Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-27
POLAND SUFFERING,
WARSAW Is NORMAL
Capital Gay with Laughter, Though
Nation is Subject to All
Evils of War.
DISEASE EPIDEMIcs FEARED


(cerrespondence of the Associated Press)
WARSAW, March 22---Ttro city of War
saw. which is nearer to the actual fight
ing zone than any other city OF it's size
in Europe. and which has lived for
months under the continued menace Of
German occupation, wears the astonish-
ing aspect of a disinterested observer.
for whom the fortunes of war have but q
casual interest. This is the capital OF the
country whose sons, almost equally
divided, are fighting half on the Russian
and half on the Austro-German side
Warsaw is within thirty miles of that
fierce, persistent and apparently untiring
German offensive. against which large
part of the entire Russian army has been
massed, and is subject to all the ills
which follow in the wake Of battle, such
as dearth of provisions and fuel, conges-
tion and disease. The best farms and es-
tates of Poland have been turned into
vast burial grounds, its people are home
less and starving, and every day seems
TO darken the prospect of that regenera-
tion of the Polish people into an inde-
pendent nation. which is the dream OF
every Pole. whether he is a Russian, a
German or an Austrian subject. From
the accumulated filth of the trenches,
from the thousands of shallow graves
where Russian, German and Polish SOL
diers have been hastily buried. cholera,
typhus and typhoid are said to be spread
ing, and in the opinion of military doc
tors. when the softening of the ground
and melting Of the streams begins in
early spring disease will run like fire
through Poland. '--
over 100000 refugees, who have thrown
themselves upon the mercy Of the vari-
Gus committees of Polish relief in War
saw, have brought into the city five
known cases, of cholera. The cases have
been promptly isolated and all who have
been subjected to the contagion have been
deported into the country. Warsaw is at
present suffering from a dearth Of coal,
since the supply from southern Poland
In the chenstokovau region has been cut
off by the German invasion.
Life iH warsaw Normal
One then is entitled TO a feeling OF
amazement at the undiminished spirits
and the apparently normal life which ex-
ist In this city, which. one reasons. ought
10 be trembling on the verge of catas-
trophe- The streets are gay with laugh
ter and song, the cafes are filled untti
late at night, and the opera and ballet
are playing to fun houses II is curious.
Indeed. TO see these audiences giving wav
20 the imaginary troubles Of the actors
on the stage. while real trouble awaits
them beyond the door OF the theater On
the former German advance upon War
saw, which approached within seven
miles Of the uity. one theater contained
it's performance without interruption.
while the booming Of the enemy's guns
could be- distinctly heard over the yoices
Of the actors
Club life goes on as usual An Amen.
can correspondent was in the rooms Of
one OF the best known Warsaw clubs on
the occasion Of a recent aeropiane raid
-Four men were playing auction bridge
Two bombs were dropped one within -
yards OF The club. Two Of tho men
ssroiled eareiessly % the window and
watched tho two German tauhes volplaBe
recklensly from an altitude % about 6 on
feet 10 a distance og approximately s1nn
drop bomb apioce and Cir,le upward ani
westward. with two Russian aeuopanes
in close pursuit Russian shrapneI uas
directed at the tSo German ssroplau.r
frlm battery ou thr outskirts q ths
'tt. pui tlr sped uf lls asI1I. ales "a.
I ........ -. 49,. 49,. .....