The Detroit times., 1915-04-03
RUSSIAN OFF,
GERS AND MEN
LIKE SAVAGES


the emperor OF Germany. In note to
President Wilson. called the atten-
ton OF the world to Russian cruel
ties IN Eastern Prussia Nothing
vas ever done. Little was ever said.
The Russian made war In 1915 pre-
cisely as he made war in 1915. He
ruined forever the lives Of the IN.
fortunate women who fell into his
hands. He burned every house he
came 10, He acted up TO the highest
standards OF old-time looters. He
was followed by a cloud OF thieving
peasants from Russia. who complet-
ed his work OF destruction. He sent
long. hopeless lines OF women and
children as prisoners TO Russia. He
broke every law OF war between na.
tons and every rule OF human hon
or. and every consideration OF de-
cercy.
hope TO tel what ! have seen IN
most dispassionate manner. l do
not want 10 lessen the effect or what
II have to say by any display OF pas
sion. But IL is sometimes dific1lt
TO preserve a purely judicial attitude
when an old womaD totters MP TO
you--as Mary MlchaeloYitch did TO
me on the streets Of Pilpallen--and
seizes you by the coat:
Il kissed his hand" she cried. Il
begged the Cossack 70 spare my
Menna- We fought him But others
icnme-"
handsome in an abundant peasant
eshion, took the weeping. trembling
Cd woman IN her arms What divine
creatures these women are This
girls life was utterly ruined Her
sunken cheeks told OF her suffering.
And yet her eyes were filed with a
breeding pity for this Shaking old
woman who had borne her:
Come mother" she said. We
will go home"
The Russian forces held a full
third OF Eastern Prussia. They en-
tered early in August, and they we're
finally driven from German soil IN
the last days OF February. This Is
the most prosperous portion of Ger
many, agricultural1y. There Is no
rural section OK the United States
where the houses and barns are on
an average one-half so substantial
All are OF brick or stone. and all are
commodious- Most farmers own
their land. The towns and villages
are well laid out. In German hands
they were clean. Except that wood
is not used IN construction. these
places might be particularly lively
rev towns in our middle west.
Edward Lyell Fox and myself visit.
ed these ravaged places ImmedL
ateiy after the Russians were driven
out In some places the Cossacks
had left a bare two days before We
came. Elsewhere we were a week
or more behind them. We subject.
ed each story told us 10 tho test OF
careful investigation. We took moth.
ing second hand. We insisted upon
proof that would stand up IN a court
VI law W. bOt ~. TUT every
charge I shall make against the Rus.
sian have tho statements OF the
victims themselves, made In the
presence OF Witnesses. I have sworn
statements OF eye-witnesses In my
possession. have transcripts from
the oficial records.
n Is important to remember that
there is no hint by any one thai
these East Prussisns were punished
for ''sniping," or for any other viola
ton OF the laws OF war as inter
preted by the victors. In Belgium
men fired out OF windows at Ger
man troops-and the towns were
punished by rife shot and torch. In
East Prussia every man and woman
who could get away fed before the
coming Of the invader They know
these Russians Of old Only those
who were too old or too poor TO &C
remained-with those who refused
to believe that the Cossack 10 IN,
same beast on horseback who rode
out Of the steppes four hundred
years ago. II was these who suf
fered.
II must also be understood thai
the Russian soldier was quite ~