Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-22
GRIM TRAGEDY BEING
PLAYED IN.POLAND NOW
march Over PROSTATE Body OF
Stricken Nation.
MEN FIGHT THEIR BROTHERS
Regiments of Expatriatcd Driven to
Slaughter Own Flesh and Blood.
One OF Snddest Situations World
Has Ever Seen.
ny GRANVILLE FoRTEscuE

nv HKNN lille FoftEEsStIf. IL.
Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.l
PETROGRAD, February ol-In 20
land gigantic armies march and counter
march over tho PROSTATE body of II
stricken nation. The pale gray plains
are lit by 1000 fires. and each blaze
was once a home. But tho crackle of
burning timbers Is drowned in the
rattle OF rifle nrc and the booming
| guns
| On the fields OF battle other drama
/ is being played. Here Poles bare their
| breasts 10 each others bullets. for the
/ hrst ranks OF the German and Austrian
armies are thick with Poland's sons
To understand the tragedy that is be-
Ing played to-day In Poland. we must
remember that the Kingdom once
stretched far beyond Its present bound =
aries
West Prussia, Posen Silcsia and Ga
lcia were all once part OF the nation.
And like all dcnationnlixcd peoples.
the Poles hive clung to traditions with
a fcrvor little short OF fanatic
They might live 1000 years under
the prussian or Austrian eagles. and
be In the end stronger In their pa
trioUsm.
The fact that the chronological and
geographical boundaries do not coinctae
has, In this age OF CONSUMPTION. brought
about ono OF the saddcst situations the
world has ever seen. Regiments OF the
cxPatriated have been driven to slauEh-
ter their brothers. Doubling the loyalty
or the Poles. the Germans forced them
10 hold the first line, and chose for them
All the most dangerous positions In
consequence, they are being eHterm!-
hhted by thousands. This Is punish
men; for supporting Russia In the pres
ent crisis.
Enlssarios. fat with Prussian gold.
sought to pollute the pure stream OF
Polish loyalty with tho poison of in
trisue The plan WAS a complete fail
ure. II was not the iiaring brand OF
revolution that was lit In this dcna-
tionalized kingdom, but tho steady flame
OF allegiance.
DRIVEN TO FIND
NEW ENVIRONMENT
, The Poles knew too well the chains
that bound their countrvmcn in Prus-
Sla. Families that had been bred and
born, generation after generation. back
/" tho mythical time Of Queen Wanda.
IN their few contentcd acres were driven
TO md q new environment They re-
ccived certain sums for their in
herithnce, hut can YOU pay for land
when one has buried his hear, in II?
Thc cruel law of appropriation modc
IT possible for Germans to condemn
and conhacnte all land in the hands OF
the Poles. such injustice far out {.
weighed all tho economical a1vno-
hp nj
or what use are railways, OF what
use perfect farm roads, when Won own
no land? Can You send your children
10 school when they hnve no home
Those who were allowed to hold their
little farms worked under such re-
strictons that life was bitter
struggle.
An American once said everything in
Germany. Is "verhoten" save bending
the knee to the Emperor This applies
/ With triple force TO Posen and SiIcsia.
ancient Polish provinces. II seems ia
nave been the policy OF tho conqueror
To mako He so hard for the expatriat.d
/ sons Of tho knight among nations TINT
/ 'hcE would starvc or trail back TO tho
/ Eothcriand. selling their holding FOR
: q song
In mad dream Of commercial cx-
pansion. the Tcuton dreamed OF Ger.
rnaniz!ne. not alone that division which
had come 10 him. but also all of Pc.
land What he was not able TO do nv
intrigue ne now attempted by arms
WORSE OFF IN GERMANY
THAN IN AUSTRIA
! In Germany tho Pole was far worse
I of than in Austrln Galicia was the
hothouse where the flower Of Polish
/ Particular continued TO flourish through
centuries Here the people wero almost
/ iree. Their own priests blessed them
/ IN the churches Polish professora
would thrill their scholars with stories
OF tho nations ancient glory. Polish
hymns were sung wherever peon,c