The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-11
AMERICANS In
HISTORIC FIGHT
Maj. JohnsOn's Forces Made
Excellent Showing i'm Vladi-
vostok Revolution.

VOOLOh
Washington. Jan. 1o.-A graphic
account of the part played by Major
Samuel l Johnson, of Honolulu. assist
ant commandant of the Allied forces
in Vladivostock during the revolution
airy fighting in that city on Novem-
Der II and Is has been received by
the Red Cross headquarters here. The
Red Cross report says that Major
Johnson has been recommended to the
all-Russian government for decoration
with the officers cross of St George
for the services he rendered to the
people of Vladivostock during the
fighting
AS a 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 Prim-
orsky Province. in a letter to Major
w. S. Graves, commanding the Ameri-
can forces in Siberia, said:
II cannot leave unmentioned the
fact that Major Johnson, having
splendidly fulfilled his plan in guard
ing the town and the peaceful popu-
lation, though exposing his own life to
danger. under furious fire, succeeded
four times in getting through to the
passenger trains that We're in the CEN
ter of the fighting zone mad from there
brought to safety officers, their fam
lilies and civilians"
Major Graves, son of General
Graves, was another officer, according
he
utter fearlessness walked into the
danger zone to aid women and chill
dren exposed 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 steadiness and GOODNESS, and
ran the same risks The Red Cross
account says that the international
Military Police and allied detachments
held control of Vladivostock. enforcing
the policy of neutrality adopted by
the allies and that, thanks to this,
Vladivostock was unswept by battle
except in the vicinity of the railway
station. There, however, furious com
bat ragged. For men who entered the
area of fighting and the path of flying
bullets entered at deadly peril and
every man knew it." says the report.
Among those saved by Major John
son and his men were General Ro-
manovsky 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 ut
!
vember 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 sta
ton, where the most sanguinary fight
ing 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 resuce party ar
rived, it took repeated calls and reas-
surances to locate the frightened, sus-
picious men and women.
THE first rescue trip was made
about 10 o'clock on the night of No
vember II and the last at 4:S0 on the
morning of November IS.
Major Johnson's command of Rus
sain, 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 Romanovsl1y expressed to
| the Red Cross representative grateful
appreciation for what Major Johnson
! did.
II do not know how any man 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 johnson
heard the howl of the lonely, MORALLY
! frightened cat somewhere in the darb
| car, lit only by the lurid flashes OF
! guns and the reflection of burning
/ buildings.
one of the women asked to take the
| cat and the rescue party halted there
! in the shattered train, found the cat
! hiding in mass of broken berths and
took her to safety with the family