The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-20
Sam G. Blythe Brings Atroci-
ties Right to Kansas Avenue.
Wonderful Story of What War
Would Mean to Us.
CAPPER AND HOUSE, HOSTAGES
Elks, Topeka and Country Clubs
as Officers Quarters.
Word Picture of Women and
Children Shot in Streets.

Topeka is the stage on which Sam
uel G Blythe this week re-enacts the
horrors and atrocities of the Germans
in France and Belgium. Blythe's story
which localizes the horrors of the war
in Europe, draws feature position tor
his story. Der Tag for U.s." which
aDpears this week in the Saturday
Evening Post. 1t is a startling effort
of the widely known writer to awaken
the public to a realization of war con-
ditions.
Blythe introduces his story right on
Kansas avenue, Topeka, when group
of German soldiers, walking toward
the state capitol playfully bayonet a
growing babe in the street Across
the river from North Topeka the
Governor Capper. The officials were
held as hostages. Then Blythe's Ger
man troops begin reign of terror for
the city
The German officers quarter at the
Elks club, Topeka club and Country
club The Santa Fe shops and Offices
are seized. homes are entered, robbed
and men, women and children shot
and killed in the streets. Women are
assaulted and in many instances their
breasts are cut oft. Governor Cap
per's newspaper plant is seized and
burned. The peace loving populace
is in frenzy. The weak, unsuspect-
ing home guard is routed. Kansas,
which had wanted peace at any price,
is face to face with every horror of
4 wanton war.
| Burn Orpheum Theater.
When it was reported that the now
! increasing German troops have been
( fired upon, more outrageS are COM
| mitted Every automobile is taken,
/ the Orpheum theater is burned, David
/ MulYane, former national committee
man, and Charles Blood Smith, prom
! inent lawyer, as well as Frank p
- 1T iGh of State
Journal, are seized and held as host
ages.
There is a dance of death on the
state house square. The early hor-
| rors are redoubled. Crimes against
women are common. Blythe relates
! incidents and details. Banks and stores
are ransacked. Priests and ministers
are killed. A Topeka banker is stood
against a church wall to watch the
burning of his home. Later he is shot
/ The killing of innocent persons be-
| comes indiscriminate. A general mas
| Sacre ensues. The city is burned.
! Citizens are driven to the open coun-
try and left under guard without food
! and shelter. Many women and girls
are taken in the march through North
Topeka, Meriden, Valley Falls, Norton
vile, Cummings and Atchison. Atroci-
| ties enacted enroute are. described by
Blythe, who recites names of farmers
| and business men. Lawrence is taken
| and the state university burned. The
states scattered peace time military
| forces are mobilized. The Germans
| march on to invade Kansas City. While
the middle west is being devastated,
Blythe pictures the landing of fresh
German troops on Long Island.
Only authenticated German horrors
and depredations in France and Bel
gium have been localized. 1t is
| Blythe's spectacular manner of ap-
pealing to America to awake. And by
bringing his tragedy right to Topeka
and to Kansas, he hits at the very
spot claimed most dormant to war
conditions.
Nothing is impossible in these days
nothing says Blythe at the conclu-
sion of his recital of localized horrors.
I'VE hope. fervently, that Germany
will never get troops to the United
states, but it is entirely within the
range of possibility that Germany may
do so. 1t is military feasibility. but
never if the people of the United
States will awake to their position and
to the needs Of their country in this
war; never if the people of the United
States will dismiss the fatuous idea
that some of them hold. many indeed
that this war may be carried on as a
side line, as an extra in its relation
TO the usual business of the country
never if the people of the United
States will make this war their pria-
cipai occupation the sole concern OF
their thought, the acme of their en-
deavor: never if the whole people pf
the United States will enter wholly
into the war, force themselves to un-
derstand what it means and particI-
pate to the extent of their resources,
regardless of the personal inconveni-
ence. sacrifice or labor: never if the
people of the United States will come
now to the inevitable conclusion that
nothing matters to US save the win
ming of the war: that it is a question
of national preservation, of nationa
life"
Most Spectacular Effort.
The Blythe story is perhaps tht
most spectacular effort of any writer
, of the year to localize the war And
he carefully dropped the war right il
the midst of a people wrapped in sell
conceived security and only rubbinl
: their eyes to a realization of condi
: tions. More than localizing the hor
rors and crimes of war, Blythe
startling story picks the very spot
and the individuals who suffer II,
sends Mayor House and Governo
Capper thru the streets with an ap
peal to bow to the German militar,
rule and to treat German soldier
kindly that the capital city itself ma,
not share greater pillage, that viola
| ton of women may not continue an,
that slaughter of innocent child-el
may cease.
Father Killed, Son Hurt in Wreck
Muscatine. Iowa, Dec. 20.-Fay r