Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-22

- Details of
Narrowl
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szyeasssassssse55s's
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Work on His Memoirs for This Newspaper
on the Charge of Ritual Murder" at Kt
Is Story Is the Frankest, Most Remarkable
alton Ever Printed of the Cruelty and
oppression Undergone by the
Jews in Russia.
might escape From what had heard life in
the army appeared to me to offer worse time
than any had yet experienced. and | looked
forward to 1t with absolute dread
But there no way out. | said 'goodby
very sorrowfully to my parents and relations.
and we all wept brokenheartedly at parting be.
cause we did not dare to hope to meet again /
left the house with feet like lead
There were n number Of other young men in
the village in the same plight as myself. Under
an escort we marched off to the nearest military
headquarters We We're most unhappy party;
scarcely one of us had the heart to speak;
of the Christians seemed even more detected
than l.
On the way discovered some of the tricks
that We're used to escape service Among our
party were some who had actually starved
themselves for months in the hope that their
emaciation and general weakness would lead
to their rejection Others had mutiated them
selves by actually cutting off fingers in order
to make 1t impossible for them to handle gun.
These were the only CHEEKY ones among
Many of us lay awake ut night crying. because
we knew we would not see our friends for the
next five years, and perhaps never again.
The next day We're called one by one into
a room where seven officers sat at a table COW
cred with red CLOTH Before them a box
with large opening in the top | entered,
trembling in every limb. Suddenly heard my
name called:
''Mendel Beilis!"
/ stepped forward.
Here am. your EXcellency."
Approach and try your luck
He Becomes Russian Soldier.
/ put my hand into the box, well knowing
that stalking five years of my life against
one chance in ten thousand of my winning. But
1t had to be done. In those few moments my
thoughts were indeed terrible. trembled in
every limb as | withdrew the tiny piece of
paper which was to settle my fate l remem-
Der well unrolling 1t. and as my eyes lit on the
number--71-I realized my doom.
Had / drawn Il high number might possibly
have stood chance Of being of the for
tunate ones to be examined. He looked at me
and said to the officer present. Russia could
do with few more recruits of this size and
strength.
Because was So big and strong they placed
me in one of the famous grenadier regiments
| was the only Jew in the regiment and there
was scarcely jew I'm the town of Twier. where
stationed Fortunately for me. those
around me had not acquired the habit of III
treating my race, and because of this did not
suffer any of the ill-treatment to which | had
been accustomed all my life on account OF my
being jew
In the army had to get up Mt a. M and by
six / had to be fully dressed spick and span
for inspection. After this had breakfast,
which consisted of black bread and tea. Then
came military exercise until midday, when we
were given dinner. consisting of soup made
with cabbage and potatoes with little meat
floating in the middle. This is known
"Borsch"
BY the time dinner was ready we were al
ways famished. and there used to be regular
fight to see who could get to the soup cauldron
first. As | have never liked being mixed up in
row IL usually happened that my turn came
nearly last and then there very little meat
left for
During the five years I always hungry,
We were allowed three pounds of black bread
each per day, but l always having been used to
whiter bread found it almost impossible to dl-
gcSt what was supplied to us. And so l used to
take my portion into the town every day and
sell it for four kopccks With this was able
to buy white bread, but of course. a much
smaller quantity
Some Of my friends have reproached me since
for eating the Christian food while in the army.
But l have always answered; Il had nothing
else to eat so what was I to do?'
As it was was always hungry. l could not
buy Jewish meat because had no money. Our
pay was only twenty-three kopecks a month.
aud out of this had to buy materials for keep
ing clean my uniforms ] did not want to eat
Christian food, but | could not help myself
Others of my friends have blamed me for not
going TO synagogue while in the army | have
told them that If there Is not a synagogue can
not go to 1t. | did once ask an officer. on Jew.