Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-12
VICTIM OF HUNS
BARBARITY TELLS
OF ATROCITIES
Polish Countess Gives Idea of
How Invaded Nations
Suffer

Before an audience rendered hor-
ror-stricken by her tales of Germans
tiendish cruelty. Countess de Turczy-
novice delivered her lecture on
When the Prussians Came to
Poland" in the Orpheum theater
last evening before the city Chapter
of National War Aid. Tales of Prus-
sian atrocities andof wanton mur-
der followed in quick succession.
Following several selections by the
Steelton band, the audience sang
THE Star Spangled Banner" at the
opening of the meeting. Bishop
James II. Darlington, who presided.
made brief address, introducing
Governor Brumbaugh, who made
pleas for fod conservation and for
Red Cross membership in the Christ
mas driYe.
The countess was introduced and
IN her address told scores of tales
OF butchery. The best way for me
to begin is to tell of myself" said
the countess. She told of her going
TO Europe as an American girl, to
study music. She fell in love and
married Polish count. They lived
III the big, old palace. but the count
css wanted an American house, Just
small place to feel at home in.
got the little home the summer
before the war broke out. We lived
in 1T just six weeks and then the
war came. My little home was one
OF the first things to go up in flames"
After a little while, wnen her hus-
band was in Warsaw on business for
the Red Cross, the countess received
orders to leave Immediately. With
her three small children she left
the house and after a period in War
saw was allowed to come back
The floors were covered with un-
speakable filth, and the old palace
Wds turned upside down. Pages from
fine cid books in the library were
torn out and used for ignoble pur-
poses. The least that could be said
was that the Germans had brought
their horses into the palace. But
I'd rather have a nice, clean horse
in my house than a German Off
GER"
How KuItur Works
She told of how her son wis ill
with typhus fever when everyone
had left the house, and how she
had asked for a German physician.
Finally he came. demanding thirty
marks in gold for a minor opera
ton. The money was given him,
the ether and other necessities were
provided. He deliberately shipped
the end of the childs finger off and
told her to bind it up. When the
physician left, he took with him the
daughter of the butler, a sweet, inno-
cent little girl, and used her as n SOL
dier's plaything. Another girl friend
who was taken by the Germans. cut
her juglar vein with the broken frag-
nent of a champagne bottle.
General Won Hindenburg was
quartered at her house fo ra time.
The countess described him as be-
ing about feet two inches TALL
small. light blue eyes, outstanding
gray hair and having a reddish-pur-
pie face. He had a great liking for
coffee and compelled the countess
to make it for him in q samovar at
each meal. MANY of you ask why I
didn't poison him." said the count
ess. We'll, I'm not a German; I'm
All american. In one cnurcn a
great number of Poles were packed.
The church was locked and barred
for two weeks. At the end of that
time the doors were opened and the
Poles were buried. The church was
scrubbed and the Germans celebrat-
ed high mass in the edifice the fol-
lowing Sunday.
Plea For Funds
Finally the countess was allowed
to leave Poland. She suffered in
dignties at the hands of German
women on her way to Berlin. and
when she reached the German cap
ital was ordered to produce identifi-
cation as an American. Frantically
she telephoned to the American con-
sulate and when an aid came to see
her he said: rs 1t you tha needs
identification? Why remem ber
your singing The Star Spangled Ban
ner' at an American Thanksgiving
dinner nine years ago" After q
search of her clothing to the minute
detail, the countess and her children
came to America.
A plea for funds to help suffering
Poland was made by the lecturer at
the close of her address. Auto
graphed copies of her book, when
the Prussians Came to Poland" were
sold and collection was taken.
AUTOGRAPHED copies of the count
ess' book will be placed on sale at
the Red Cross membership cam
paign headquarters, PA Market
stret. and at the offices in the Eager
building. Proceeds from the sale will
go to the suffering Poles.
For the Freedom of the World"
a stirring patriotic picture will be
shown at the Colonial theater to-
day, tomorrow and Friday the pro-
ceeds to go to the local chapter of
the National War Aid. under whose
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