FIGHT AGAINST ODDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22100, 4 May 1935, Page 16

FIGHT AGAINST ODDS

Ascendancy of Reds

EXIIiEII RUSSIAN'S I'tUCK DIFFICULTIES CONQUERED UNIVERSITY DEGREE OBTAINED [from onil OWN CORRESPONDENT] SYDNEY. April 23 Behind a bare announcement in a Sydney university list of passes that Alexander Alexeevitch Faminsky had passed a deferred examination, graduating bachelor in the faculty of economies, lies a story of the pluck and self-denial of an exiled Russian. Mr. Faminsky completed his Russian classical education at Ni.jni Novgorod, and then went to Moscow to pursue his studies in law. In 1917, while he was still a youth, he was conscripted for military service, and became a pupil at the Alexandrovscoe Imperial Military College. From there ho was drafted to the Rumanian front as a lieutenant, and later he was decorated with the Older of St. Anne for bravery in the field. He became a garrison commander of 12,000 men before the collapse of the Russian offensive.

In the course of the revolution Mr. Faminsky returned to Moscow, intending to complete his studies at the university. He found that professors were elected by students, and that a former cleaner was now vice-chancellor. With the ascendancy of the Reds in 1918 he was again called up for service, but being a strong monarchist, he refused to answer tho summons, and disappeared. Then commenced a long and lonely march toward the Urals, where ho hoped to join the White Russian forces. Mr. Faminsky trudged on for 500 miles in a temperature <*lo degrees below zero, and was approaching his objective when he was captured and tried for his life. Eventually he was released, and, after many vicissitudes, ho joined the White Russians at Ufa. He was fighting against tho Reds until 1919, and participated in the last major stand of the Whites at Tomsk. After many adventures he reached Harbin, where the Moscow University had been re-organ-ised, and completed his legal training, graduating bachelor of laws. Experiences in Australia

About eight years ago Mr. Faminsky, although ho 'could not speak a word of English, decided to try his fortune in Australia. After working in the canefields in Northern Queensland for several months lie saved sufficient money to come to Sydney, where he set about mastering English to take a course at the university. The depression hit him hard, as ho had been able to find work only as a manual labourer. But by denying himself food, and living in the cheapest of lodging houses, he managed to pay his fees. After shovelling sand or breaking stones during the day, ho attended the university at night. At first Mr. Faminsky could understand only half the lectures, but rapidly he improved, and he succeeded in passing the annual examinations. With such technical subjects as statistics and accountancy, he'experienced great difficulty, and his course as a result was protracted. Long periods of unemployment did not dishearten him, and. now Hi at his persistency and perseverance have been rewarded with a degree, he is determined to apply his knowledge to some commercial advantage.