The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-14
RUSSIAN PRISONERS
OF WAR COMMENTED
Cars Subjects Among the
10000 ut Wittcnbcrg Not
Grief Stricken.
LUTHER'S TOWN HIT HARD


II wv .
wirTrSRrIG Germany. ArriI IA
I, garrison is pIar;rrcd IN W~ittcnhcrg
and 5000 prisoners Of war are also
sojourning here.
Not the least cheerful faces W sec
among tho prisoners are those OF the
Russians. Hundreds arc working ou new
railway cmbankm"nts and siding They
are stocky, broad faced men, without the
grace ms statclhcss OF bearing " their
officers. and they look up With cheerful
arins whenever u passenger train rum
bles by them. There is NC evidence of
rancor between the prisoners and their
captors.
Those among tic townspcoplc whom
the war has hit hardest in a financial
way are the proprictors of little shops
where the thousands Of pilgrims who
used to come to W%ittenberg bought SOU
venirs-littlc husts of Luther and Me
lanchthon, china painted with the arms
or the famous buildings Of the town. fac
SMILES OF Latin sixteenth century leaf
let's containing Luthcr's ninety-iive
theses. and the usual array of albums.
brooches. hatpins. thimbles. paper
weights. inksiauds and metal plaques.
soldiers sent To- the town for garrison
duty and for the training which goes
With il eagerly make the rounds of the
Wittenberg shrine places and display an
Intelligent interest in the memorials
which many OF the places house. espe-
cially In the rich collection Of autograph
letters OF European sovereigns in the
Luther house.
No Souvenir Buying Now.
They do not buy souvenirs these times.
Or II they do the souvenir takes the form
Of a postal note for 10 marks, which is
sent home to the family. The soldiers
are uniformly cheerful.
Even the ultimate sorrow Of war in
these garrison towns is attended by SO
much stateliness that II does not so much
depress as impress. | mean the funerals
OF soldiers whose bodies are brought
home for burial. Yesterday afternoon |
heard the roll OF muf,led drums down the
street. Instantly soldiers COINS to and
FRO along the route of the funeral col
lected in groups. standing at attention as
the hearse drew near.
The coffin was nearly hidden under
flowers. and a long column of mourners
marched behind the hearse. The
pageantry. simple us IL was, produced a
it'Nh "HNAN I NhC
moving to the slow throb OF the drums.
A journey 10 any German town.. espe-
cially II II is a garrison town. involves
the observance of strict formalities
Twenty-four hours before we left Berlin
for Wittenberg we had to 'abmelden''
report out) ourselves AT the police
station Of the district in which We live
There u passports were examined
and a police officer wrote on the back
OF each dnffpant tho data ~ ,,,v "a ~
p%earance before him and the destination
Of our Journey. These Endorsements he
stamped with the municipal seal.
Arrived at Wit.enberg the same for.
mality was repeated. bun it was muct
more elaborate. Birthplace. date OF birth
citizenship, occupation, present residence
reasons for travelling. probable length OF
visit and name of hotel at which We pur.
posed staying were all entered in a b!e
book.
Have No Chance.
How difficult II must be for suspected
persons TO travel in Germany was indi,
Gated by a remark the castelar, at the
6chloss-kirchc made the next day.
"fou are the Americans" nc said.
"ies," ] answered. Americans from
Chicago"
eyes, I know" he said, Il heard abou'
you yesterday.
After the half hour session with IN,
police officer | asked him whether h.
would give me "A permit 10 use a camera
IN Wittenberg.
I'm war time hat is a matter for tn,
military commander of the town. h.
replied, II am sorry. but We canno
help you, and l doubt whether the com
mander you'd. You know We are a gar
Yison town
Having hal some experience Of the at
titude Of soldiers toward photography.
did not think IL worth while TO take m,
request TO the commander.
In "A deeper sense than the merel.
geographical W.t,cnberg lies in the hear
of Germany Luther then made III,
tow the spiritual heart OF Germany. an,
I'm some degree the tradition OF tn
great role :: Played in the Reformation
still Is vital.
Everywherc save IN the actual wa
area. which IL a small part OF Europe
people are going plac!dly about thel
business. The war has b,come routine
The soldiers no. a. the front go L
church and go to the museums.
This town to-day + as matter OF fac
as Niles. Mich. II Is sitting under it
dull gray sky and making plans for tn
spring ~ploughing. Wittenbcrg Is cXcep
tional for its glorious church music an
its memorials of a brave man. Other
wise in either peace or war Wittenberi
" 'just folks"
~..,,Lt 1nyc L., (L..-- r-G.