Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-08
Stories of the War
How East Prussia Has Suffered.


Detailed estimates of what East
Prussia has suffered by the WARMTH
it's two invasions by the Russians
have been compiled, and they surpass
even the guesses that, earlier, were
thought to be wild and sensational and
were discounted by even the Prussians
themselves.
In the briefest form; the East Prus-
sian damage and loss is quoted from
the German statistics as follows:
Entirely or partly destroyed, "a
cities. 500 villages, 800 estates, $4,000
buildings; Plundered. 100000 residence
civilians; carried off to Russia. 10,70o
persons; fugitives who had to leave
home, $4,000 to 400, 900; killed or car
ried off by Russians. $4,000 horses,
100000 cattle, 100000 hogs, $4,000
sheep, 100000 goats. 100000 chickens.
$4,000 geese.
The Investigators who have COM
piled these statistics make it perfect
ly clear that "only portion of this
damage may be laid directly to the
Russians vandalism" and that a part
of it is chargeable to the inevitable
| ravages of war. This is particularly
true of that. portion Of East Prussia
which was the scene of the first in
Tasion.
Practically all are agreed that the
IAhssSAIAIt 4SISCS duI IIC III 81 AIlN
sion were soldierly and orderly and
that most of the acts of violence,
plundering, murder and wilful arson
and destruction came in the second
and longer invasion.
The Russians, it is said, may on
their first invasion have been confident
of eventual success and may there
fore have desired to spare territory
which they ultimately expected to an
mex. The new and relatively mex
| perienced troops taking part In the
| second invasion may have been re
sponsible. Anger and disappointment
at setbacks may have instilled the
| spirit Of blind revenge. Or, lastly, the
| Russians may have thoght to lnstill
fear into the German forces by their
| depredations and violence.
The total damage caused, both by
| legitimate war losses and by devas-
| tation, the statisticians estimate at
| 375,O00,000 They place this as the
| lowest figure and believe that event.
| ually it will have to be revised upward.
| Diet for the relief of the province is
melting away fast, ard the work of
| rehabilitation has really only just be-
gun. In addition to this sum, money
In large quantities has been raised by
various communities throughout Ger
| many for corresponding East Prussian
districts which is being eaten into
rapidly.
| Reconstruction work, insofar as
buildings are concerned, can for the
time being go ahead practically only
in the more westerly portions of the
province In the parts along the
border line it will probably be nee
| essary to wait until after the war be-
fore beginning a permanent work OF
| this kind.
The province has been divided into
| sixteen districts. presided over by as
| many head architects with numerous
assistants, who are striving to attain
tho proper combination of taste and
| utility, and are meeting with every Co
| operation from the inhabitants.
| The latter have won the warm ap-
prevail Of the authorities by their al
most universal willingness to proceed
with the agricultural rehabilitation OF
the province, and its restocking with
cattle, before they attack the prob
lem of permanent homes for them
selves. They may come later.
To meet the lack of farm animals
with which TO carry out this aS.icult-
ural rehabilitation, oxen have been
imported and Captured Russian horses
not available for military uses. and
German military horses unfit for
further service. are being used. Par