El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-01
WASHINGTON. D. c. June

-ASHINGTON, D. C., June l.
M Citinz specific instances Of al
legged brutality Of Russian SOL
diers in East Prussia count Son Bern
storff has made public the charges
made by the German government n a
Memorial record" summarizing the
acts set forth in so affidavits.
Murder OF young children vrIntonly:
railing Of men and women TO tables
by their tongues until they starved to
death. wholesale violations Of young
women, destruction by burning Of 20
600 buildings, plundeTing and destroy
ing OF 10000 homes and the wholesale
numbering Of nOncombatants are some
Of the charges made.
Atrocities Against InhabItants-'
The Memorial record says in part:
The Russian trops have committed
atrocities during the present war,
which are incompatible with the laws
o. humanity and the e-stOms Of cIv.ll-
zed nations, and which evidence the
utter barbarism Of their warfare.
These atrocities were directed against
the peaceful inhabitants Of the occu-
pied German territory. as well as
those German soldiers. who opposed
them in lawful combat and who had
the misfortune of being taken prisoners
by them.
The documentary material shows
that these are not isolated cases CT
cruelty and deeds of violence for
atrocities of the most bestial sort have
been cOmitted in so many places and
by so many different divisions IF troops
that undoubtedly a very great part
OF the Russian army is permeated by a
Spirit Of inhuma2 savasery-
Leave ssHOpeleSs Devastation"
THE whole world that, owing TO the
barDaric methods of warfare employed
by the Russians, East Prussia once a
flOurishing country, IN parts now pre-
sents picture Of hopeless devastation
and that the peaceful Inhabitants We're
forced to flee and leave all their belong
ings in order Il save themselves from
assault and murder It has been Of
ficially ascertained that at the time Of
the first as well as the second invasion
Of East Prussia by the Russians, thou
sands Of men, women and children were
carried Off thousands were murdered,
about 10000 buildings were demolished
or burned down; that during the second
invasion along, about $4,000 homes were
plundred and destroyed The last Rus
sion expadition against Bfemel likewise
was nothing more than a savage raid,
accompanied by atrocities OF every
description.
People Of Whole Community Beaten
The movable goods Of the poor as
wei as the wealthy were stolen, looted,
or Wantooniy destroyed by the Russian
troops in every conceivable way Men
and women had TO give the cOvetous
soldiers their last cOppers- The dwell
lings were searched often by one div
der taking whatever took his fancy.
Finally. homes, farm buildings and
provisions were, without reason or pur-
pose. destroyed by fire
The population, including women
and children. were iutreated on empty
preteXts or without any reason what
so ever although they did everything
10 satisfy the desires Of the Russian
soldiers az 20 lodgings and food. This
illtreatmeut was partially characterized
by exquisite cruelty; for instance the
male population Of an entire com
munity, the judge not excepted, were
beaten with whips and threatened with
death Fugitives were shot down with
out further ado.
Above all, however. numerous citi-
Zens were murdered without any cause
often under terrible tortures OF in pres
ence Of their relatives. Young men
were shot, not because they had com
mitted something, but because they
were liable to military service. A
transport Of fugitives was suddenly
attacked; the men were separated from
the women and killed without pro
cedure of any kind A chief forester.
escOrting a troop Of German convicts.
was taken prisoner by Russian troops,