiN-nf war and bat
tling armes which the more fortunate
western nations are already beginning
nhau IL,
miles distant from the front where Gen
eral Wrangel's srmy, miraruously re-
constructed from the deb is Of neni-
kin's forces. Is fighting the Re,ls. 4
few weeks ago it was less than half
that distance. and it is within the
range OF possibility that i. may soon be
% again.
The city is full os officers and sol
diers. They wear. besides the modern
Khaki. every conceivable uniform Of the
old Russian army. and carry all kinds
or fantastic weapons, immense curved
cavalry sabers at their sides and cruelty
crooked daegers in their belts Some of
chem are very shabby and ragged. after
six years of uninterrupted fighting. But
although their Gccoutrc!nent is varied
and picturesque, you can tell by the way
the men salute their officers that their
discipline and morale are excellent.
And the fighting at the front Is as
old fashioned and gallant as their equip
ment. 1t IL not the poison gas and
trench warfar" of the great war. but a
succession Of daring raids, slashing cav
airy charges and desperate hand to-
hand encounters with the bayonet, in
which individual enterprise and bravery
hnd full scope to develop.
Every man at the front L. a hero,
and take off my hat 10 him." are the
words Of Admiral McCully. chief Of the
American mission. speaking in my pres
snce to Colonel Smiginsky. Of General
Wrangels staf. Admiral AcCuIly Wis
ited the front recently, and l know
that 1t was not an empty compliment
nc was paying, but that he was simply
voicing mis- impressions.
I, From my window overlooking the |
harbor ] can see, as ! am writing, a
Troop ship getting under way filed with |
soldiers going to the front. They are !
waving their caps to their wives aud |
sweethearts on shore and they are sing
ing-Inanly Russian songs. re!ig;ously |
grave and so'emn. When soldiers sing |
1t is sign that all is well with them. !
and that they trust their leaders and !
believe in the righteousness Of their !
cause.
safe OF Liquor Prohibited
General Wrangel has taken severe
measures to prevent decentralization be- |
hind the front. particularly in the event !
OF temporary reverse. AS result !,
Of one Of these measures the Crimea !
Is today as dry as the United States.
The sale of all kinds Of liquor and |
even of wine ana beer is nrohibited'
Russia has two national beverages, /,
vodka and tea. but in the Crimea On'y !
fea Is left. Thus there is no drunken !
ness in Sebastopo!, in spite Of the pres !
snce of thousands of soldiers and sail- /
,rs, and the scenes of sordid debauch- !
sry that disgrace ConStRntinople under
lllicd rule are unknown.
The women OF ScbaStOpol--aud since
I has become the last refuge Of all
that was refined and fair in old Russia
the Crimean capital harbors some Of the
most beautiful and cultured women on
General Wrnngcl az a
rod. He is their knight who can do no
wrong, their st. George overcoming the
Red dragon-the national emblem that
dgures on the arms. Gags and banknotas
Df the Crimean government And they
are helping him gallantly in his fight.
too, nursing the wounded. organizing
relief work, and. above all, by fight
ing their own grim battle for existence y
with unfaiIing courage and cheerful
ness.
For most Of the fine old families from
all parts of great Russia now crowded
into little Sebastopoi ara virtually
ruined. So while their men are away
at the tronc the, women are working
behind the counter III shops and as
mattresses in restaurants The first
time ! walked into cafe in SpbastoDol
and found myself waited on by young
adies of Russia's -four hundred"
speaking fluent English and French 7
was astonishcd and felt somewhat i'll az
lase.
Admirable Women as Mattresses
When had realized the situation,
hesitated calling them to give an
rider or to pay the bill. am quite
lsed to il now and like it, | am
,etter waited ON than ever was in my
lie, and for the first time since I
tarted on my travels through the Near
Cast I can enjoy my meal without
Iaunting fears of being cheated and
yerchargcd at every mOuthfui.
From their guests these admirable
russian women, who. but few years
20, were accustomed to all the lux
ries and pleasures that wealth and
ocial position can supply. expect and
eceiye the respect due to their cOura-
eous acceptance Of an adverse fare.
officers salute them and kss their
ands az gallantly as if the shabby cafe
Iere a drawing. room Of the Tsarskoye
'elo palace,
The atmosphere in more like that of
ocial gathering than of n restaurant.
BIZ nearly every customer is an ac-
uaintance, and most of the wait
rsses" are wives. sisters or daughters
4 !. g.. Hab tina aE tho frnnt