The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-05-01
DEVASTATION IN
EASTERN PRUSSIA
Desert Waste Where Prosperity
Once Existed-Piles of Brick
Only Reminders.

~ yin, ISthot I-Iu6Sld, ApTli ZJ.-l0 ne
devastation and destruction that have
been visited upon all of eastern East
Prussia cannot be more strikingly ap-
prcciat,1 than by trip from this lit
tie town - Crajeyo. few miles across
t..e iOrdc-.
The trip supplies a remarkable
series Of contrasts that are fundamen-
tai and far reacl.ing. Black is no
more like w-.i,a than this part of Ger
many IL like far western Russia from
the standpoint or population. customs,
AID the general appearance OF the
country.
From Lyok to the border every
house, without exception 1t is said
has been rifled and partly or entirely
torn down. The broad, well-paved
road Is practically lined with the rem
nants OF substantial buildings that in
some cases. particularly in the border
town of Prosikel were once attractive
Along the read. is along virtually
every road of its kind In Germany
are shade trees-ecept where they
have been cut down to allow OF artil-
lery fire. They are so universal that
one gets used to them quite uncon-'
sciously. and Immediately feels the
lack when they disappear.
The peasants, largely of the Polish
type. appear to be selfrespecfing and
pleasant. They greet the casual
passerby much as the farmer in Amer
lea says how do you do to The strang-
er along the road, but W the same
tinge of equality in the citing.
The once pleasant anu :osperous
countryside from Lyck to he border
has been turned into a desert waste.
In village after village there stand
only the firm. substantial chinl1eys
that even fire will not level to the
ground. Almost without exception
the remnants Of the houses are OF
brick.
Then one comes to the line and al
most In tho time 1t takes to close
ones eyes and open them again the
scene changes SO materially that one
might be hundrde miles away.
First of all the devastation has
ceased. Not house has been levell-
ed and not building damaged. But
in their very character the houses
proclaim the marked contrast. The
brick has given way to thatching huts.
low. one-story affairs that fairly reek
with filth and CRIME. oL
In the doorways stood, as an Asso-
ciated Press correspondent made the
trip recently. smirkiag. grovclling
peasants. who bowed almost to the
ground again and again. as long as
the automobile was In sight They
showed the same seryiIity to the mill
tary everywhere In command of the
situation. and were quite oblivious of
the scornful reception of their object
salutntions. ~
AS quickly as the character OF the
houses had changed. SO had the trees
vanished. and for thousands of yards
stretched bare, black road. ooZy and
treacherous over which the automo-
biles made their way with difficulty.
Lyck, Maggrabova and other little
towns on the German side OF the
border but near the Russian line had
left much TO be desired In the way of
cleanliness and general attractiveness,
but as compared to Grajevo, when 1t
finally was reached. they were models
OF beauty and sanitation.
The nearest approach to similarity
was the inevitable market square, al
most as big In size as all the rest OF
the town together. But in place OF
the familiar brick buildings. often Of
handsome construction, there lined
the market nothing more pretentious.
than dirty novels.
The desperateness with which the
Russians had combatted the Germans
for every foot Of the territory was
plainly evident in rows upon rows of
trenches, always when possible built
at the top of rising ground, covered
OVER with evergreen or other branches
and made with cunningly constructed
loopholes. Rarely one aav trench
facing the other way lie that the
Germans had had time to build hastily
in the night. For the most part the
advance had been possible only by
storming each separate height and by
driving the RUSSIANS out OF their
strongholds.