The New York herald., 1920-01-11
vLADIvOsT0K FIGHT
HERO OF TERRIFIC
MAJOR JOHNSON IS
Goes Through Hell of Fire to
Rescue NOn-CombatantS in
Battle Area.

WASHINGTON, .. c., Saturday,
graphic account OF the part played by
Major Samuel l. Johnson, of Honolulu. as
sistant commandant Of the allied forces
in ylsdivostok during the revolutionary
fighting in the. city on November IL and
rs, has been received by the Red Cross
headquarters here. The Red Cross report
says that Major Johnson has been rec
commended to the All-Russian government
for decoration with the Officers Cross of
St George for the services he rendered
to the people Of Vladivostok.
AS a recommendation is considered the
equivalent to bestowaI. this makes the
sixth award received by Major johnson
during his service in Siberia with the
American forces, the others being the
Russian Medal of st. Ann and Japanese
CZechoslovak, Italian and Chinese deco
rauons
Governor NJ. M. Eversman. of Primo
sky Province, in a letter to Major General
w. S. Graves, commanding the American
forces in Siberia, said
II cannot leave unmentioned the fact
that Major Johnson, having spiendidly full
filled his plan in guarding the town ano.
the peaceful population, though EXPOSING e
his own life to danger under furious fire,
succeeded four times in getting through
to the passenger trains that We're in the
centre of the fighting zone and from there
brought to safety officers, their families
and civilians"
Praise Major Graves.
Major Graves. son of General Graves,
was another officer, according to the Red
Cross account, who with utter fearless
ness walked into the danger zone to aid
women and children exposed to fire. Major
1 T.k t&xr, x-.s<1 -gfS ~ -
played by the International Military 20
lice, whom he commanded.
II want these men to get the recogni-
ton due them," he said. ''They rendered
the greatest assistance, showed absolute
steadiness and GOODNESS and ran the same
risks" The Red Cross account says tina {
the International Military Police and al
lied dstachments held control Of Vladivo-
stok, enforcing the policy of neutrality
adopted by the Allies, and that. thanks to
this. Vladivostok was unswept by battle
except in the vicinity OF the railway sta
tion. There, however. furious combat
ragged. Men who entered the area OF
fighting and the path CT flying bullets
entered at deadly peril and every man
knew it," says the report.
Among those saved by Major Johnson
and his men were General Romanovsky
and family Ronanovsky is chief of the
Russian Generals staff. He was living
with his family in the railway yards in his
special troin and was a non-combatant
Soldiers of both sides fired upon the tran.
II was utter dark and stormy, snowy
November morning when Major johnson
found the car and escorted the family to
safety.
Huddled In Cellars.
Some OF those he rescued that night
were found in the railway station, where
1 ha cf iobf inc
They had sought refuge in cellars or Sc
cluded little Offices, and crouched in the
darkness, afraid to move, afraid TO whisI,-
er. In most cases. when the rescue party
arrived, it took repeated calls and assur-
aEces To locate the frightened, suspicious
men and women.
THE first rescue trip was made about
ten o'clock on the night of November II
and the last at nalf past four on the morn
ing OF November Is.
| Major Johnson's command Of Russian
for he is Russian-born. was a big asset in
this emergency work at the railway sta
ton, as IL has been throughout his ser
vice IN Siberia.
General Romanovslxy expressed to the
Red Cross representative grateful appre-
citation for what Major johnson did.
I do not know how any man could go
into that he'll Of fire. find our train and
bring us out he said but this man did 1t.
HE even saved the cat. Getting the
party out Of the train Major Johnson heard
the howl Of the lonely, frightened ca {
somewhere in the dark car, lit only by the
flashes OF guns and the reflections of
burning buildings.
One OF the women asked 70 take the
cat ard The rescue party halted there in
the shattered train, found the cat hidins
in a mass Of broken berths and took her 70
safety with the family