The Washington times., 1915-07-17
ION TO WARSAW"

"On to Warsaw" Eleven months
ago the cry was "On to Paris!" The
Occupation of the French capital,
had the German forces been
able to accomplish it, would have
been of wonderful sentimental ad-
vantage to the armies of the Kaiser.
Of greater real benefit, however, in
the matter of the eastern campaign
would be the occupation of the ter
races of the Vistula whereon is built
the former capital of the kingdom
lof Poland.
Once again, if the Germans ac-
complish what they maintain will
be done within a month, will the
voice of a Hohenzollern proclaim
victory on Ujazdowska, the Champs
Elysees of the often conquered city.
1t was Frederick William, known
in history as The Great Elector, who,
at the head of the Brandenburgers,
and as the chief of the Hohenzollern
family at that time, joining his
forces with the King of Sweden and
beginning on July %, 1856, fought
for three days the supporters of
John Casimir before the Poles were
defeated.
The year before that Charles x,
Gustavus of Sweden had flown his
banners in Warsaw's streets, and the
year following another successful in
vasion was made under Swedish
command.
!, In 1902 Charles XII of Sweden re-
peated the deeds Of his ancestors but
within the year peace was made and
the city became free again.
For fifty years it was not soiled
by foreign foot until in 1854 the
: Russians took possession of it pre-
: paratory to the first partition of Po-
, land. In November, of 1894, the
Russians again claimed it as their
own, following the bloody battle of
Praga and the victory of Suwaroff
for the Gar.
Napoleon's troops occupied it's
squares in November, of 1906, and
after the peace of Tilsit it remained
as the capital of the Independent
duchy of Warsaw until the Aus
trians captured it on April 21, 1909.
It's final capture was by the Rus
:. slams on February 8, 1918, and it has
since remained under the Cars
control.
1t was the scene in 1880 and 1862
: of two bloody conflicts following
' demonstrations looking toward the
3 establishment of the independence
: of Poland both of which were mas
tered by the Russian forces. More
citizens of Warsaw were sent tt
Siberia than from another like pop
y. ulation in all Russia. Monasteries
~ nunneries, schools, and institution!
- of all kinds were emptied to add tt
y the never ending march to the con
vict prisons.
2 Turbulent as has been the histor!
of the city, however, another and ;
.e crowning visitation of shot and shell
,e is promised by Won Mackensen, ant
j. his victory -gorged followers. Th
r modern guns of the Kaiser, ono
IS they are within range of the city
" will work a havoc greater than al
J. the attacks that have preceded them
h and the famous churches, the ar
s, museums, the wonderful theaters
IF and the great gardens, among tn
It most beautiful in the world, will b
IN ripped and torn by shells which meas
st ure their destruction in centimeter
re multiplied almost to infinity.
" To take Warsaw will mean a tire
s. mendous advantage to the Germa
I'd forces in the matter of affording
IN base from which to work, cente
n for the sort of railway system tina
be they will construct from the thre
ch lines centering there now which line
nd have been of inestimable value t
al the Russians in the transfer G
a troops. Nor is it easy to estimat
the sentimental effect which tn
gaining of so important strategi
} point will have on the troops at a
centers of Germanic endeayor.