The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-10

! to Ptnsk, mile after mile, more than
zoo miles. They told me a million
people were made homeless in six
| weeks Of the German drive in Au-
gust and September, 1916. They told
me 100000 died on the way. The
rest, scarcely half alive, got through
with the Russian army. Many of
these have been sent to Siberia. 1t
is these people whom the PaderewSki
committee Is trying to relieve.
In the refugee camps 300, 1000
survivors of the fight were gathered
by the Germans, members of broken
families. They were lodged in jerry
built barracks, scarcely waterproof,
unlighted, unwarmed in the dead of
winter. Their clothes, where the but
tons were lost, were sewed on. There
no conveniences, they had not been
able to wash for weeks. Filth and
! infection from vermin were spread
ing. They were famished, their daily
ration a cup of soup and a piece Of
bread as big. as my fist.
Desolation in Warsaw.
In Warsaw, which had not been de-
stroyed, a city OF 100000 inhabit-
ants, one of the most prosperous
cities Of Europe before the war, the
streets were lined with people in the
pang of starvation. Famished and
rain soaked, they squatted there with
| their elbows on their knees or lean
ing against the buildings, too feeble
to lift hand for a bit Of money or
morsel of bread If one was offered
it. perishing of hunger and cold.
Charity did what il could. The rich
gave all that they had, the poor
shared their last crust. Hundreds OF
thousands were perishing. Day and
nj ~ h. MI 4r hnFNrn
a people starving, q nation dying.
In that situation, the German
commander issued a proclamation.
Every able-bodied Pole was hidden
to Germany to work. If any refused,
let no other Pole give him to eat.
not so much as q mouthful, under
penalty of German military law.
This is the choice the German gov
eminent gives to the conquered Pole,
to the husband and father of a
starving family: Leave your family
to die or survive as the case may be.
Leave your country, which is de-
further destruction. If you are
obstinate, We shall see that you sure
ly starve.
Facing Death or Slavery.
Staying with his folk, he is DOOM
ed and they are not saved; the faith
er and husband can do nothing for
them; he only adds to their risk and
suffering. Leaving them, he will be
cut off from his family; they may
never hear from him again nor he
from them. Germany will set him to
work that a. German workman may be
released to fight, against his own
land and people. He shall be lodged
in barracks, behind barbed-wire en-
20 y1rHnW arVnad o4YnpH He
shall sleep on the bare ground with a
single thin blanket. He shall be
scantiIy fed, and his earnings shall
be taken from him to pay for his
food.
That is the choice which the Ger
man government offers to a proud,
sensitive, high-strung people. Death
or slavery.
When a Pole gave me that
proclamation, / was boiling. But 1
had to restrain myself. was prac-
tically the only foreign civilian in
the country, and / wanted to get food
there for, and / must not for any
cause jeopardize the undertaking. /
asked Governor General Won Beseler,
Can this be true?'
Really, I can not say" he replied.
I have signed so many proclama-
tions; ask General Won Kries."
So / asked General Won Kries.
General, this is a civilized people.
Can this be true?"
coolly Admitted by German Officer.
Yes" he said; sit is true"-with
an air of adding, Why not?
i dared not trust myself to speak;
/ turned to go. Wait" he said. And
he explained to me how Germany,
official Germany, regards the state Of
subject peoples.
Even now / find it hard to describe |
in comprehensive terms the mind Of
official Germany, which dominates |
and shapes the German thought and |
action. Yet Ii is as hard, as clear
cut. as real as any material thing. |
j saw it in Poland; / saw the same
thing in Belgium; / hear Of 1t In
Serbia and Rumania. For weeks IL
was always before me, always the
same. Officers talked freely, frankly, 4
directly. All the staff officers have
the same view.
Let me try to tell 1t, as Cen. Won
Kries told me. in Poland. in the
midst OF a dying nation. Germany
IS destined to rule the world, or at
least a great part Of III. The Ger
man people are so much human ma
terial for building the German state;
other people do not count. All rs
for the glory and might of the Ger
man state. The lives of human be-
Ings are to be conserved only II 1t
makes for the states advancement,
their lives are to be sacrificed IL it is
10 the states advantage. The state
Is all; the people are nothing.
Conquered people signify little in
The German account. Life, liberty
human sentiment family
ties, grace. and generous impulse,
these have no place beside the one
the greatness OF the Ger
nan state.
Starvation working for Germany.
Starvation must excite no pity;
must not be allowed, If ii Il
hampers the main design OF promot-
ne Germany's ends
Starvation Is here said Cen.