Gammal-Svenksby Exiles

In 1721, stubborn Charles XII of Sweden gave up hope of beating Russia's huge black-haired Peter the Great, signed the Peace of Nystad. Among lands ceded to Russia at that time, was flat marshy Dagoe Island at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, not far from St. Petersburg itself. Twenty years before, Dagoe Island had been colonized by good industrious Swedes who fished in the Gulf and made hay on the salt marshes. In 1787, Peter's grand-daughter-in-law, plump, passionate Catherine II grew tired of this Swedish colony practically at her doorstep. With a gesture she had it deported. The Dago fishermen and their families were driven to the mainland, herded across Russia, stopped for a time in southern Russia, settled at last in the Ukraine, out of sight and out of mind of Great Catherine. Here the Swedish exiles founded Gammal- Svenksby--Old Swedish Town. For over 125 years they and their descendants have raised wheat, cultivated vineyards, and all that time have kept their Swedish language, their Swedish tradition, their Swedish Protestant religion. Of late hard times have come to the little colony. Last week every one of the Gammal-Svenksby exiles returned to Sweden.

Their coming was a proud moment for Pastor Hoas, pastor of the Gammal-Svenksby church. Six months ago he arrived in Stockholm. He told how the coming of the Soviets had brought poverty and distress to Old Swedish Town. How the Bolsheviks had closed his church. How they had taxed the little farms nearly out of existence. How the Gammal-Svenksby exiles had no shoes, little food, few clothes, and how they longed to return to the Sweden their ancestors had left. He saw and particularly impressed the King's brother, Prince Karl, Duke of Vastergottland. In a few weeks he had raised enough money to enable the Swedish Red Cross to transport the entire 900 inhabitants of Old Swedish Town back across Europe to Sweden.

Last week Pastor Hoas hastened down to Trelleborg, Swedish terminal of the Baltic ferry to the continent, to welcome the returning exiles. With him was Prince Karl, ready to make a speech.

Hours before the ferry bearing the exiles was expected, the entire population of Trelleborg was at the pier, with bands, flowers, flags, and Swedish Boy Scouts. The moment the ferryboat landed they rushed forward, cheering, weeping. Embarrassed Gammal-Svenksby exiles, with sunken windburnt faces, found themselves being kissed, hugged and thumped by hysterical strangers.

Wired a correspondent: "It was a moment of unforgettable national feeling. "

Sweden welcomes its new citizens," said Prince Karl. "The Swedish nation recognizes your hopeless situation and sincerely appreciates your burning wish to return to the mother country. But Sweden expects that its new citizens will work willingly, for without work Sweden's earth will not give good results."

Prince Karl spoke a little hastily in calling the exiles "new citizens." All of them were born in Russia. By Swedish law five years' residence is necessary before an alien can become naturalized. Last week enthusiastic Swedes appealed to King Gustaf V, hoped that he would intervene specially in their behalf. Meanwhile the Gammal-Svenksby exiles were being temporarily quartered in artillery barracks at JOenkOeping, focus of the Swedish match industry. Minister of Agriculture Johan Bernhard Johansson was making arrangements to establish small farm holdings for them in provinces where big estates are being split up.