The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-11-21
IN THE CITY
OF GOLDEN LAKES
Wilma is so Called Because Of the
Many GIIded Domes of the
Two Hundred
Churches.
GERMANS IN CONTROL
People Are Not Allowed to Drink
Water Unless It Is Boiled
and Must Obey

by Carl w. Alderman, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WILMA, Russia, Oct. 4 (By courier
to Berlin, mail to New York).-Vilna
is a modern city, according to an
American viewpoint. Compared with
Kovno and other towns in this neigh
borhood, it Is a progressive city lost
in a Russian Wilderness.
wilma is the big railroad terminal,
fed from Kurland and Poland, on the
direct line to Petrograd: That is why
the car sent 100000 troops here
early in September In final attempt
to halt Won Hindenburg and save the
rich city of Wilma with its 100000 in.
habitants.
Wilma has apartment houses as new
and modern as those Of New York or
any other American city. 1t has enor-
nous public buildings, constructed of
granite. Among the Russians it IA
known as the "City OF Churches,
having two hundred of them. Stand
ing on any of the hills which encircle
the city one sees hundreds of spires,
each church having from three to
seven each. Some have many gilded
domes which from a distance appear
like lakes of gold on vast plain
Shortly after September Is, the
Russians withdrew leaving the valu-
able prize to the Germans. The Ger
mans brought with them an entire
administrative staff. Within twenty
four hours after the occupation, the
business of the city was continuing
under German rule. Immediately
there appeared on the city bulletin
boards notices to the citizens, no
tees similar to those one finds in ev-
cry conquered city. They are told to
kill all carrier pigeons within two
days All arms and ammunition are
required to be given up. All deaths
must be reported within three hours.
The basis of exchange for Russian
and German money is posted, for
both are used in business. CA rubel Is
made equal to 1.60 marks.)
Inhabitants are required to be In
their homes by 1920 at night. Strin-
gent orders regarding the care and
visiting of persons infected with
cholera, tetanus and such diseases
are posted. Soldiers especially are
warned to stay away.
People are ordered to boil all water
before drinking it. Officers recon-
mend tea instead for almost every
Russian family has it's samovar. or
fcers, and rich civilians. who are I'M
able always to get boiled water, often
wash their faces in mineral water,
which is abundant but expensive, sell
ing for about II cents quart.
Life in conquered city goes on in
about the same war time routine. Dur
ing three day visit here l walked
considerably about the city and chat
ted with shop keepers, many Of whom
could speak as much German as Rus
sian. l met no one who could speak
English. A woman director of the
second largest jewelry shop, whose
husband left with the retreating Rus
slams, said she didn't care whether
Wilma was governed by Germans or
Russians, as long as the war lasted
providing there was enough food. sh7
was much afraid there would be q
famine. She was especially distressed
by the shortage of bread.
Have you seen the kind Of brea1
we eat?" she asked and showed me
basket of crumbs, broken pieces OF
Russian black bread. She said she
had to stand in the bread line for
hours every morning before she could
get her supply for her family. She
asked me if reports were true that
Deople in Germany were starving. l
told her that from what l could see
in Berlin there was food enough for
everyone. She asked If 1t would be
possible for the Russians to get food
from Germany. I told her I thought
it was very probable and later re-
ferred her question to German Off
Ger who declared that as soon as the
railroad line was repaired, food
would be shipped into Russia He
thought this would be within two
weeks. .ea.
Other shop keepers asked II there