Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-18
WAITS ENCIRCLE
GLOBE To REACH
THEIR PARENTS
Russian Children Sent Out
OF Petrograd When Revolt
/ Broke Out En- Route Home
After Wandering 3 Years.

sN MORNING JOURNAL srEe.sL LxAsUD wIHI
washington, Aug. 17.-Voyaging
around the world to reach their
homes, $50 Russian waits, all that
nave been accounted for of prob
ably 5000 children sent out of
Petrograd by their parents when
+ revolution gripDed the old Rus
sian capitol, are on their way from
sun Francisco to New York by way
of the Panama canal. They came
from Vladivostok under the care of
the American Red Cross of which
they have been wards for two
years. They are going back to Pc
trograd after suffering and wan
derlnEs that for some of them have
plotted ont every recollection Of
their perents, the places of their
blrth or even of their own names.
Red Cross Statement.
Speaking of the experiences of the
children, who range in age from
3 to II years, a statement by the
Red Cross said:
THE long sea journey writes the
last chapter in a history of wander
ing and adventure in a revolution
torn country, that can hardly be
matched in the whole record of
world upheaval in the last six
years" the announcement says. "It
seems almost a tale out of the Old
Testament or Greek Mythology and
a Thousand years from now, it is
perhaps not too much to say, the
Russians with their dramatic in
Stinct and mysticism will have made.
1t . part of their rich folklore"
When the revolution broke out in
Russia, the report continued, many
parents in Petrograd decided to
send the youngsters into peaceful
Siberia until the trouble was
over" They were sent east in
charge of nurses and teachers.
Later, barrier of fire marking
the battle lines of the opposing
Russian and Czech armies had
been stretched between the young
sters and their homes. Months pass
ed. Winter arrived, funds were eX-
hausted and hunger and war hor-
rors menaced the wanderers. The
Omsk government. appealed to for
help, passed it on to the Red Cross,
Group after group was taken
over by the Red Cross, which es-
ldDllSlltu COlOiiItS III NtSbSAH 81
IBERIA and had apparently solved
the problem of caring for its
charges when the battle line sway
ed eastward and the bolsheviki
captured town after town, Groups
Of the children barely escaped cap
ture. Finally it was decided to take
them to Vladivostok.
Ingenuity Was Taxed.
Three trains of specially
equipped box cars with a guard of
American doughboys transported
the precious cargo on a journey
lasting several weeks through a
country stripped bare of provis-
IONS" the report continued. at may
be said that ingenuity was taxed tol
the utmost in obtaining supplies, |
avoiding disease epidemic areas
and evading other troubles"
Finally the children were set
tied at Russian islands in Vladi-
vostok harbor in barracks with |
German and Austrian prisoners
pressed into service to do the heavy /
work. Schools and hospitals were
established, natural talents were
cultivated and thirteen of the |
larger girls took a course of train
ing which fitted them to be nurses.
Several youngsters showed unusual
abilities at music, painting and
dancing.
The children will visit at Panama
canal ports and in New York city
on their way home.