The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-12-27
THE WAR COMES HOME TO US!
Picture of Horrible Actuaities That Confront You
and Yours TOday--Wake Up,
America

Eight German soldiers, singing, came
down North Kansas Avenue. in Topeka,
Kansas. on the afternoon Of August
twenfy.fif They we're IN gray uni
forms and carried rifles Nifh bayonets
fixed. and Maiked fwo BY two. A child,
tno years old, crnwlcd under the gate
IL front Of q house and came imto the
middle Of the street 20 see the Ger.
mana The child got directly il the
path of the soldiers. The first two
passed she child, but the man on the
left, Of the second file u two, stepped
aside, drove has bay0net into the sf0-
mach Of the child lifted il into the air
on his bayonef and threw the gun across
his shoulder. Ne carried the child for
tHo hundred yards on his bayones while
he and his companions sang Deutnch-
land nber Allpm The child screamed
once mhen the soldier struck i with his
baxonet. but not afterwnrd
The Germans had catered Topeka on
August nineteenth. Kansas City had
previously been taken, following the
successful landing of the German ar
mics At New Orleans and their pro
gress np the Mississippi Valley % -.
Louis, aud thence westward to Kansas
City. jefferson City, Sedalis and other
places on the way bad been burned and
piilmged, and the American troops had
refreafed Ii disorder before the invnd-
ers. There WAS a slight attempt 20 hold
Topeka. made by the home guard, bat
these were easily overcome, and By the
twentieth Topeka was IN full control
of the Germans. who had left 4 force
in Lawrence. and who came 70 Topeka
70 the number Of six thousand veteran
troops.
The advance Of the Germans had
been anticipated. and though Mayor
Jay T. House, Of Topeka, bad personal
" directed such defense as could be
made of the city. orders had been H.
sued ghas there should be no further
beyond those Of the or
eanixed defenders. who though lily
equipped made a gallant resistance and
were almost wiped out before the in
evifable surrender came. After the
the Germans b@ok immediate
charge of Topeka, AeiKing Mayor House,
Governor CAppcr. who Was IN the capi-
iol. and the city officials, and holding /
them ss hostages against any further !
attack on the German troops. Large .
reqnisisioas for food and forage and 4
money we're made on the citizens, and 4
the soldiers were hilleted in the private 4
houses. the higher officials taking the I
Elks Club and the Topeka Clnb for
heir headquarters, as well a. the main
offices of The Santa Re Raiiroad,' which \
are not far from the capitol building.
Fire and Ruin
Systematic looting occurred during
he next few DAYS. Many Of the stores
n Kansas Avenue were entered and
iiilaaed. The Germans were greatly in
.ensed because there was no beer or
lQuor 10 be had. which kept them sober,
md as Il happened gave less excuse
or their subsequent atrocities. Private
Iouaea were looted, also, Of everything
Il value. with a great deal OF wanton
destruction. Such articles a. the sol
icrs could not carry away were smash.
r.. The public library was burned. The
ffice Of Governor Capper e newspaper,
he Topeka Capital, was destroyed by
Ivnamite In 4 few days the city was
y great disorder. The park round the
tate house was a moraas, and most Of
he fine lawns In front Of the reeidcnc.
. were trampled and destroyed. az
Ferr the flower beds. Trees were hack.
d. all plate. glass windows broken, and +
he 0rpheum Theatre was burned.
Very automobile Has taken and most
T the horses.
There were no killings Of inhabitants
or the first few days. though there
lere reports Of outrages on women IN
he outskirts Of the city and one well. !
nown suburban woman was found !
cad In the street with her breasts !
aekad off. Compelled BY force Of !
rms. lhe Topeka defenders had sur !
nndcred their guns, and the men who !
ought and survived. were imprisoned t,
/ the Santa Fe shops, where they were i
cid for several days In close confine
lent, no ono being allowed to leave the 4
uiidinn for any purpose, and where I
hey we're ecantily fed on dry bread and /
very little water. These men were I
Ald IN the shops for twenty.hour hours I
efore any food was handed 90 them.
Meantime, not all the guns belonging :
Topeka men had been given up, and !