Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-09
JEWISH FAMILY
REACHES AUGUSTA d.
RECT FROM RUSSIA
Cham Wilentchik Reaches Land
Of the Free After Months of
Suffering at Home in Kovno,
Russia, at Hands of Germans

family of three, direct from the wal
zone, comes very interesting story OF
The methods and conditions prevailing
in that portion OF Russia which has
fallen into German hands
Mr.. WiIentchik is the father of Mrs
Lyman Gerstian Of this city and LIVED
in kovno. Russia up to short time
ago. and his story of the German in
vasion is here given. not verbatim, fol
he speaks no English as yet. but IL
the form giyen by his daughter anc
son in-law. who acted as interpreters tc
Journal reporter.
"kovno is a city of about 100000 fam
lies, one of the largest cities in Rus.
STA, and among the most strongly for
titled. One day just before the out
break of the war, its inhabitants were
notified that one Of the Russian gen
erals from st. Petersburg was com.
ing to visit the city and to inspect the
forts, of which there are about 90. Sc
preparations for the reception of the
great man were quickly made and he
was received with the greatest hospi-
tality, banquetS were arranged in his
honor and he was shown all over the
fortifications and examined everythins
with keen eye to minute detail on
the second evening Of his stay there
he announced that he must leave for
another city about 60 miles distant. and
the officials Of the town supplied him
with an automobile and chauffeur
with which to make the Journey.
The driver Of the car did not return
and Il few days later the entire city
was stupefied BY the arrival of the real
general, the body Of the chauffeur was
found Il few miles from the CITY and
the inhabitants came to the horrjtiod
realization that they had opened Their
arms and disclosed their military Sc.
crets to clever German spy, masquer-
aiding as the Russian officer
1t was not long after this occurrence
that the army Of the Kaiser was ham.
mering at the forts Of kovno, their
great guns batterne down tile walls and
spreading death and destruction
throughout the city. steady stream of
the frightened civilians leaving it for
smaller towns IN the vicinity, laden
with personal belongings Of all sorts.
Among these went Mr. Wilentchill
and his two sons, and daughter Bertha.
They went to the little town Of Wilma.
and this was later occupied by the
German troops. After almost five
months of continued battering at the
forts of kovno the city fell into the
hands OF tho invader. and with it ca
pitulated the smaller towns surround
ing it, military law being establish
ed at once
This was in August 1915. The Jews
were driven from the city, AS the RUS
slams believed that they were aiding
the German forces whenever possible,
and when the Germans took the CITY
only about 5000 families remained Of
the original 100000
Mr. WilentChil< gave vivid account
OF the regulations made by the Ger
mans Of the food supply. everything
being seized aud carried I'd A common
depot. where coupons, 50 month to
each individual, We're issued and one
had to he presented daily, then the
bearer was authorized to purchase for
20 cents half loaf Of bread. a ouar-
ter pound of meat three times a week
being sold at the rate of 81 30 per
pound, and in place Of sugar the Ger
mans issued Saccharne pills II OF
them y week.
Everyone was forced to work men
and women alike. and thev dug
trenches, laid tracks and made roads.
helng PAID at the rate Of about u -
cents day. Leon, tho 17-year-old son.
worked in a gang of trench digsers. 10
men and about 80 women, for weeks,
and he stated that they were not
treated badly, but had Insufficient food
lie said that the German officers went
from house to house and removed all
81 the door knobs, pipes and metal of
every description, and he explained
that the people hid most Of their an
tque brass and copper utensils, and
much of their wealth
Following the fall Of Koyno The
Grand Duke ickclas came 10 the town
where the Wilentchiks were stavinp
and held review of the defeated Rus
sian troops, bitterly upbraiding them
for losing the city. but they were
shortly forced to leave the town bv,
the advance Of the scouting airnlanes
OF the Boches. which dropped bombs
INTO the town and destroyed many
houses.
Later on the Germans took away prac
tically all of the food supply for us.
among their soldiers. and conditions be
came frightful In the extreme, many O
the wretched people starving for want O
bread and shelter as the cold weathe-
set in. The cattle and horses were reuu,
sitioned and driven away. the German!
giving receipts for all that they took. bu
Mr.. Wilentchik stated that he does no
expect the people will ever be reimburse,
for their losses, as at the close OF IN,
war Germany will probably not hay.
anything to pay with. He and his famil,
left for Rotterdam, Holland, Jan. 4th, O,
the liner Noordam of the Holland.AmerI
can Line. Twice they were stopped b,
British warships and searched for spies
their passports closely examined. and fl
nally they went from Holland to Ports
mouth England. where they were agai,
very carefully examined and started 70
New York. where they arrived Feb Is
and got their first sight of the land O
their adoption.