The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10

~ MOL of the Russian upheaval than
this; superlative statement when one re-
members some of the memoirs and records
OF experience that have appeared, but it
Is justified, especially as DR.. Ossendowsld
adds to his narrative OF appalling experi-
ences series Of chapters on the mysteries
and possibilities OF Mongolia and the
aroused Mongolians that give the reader
startlingiy new ideas as to what is, or may
be. going on in these hidden depths of
Asia, among many millions of vigorous
and newly awakened peoples. 1t is the
most uncanny mixture imaginable. Of
childish fancies. OF the most ancient folk
lore, superstftions, magic, and along with
these some profound specula. ions and also
wariike. crusading spirit. The thing, as
DR.. Ossendowsh sees 1t, Is portentous.
One Il not quite sure just how he takes it
himself. though his attitude is. on the
-whoie, that Of the trained scientist.
The two earlier sections of the book.
dealing with Beasts and Men," are quite
enough. without the addition OF the gods.
to make 1t a wonderful narrative. The
commonplace that truth Is stranger than
fiction ever dares to be, never has had a
finer demonstration The exploits OF the
refugees throw the strenuous adventures
OF tho heroes Of fiction into a deep shade,
but they also have the full appearance Of
truth Wen nigh incredible as some of the
incidents are. DR.. Ossendowski Is obviously
not romancing- 1t should be remembered
that he Is scientist OF note. is Officier
dAcodenaie Froncaise and is an expert
apaod IL l. Dof
held an official scientific position in
Russia In 1920 he was living in Kras-
noyarsk, in Siberia, on the great river
Yenisei, when he received a sudden warn
ing that the Bolsheviki were after him
and that twenty Red soldiers had sur
rounded his house The only thing to do
was to take to the woods" literally. He
borrowed what money he could from a
friend, and also an old hunting coat, and
hurried away on foot. but a little way out
OF town found a peasant who drove him
twenty miles and then set him down in
the forest
attempt to get out OF Bolshevik Siberia to
the Pacific coast, covered more than two
thousand miles-afoot. on horse or camel
back. fighting. enduring the hardships OF
awful cold. sometimes near starvation, sew
eral times severely wounded and always
hunted or going in fear OF the predatory
human animals that were always near at
hand. He soon Joined other refugees, OF
whom he became. in some sense, the
leader. and they started eastward intend
ing to skirt the northern edge Of outer
Mongolia, but they found that way out
barred by the renewed fighting. So they
turned south with the valiant intent OF
crossing Tibet into British India. but the
Tibetan bandits turned them back China
interning Russian refugees Driven back
from Tibet they retraced their steps and
finally fen in with the anti Bolshevik
forces Of Baron Ungern Sternberg and
reached Urga, the city Of the Living Cod
OF the yellow Lamalte- Buddhists- Even
here they narrowly missed being executed
by Sternberg. but he finally sent them out
safely to tho railroad in Manchuria and
thence to the outer world OF civilization.
Look at a good map to get some idea
OF what such journey means. especially
when taken without adequate equipment
and as a fugitive The route OF the eigh-
teen adventures to Tibet crosses a corner
OF the Cobb Desert and climbs over enor-
nous mountain ranges many OF them
mountains Of eternal snow. sAnd nearly
every human being they met was hostile or
at least suspicious. Yet they penetrated
the Roof OF the World" only to be driven