The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-24
GERMANS EXPEND MUCH
MONEY ON POLAND ROADS

| of the Associated ITtSS) something
over a million and half dollars
have been expended by the Germans
since their occupancy of Poland in
reconstructing the unspeakably bad
roads that criss-cross the kingdom at
more or less rare intervals, and
which have been all but destroyed by
artillery fire and by the transportation
of big guns. ammunition and food
supplies
For those in charge of the recon
struction of connections between the
armies and iome' the task has grown
With ta.. nlometer that the Germans
| h4v. un from the Russians. Prior
TO the fal of Warsaw there were ap
proximaelr 1,Ol6 kilometers D6jj
miles, of roads to be repaired, but
when the Russians retreated to Erest
Litoysk, and then abandoned that for.
tress, the mileage increased to 5,lIO
kilometers C3,iOo niles and the diff
culties involved grew greater with
each additional mile.
The Germans found, on their ar
rival. a few so-called imperial roads"
which were, for the most part, strips
of sand. From the inhabitants-or
such of them as remained they learn
ed that taxes for the upkeep of the
thoroughfarcs had been collected over
and over and never spent for the
purpose intended. A second class Of
roads, the so.called government
streets were all but impossible, and
the third variety consisted of roads
that not only were impassable, but
impossible. All three sorts were torn
by shells. cut by trenches, and rutted
by both Russian and German wagons
bound for the front.
The Germans in charge of road re-
building claim that they never have
had any word as to the ultimate in
tention of their government with re-
spect to Poland that their work has
gone on, irrespective of any intention
to annex the ancient kingdom, that
the work has been done purely as a
sort of philanthropic measure and
that il will stand as heritage for
those who may in the future govern
Poland
That it has been thoroughly done,
however is attested to by the fact
that between 10000 and $4,000 labor
ers have been employed in the var
ious sections of Poland. Most of them
are Poles. thrown out of their ordi-
nary occupations by shortage of
| raw materials.
Throughout the length and breadth
of Poland the sand stretches are being
bolstered up with wood and stone
and 10000 cubic meters (approXi-
mately yardsl have been used thus
far in making passable roads even
in districts where no military need for
them exists.
For instance road - kilometer'
in length has been built to the south
of LODI, where there have been no
armies for months. and where there is
no immediate prospect of need for
good roads from military standpoint.
The work continues, and contrast
between the old and new order of
things easily obtainable in the
course of ride outside of Lodz-
gives glimpse Of the constructive
efforts of the Germans
The Polish population in general
has proven thankful for what has
been accomplished additionally so
because thousands of its men and
women have received employment in
the reconstruction of the Polish roads,
and have in this way been saved
from the starvation that otherwise
stared them in the face.
It is peculiar that the women, rath-
er than the men, have done the most
toward rehabilitating their country.
The women. and grown children, have
proved themselves Industrious work
ers for the reconstruction of Poland,
while the men with few exceptions
have had to be driven, and have