FOUND IN SIBERIA

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 38, 15 February 1933, Page 16

FOUND IN SIBERIA

LOST CHILD TRACED

APPEAL FOR TRIP TO N.Z,

i A feat which must rank as one of tho • most singular iv the history of Rod : Cross work is the finding of a girl lost > twelve years ago iv Kussia, when her : parents were fleeing from the terror of the Tsarist Revolution. The girl is I Galina Bogatiroi., and her parents now I live at Foxton. Sho was located by the . Secretariat of the League of Bed Cross ! Societies, Paris, in Kargoul, Stretinsk, ! Siberia, after a period of cighteon . months' intensive searching. ; In 1921, together with other White Russians, the Bogatiroff family were . fleeing from the Bolsheviks. They had ' a journey of 400.miles ahead of them across the snow, and with them was the child Galina, then a few weeks old. The conditions were so severo that it was doubtful whether she could come v through the ordeal alive. Much against their will, the parents were forced to leave her with a friendly disposed count trywoman. Soon after crossing the Russian border they came to New Zealand, and they have heard nothing of Galina for nearly twelve years. All endeavours after their arrival to trace the lost child had proved fruitless, but at no time did the mother lose hope that she would be restored to them. Hearing their story, a neighbour advised them to get into touch with the Red Cross, which they did. That -was in August, 1931. THE FIRST STEP. Particulars of tho case wero taken by the secretary of the Red Cross in New Zealand, Mr. M. S. Galloway, and were furnished to tho League of Red Cross Societies in Paris, with a request that every endeavour be made to trace the girl. After a long period of waiting, and subsequent delays owing to the position of Soviet Russia, a cablegram was received from Paris on New Year's, Day, reading: "Galina Bogatiroff located Kargoul aeud renewed extended Customs permit endeavour arrange details passport and journey.— Licross." When the inquiries originated a. passport for a period of twelve months had been obtained, but subsequent delays required its renewal. Tho New Zealand High Commissioner in London, Sir Thomas Wilford, took tho necessary action, and the permit and passport were secured. QUESTION OF FINANCE. The return of Galina had been long anticipated by her family, and £60 had been saved towards the cost of her journey to New Zealand; but the father suffered severely from the depression, and the money dwindled. He is at present cultivating ten acres of land and growing vegetables, but current prices will not bring a great return. The family were thus faced with the prospect of not being able to afford the child's passage money. However, the Red Cross was resolved not to lose the opportunity of uniting the family again, and is appealing for assistance. A "Post" representative was shown a letter from the Foxton representatives of the society stating that the parents are well spoken of in the district, being thrifty and hard working. They were naturally overjoyed to hear of their daughter's safety, and with sadness stated that they would be involved in difficulty in finding the full passage money. They did not like to contemplate anything that would defer the child's return, but were reluctantly obliged to face the possibility in view of the bad financial conditions. A PUBLIC APPEAL. The Red Cross has therefore decided to make an appeal to the public for financial aid. In a radio talk on Monday, Mr. Galloway mentioned the details of the case, and he promptly received a letter commending the society's action and enclosing a pound note. This pound hag been put into a special fund, to which further donations will be added, to defray the cost of bringing th© girl to the Dominion. Being an international body, the Red Cross is able to obtain favourable consideration in the matter of the exchange rate and transport, and Mr. Galloway assures the public that Galina will be brought home "at a minimum of cost. Mr. Bogatiroff, in -writing to the secretary, expressed his heartfelt thanks at the work the Rod Cross has done, and promised that he -will endeavour to repay the money advanced when better times come. The Moscow branch of the Red Cross Society was largely instrumental in discovering the child, who is living with her aunt in Kargoul. Arrangements have been made through Moscow for Galina's return, and in the meantime the public are asked to assist by'donations, which will be added to the money in hand.