The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1920-01-30
Maj. Sam johnson
Cited For Bravery
In VladivOStOk


WASHINGTON, Jan. ia graphic
account OF the part played by Major
Samuel l. Johnson. of Honolulu, assist
ant commandment of the Allies forces
in Nladivostok during the revolution
any lighting in that city on Nov. II and
Is has been received by the Red Cross
headquarters here. The Red Cross re
port says that Major Johnson has
been recommended to the all-Russian
government for decoration with the
Officers Cross Of 81. George for the
services he rendered TO the people of
N~ladiyostok during the fighting.
AS recommendation is considered
the equivalent to bestowal, 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. Anne
and Japanese, Czecho-Slovak Italian
and Chinese decorations.
Governor NJ. NJ. Eversman, of
Primorsky Province, in a letter to
Major General w. S. Graves, command
ing the American forces in Siberia,
said:
Il cannot leave unmentioned the
fact that Major Johnson, having splen-
didly fulfilled his plan in guarding the
town and the peaceful population,
though exposing his own life to dan
ger, under furious fire, succeeded four
times in getting through to the pass
enger trains that were in the center OF
the fighting zone and from there
brought to safety officers, their
families and civilians"
Major Graves, son of General Graves
was another officer, according to the
Red Cross account, who with utter
fearlessness walked into the danger
zone to aid women and children ex-
posed to fire. Major Johnson has paid
tribute to the part also played by the
International Military Police, whom he
commanded.
Il want those men to get the recog-
milton due them" he said. They rem
dered the greatest assistance, showed
absolute s~teadiness and GOODNESS, and
ran the same risks" The Red Cross
account says that the International
Military Police and Allied detach-
ments held control of Vladivostok,
enforcing the policy of neutrality
adopted by the Allies and that, thanks
enforcing the policy of neutrality
battle except in the vicinity of the
railway station. There, however,
furious combat ragged. For men who
entered the area OF fighting and the
path of flying bullets entered at dead
ly peril and every man knew it," says
the report.
Among those saved by Major John
son and his men were General Roman
oysky and family. Romanovsky is
chief Of the Russian Generals staff.
He was living with his family in the
railway yards in his special train and
was a non-combatant. Soldiers of both
sides fired upon the train. 1t was utter
dark and a storming, showing Novem-
Der morning when Major Johnson
found the car and escorted the family
to safety.
Some Of those he rescued that night
were found in the railway station,
where the most sanguinary fighting
took place. They had sought refuge
in cellars, or secluded little Offices,
and crouched in the darkness, afraid
to move, afraid to whisper. In most
cases, when the rescue party arrived,
it ,ook repeated calls and reassur-
ances to locate the frightened, SUSPECT
Gus men and women.
THE first rescue trip was made
about 10 on the night of November
II and the last at 4:3O on the morning
of November IS.
Major Johnson's command of Rus
sian, for he is a Russian born, was a
big asset in this emergency work at
the railway station, as it has been
throughout his service in Siberia.
General Romanovsky expressed to
the Red Cross representative grateful
appreciation for what Major Johnson
did.
81 do not know how any mar could
go into that hell Of fire, find our train
and bring us out he said, but this
man did it,
He even saved the cat. Getting
the party out of the train Major John
son heard the howl of the lonely,
MORALLY frightened cat somewhere in
the dark car, lit only by the lurid
flashes Of guns and the reflection Of
burning buildings.
"One Of the asked to take
the cat and the rescue party hated