Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

ties of Bro. Kratz are given elsewhere. My return journey to Constantinople was uneventful. A few days were spent in Sebastopol making arrange- ments to use that place as a base for relief supplies. On STREET SCENE IN HALBSTADT MENNONITE CHURCH, HALBSTADT—KLASSEN, BISHOP A PEASANT HOME Where we stopped for lunch near Halbstadt. ORPHANS AT PLAY At the Mennonite Orphanage at Constantinople. THE FIRST ESSAY INTO RUSSIA 97 Oct. 26, I again landed at Constantinople, having crossed the Black Sea this time by a slow going Russian passenger vessel. A few days were spent in preparing a report of the trip to send to the church at home, and then we concentrated on the work of getting the supplies to Russia. Arthur Slagel reported that the shipment of supplies from America had arrived and was stored in the Near East Relief warehouses at Derindje, about 70 miles from Constantinople. The shipment consisted of medical sup- plies and clothing, valued at about $10,000.00. To these supplies were added by purchase others suggested by the investigation in Russia. The list included 4000 yards of flanellette, 12 sewing machines, 50 cases of milk, 100 cases of soap, 1000 yards bed-ticking and a one-ton Ford truck with complete equipment and spare parts. Slagel severed his connection with the N.E.R. and gave all his time to getting these supplies off for Sebas- topol. The N.E.R. kindly and very materially assisted us by allowing us the free use of their Transport and Quartermaster departments. But there were vexations, delays, partly because of our lack of experience in dealing with foreign customs and peoples, and partly because of the confused political situation in those parts at that time. Finally on the evening of Nov. 9, Slagel accompanying the goods left the port via a small Greek freighter for Sebas- topol. My own plans were to follow via the first available American Destroyer, which promised to be within a week. On the day after Slagel left, and while I was making final arrangements to follow, rumors began to arrive indicating Wrangel’s retreat and probable early defeat. A meeting of all American Relief organizations in Con- stantinople was called by Admiral Bristol, and the prob- able effects of such defeat on the Constantinople Russian refugee situation discussed. Nothing definite could yet be done about it, but stock was taken of personnel and assets 98 FEEDING THE HUNGRY available should an emergency arise. On the evening of Nov. 11, all of us who had interests in Russia were notified of Wrangel’s defeat, and invited to accompany an American Destroyer leaving early the next morning for Sebastopol. It was a small but anxious group this time, including General Wrangel’s wife, representatives of American business interests in Russia, and relief workers. Noy. 13, in Sebastopol is a day we shall never forget. Wrangel had made his farewell speech to his soldiers and every one was loo