The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-08-11

lIleuldIOSldpH oiio"o
There are bands and concerts. The
feeling of terror does not seem to
have struck the crowds. 1t is like the
life of London, which goes on with
little thought of the Zeppelins.. On
ly once has there been panic--when
the Russian bank closed its doors and
all other banks followed. Ready
money could not be had and every
was in dread of the stoppage OF
funds and the interruption OF the
usual means of business and ex-
change. But that panicky period
has all passed, the banks are open
and business is proceeding normally,
but with a terrible economic change
in prices, particularly in foodstuffs.
Warsaw is absolutely dependent for
its food supplies on two railways.
But these are now in the hands of the
military, who need them for the
movement of troops, and the food
for the troops. Poland itself sup
plies nothing, for the fields are burn
ed and yield nothing.
"The German army has shown no
quarter to the country, but there has
been no wanton destruction except
t Kalisez. At my place they stop
ped ten days, taking all the COWS and
much clover, but not destroying.
They paid by slip of paper, which
means they never paid. They took
our best horses for the artillery and
& v a wounded horse and a slip for
200 marks. But they kept repeat
ing, Everything is paid for
"The Germans carry no tents. and
have no food supplies with them, so
that as the cavalry, artillery and in
fantry swarmed over u place they
lived in our houses and out-houses,
and drew their food from the coun-
try, chiefly COWS and livestock,
slaughtering the best mich COWS for
tood, and sparing only p~edigreed
stock. Thus the country was de-
nuded of all its supplies and ordi-
nary stock. But they did not wan
+only destroy except for a stated
cause. They suspected the village
next to US of c~oncealing Cossacks in
the cellars and the village was burn
cd down, not a thing remaining but
the chimneys. A Polish village is
not like an English; it is a long row
of peasant farm-holds, built in a
quadrangle, with clay walls and
matched roofs. .
Russians Take What's Left.
."Then came the Russians, forcing
the Germans back and taking any
thing that was left. 1t led to some
orange scenes. While at supper a
peasant came to make a complaint to
The colonel that the Russians had ia
ken six of his cows. TEE culonel
was angry, and summoned his under
officer who had taken the cows, de-
handing an explanation.
"'Yes,' came the ready reply from
the accused officer, 81 took the cows.
But they were German cows. Yes
terday the Germans took them from
this man and they were no longer
his. We have taken only German
cows
"And the colonel agreed that he
could not interfere with the taking of
COWS that had become German by the
passing of the German army. So
the poor peasants had their houses
and barns burned and their stock ia
ken by the Germans, and then if
anything remained it was taken by
the Russians on the ground they were
taking what had been in the hands
of the Germans.
sour place is now about tel En-
glish miles from the fighting line and
is a vast camp. The artillery is
parked all over the grounds and sent
forward as reserves are called for.
Our stocks of oats, wheat, rye, clover
and straw has been taken for the ar
my, and nearly all the livestock.
Heavy caissons are brought from the
railway station four miles away, with
great stocks of ammunition, and set
up ready to 60 forward. We are
on best macadamized road directly
from Warsaw to Berlin, so that this
road is chosen as the principr' ar
tillery thoroughfare for the reserves.
"And there we are to-day, crowded
among soldiers, with the Russians
first there, then the Germans, and
now the Russians again; with the
fighting only ten miles away, with
Warsaw not far off, animated and ex-
pectant, but not depressed or Terror