The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-09

By BYRON LoMAx

played more cards They slept 12 houra night Other officers on the way to
 arsaw called al the dug-out. They got the advice to stay, but went on, A few days later two of them turned up again at the dug-out and cursed Warsaw as noisy, puzzling, unhomely city. They spent their fortnights leave with Melton and his friends.
 Peter Wisniewsld. curator of Catholic establishments at Lodz, tells similar tales Of the refugee civilians. WisniewsN was able to leave Lodz after the Germans came He had a good look about the country and he estimates that 40,000 home less persons are living in underground holes and abandoned trenShes in the five provinces of West Vistula, Poland. which are wholly or partly In German hands.
 Wisnievski calls them ''mud-dwellers
 griaeviye obitatelD. The greatest under ground colony stretches along the north
 westward running line from Lodz to Lo- witsch. Here was fought the three-weeks' battle for Lodz, which ended on November 3, when the Russians evacuated the city. A hundred and fifty villages before and
 behind these positions were destroyed
 Between Lodz and Lowitsch and in a pocket running down toward the town of
 Bresziny are the greatest field fortifca- tions ever built. The Russian works are tho bigger. They were constructed In the last stage of the battle when Grand Duke Nicholas army was on the defensive. The
 German attackers overwhelm trenches with brisant shells. To prevent the shells falling among the men the trenches at top were made as narrow as possible. In sections they are like half-opened sack,
 narrow on top, but roomy underneath.
 Balks hold them up. The Russians hoped
 to hold this position indefinitely, so the
 trenches and dug-outs were made com
 forta ble. The dug-outs extend five yards
 under the parapets. Many of them are
 rooms. When the Russians retired to the
 Miazza, the refugees rushed into these
 earthworks. and there they remain.
 These refugees refused to leave. They said they were warm and safe, and that outside the earth holes it was cold and perilous Ten miles off was a vacant village with undestroyed houses. Wis niewski persuaded two families of earth- dwellers to remove there. Next day they came back: reported that a German shell had fired the thatch of the cottage they had taken possession of, and vowed that they would face the miseries of house. living no more. Wieniewski sent to the
 earthworfis cooking ranges, kettles and salt The refugees had grain. They begged the refugee committees to leave them in peace
 Biggest of all underground villages Is at GIoyno. Glovno is in the extreme north or PetfOKOW province III LHt HHuulc Oi | the Lodz-Lowitsch defense line. Once Glovno trenches held 5000 Russians. The 1000 refugees who squat in them have ample room. Wisniewsk says that the Glovno settlement is as well organized as any town The 1000 inhabitants occupy | row of dug-outs which stretches for | four miles. The dug-outs are well SUD- piled with furniture, metal utensils, and even ornaments. The settlers have all | that they saved from their own homes and much that they recovered from dwell | lings whose owners fled to Warsaw They spend their days touring the coun- | try and pickisg up useful trifles. There is | flock of sheep there Is enough bread l In four places a row of dug-outs has