The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-08-17
PRZEMYSL PEOPLE SEE RUIN.
Horror Circle for MileS.-Beautiful
Villages Devastated.

villages DCSd dSS<aOCOs
The deluges of fire, shot, shell and
deadly gases which poured forth for
days during sieges and struggles for
possession of the fortress and city OF
Przemysl from both the defending
and attacking forces wrought terrible
havoc and devastation for miles
around and calloused the residents
who lived inside of the city through
out the ordeals to further dangers OF
the world war, writes Anthony Gar
necki, special commissioner of the
Chicago Daily News, who investigat-
ed distress in Poland.
The borrow of the devastation ex-
tends for miles in every direction
from the ominous circle of fortifica-
tions which incloses the city. In six
ty-three places within short dis
tance around the now world famous
fort, where prior to the drives and
battles and shifting of fighting forces
there were beautiful villages, there
are now ruins and ashes. The char
red remains of dwellings, farm build
ings, churches and palaces loom up
ominously as if from some monster
bonfire. In addition to these totally
destroyed communities seventy-hve
others are damaged to a lesser de-
gree.
People Living Underground.
Around each one OF the sixty-three
charred and wrecked village ruins in
the vicinity of Prezemsyl trenches,
excavations made by artillery fire and
large burial pits are in evidence. In
many of these underground works
the destitute peasant folks who have
no roofs at all left over their heads
seek shelter. During the cold win
ter months many died of exposure
and cold in these underground dwell
ings, while the rain storms of spring
and summer have kept the inhabi-
tants drenched and otherwise suf-
fering.
Gen. Stowasser, of the Austro-
Hungarian forces in charge of the
Przemsyl Notifications during my
visit there, together with the muni-
cipal authorities of Przemysl, the
Village and town authorities of the
devastated places around it and the
leaders of Catholic and Jewish
churches were bending their efforts
to provide proper homes for these
people. The large number of Rus
sian and other ally prisoners, as fast
as the work of replacing old and
building new fortidcations was COM
pIeted, were employed in building
barracks for the homeless. Thous-
ands of people have been housed dur
ing the last winter in such establish
ments.
Epidemics Claim Thousands.
Freed from the besieging and fight
ing force, Przemysl and vicinity ever
since the terrific days, have been be-
sieged by disease epidemics which
claim victims among civilians, SOL
diers and war prisoners by the thous-
ands. 1t is because of these epidem-
les that Gen. Stowasser and the mu-
nicipal authorities bar all visitors
from their Offices who do not first
show to the proper guards medical
certificates of being free from the
raging diseases and of having been
vaccinated and properly inoculated.
In Przemysl itself cholera, small
pox and spotted typhus have made
periodic circles in spite of the most
determined and energetic efforts.
Churches of City Spared.
Many beautiful, old and historical
church edifces outside of Przemysl
have fallen a sacrifice to the fierce
struggles which ragged around them.
In Przemysl itself the various impos-
ing edifces, which are monuments OF
historical and religious value to the
people of Poland, have escaped un-
scathed by the artillery fire and tow
er as majestically as they did in
times of peace. The Roman Catholic
cathedral, which contains famous
masterpieces of paintings, sculpture
and chapels, and the Ruthenian rite
cathedral, which is the product of the
eighteenth century, as well as all the
other impressive churches and struc-
lures, although easy targets for the
aircraft and artillery fire, were re
spected and spared by both sides.
The Austrian commanders in
charge of the garrison which fought
to retain Przemysl, as we'll as the
Austrian forces which regained it
from the hands of the Russians, were
especially careful to save the city