Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-01-10
SHOCKING DETA|LSOF PRUSS|AN SYSTEM
THIS IS WHY UNITED STATES ISAT WAR


The Prussian System" as told by F,
c. Walcott at a conference of field
men. II should silence forever the
question, why are We at war? No man
with an ounce OF red blood in his
body can witness the operation OF
such System" and not feel that he
would gladly give his life a hundred
times to wipe il from earth. The
United States is fighting 10 save it.
self and humanity from the horrors
OF Prussianism as described below.
Mr.. Walcott introduces his subject
with this preamble:
This l have seen. could not be-
lieye IL unless l had seen ii through
and through. For several weeks |
lived with IL; / went all about 1t and
back OF it; inside and out of it was
shown me-until finally came TO real
ize that the incredible was true. II is
mons:rous, II is unthinkable. but 1t
exists. 1t is the Prussian system.
A year ago went to Poland to
learn the facts concerning the rem
nant of a people that had been deci-
mated by war. The country had been
twice devastated. First the Russian
army swept through ii and then the
Germans. Along the roadside from
Warsaw to Pinsk, the present firing
line. 230 miles, near half a million
people had died of hunger and cold.
The way was strewn with their bones,
picked clean by the crows. With their
usual thrift the Germans were collect.
ing the larger bones to be milled into
fertilizer, but finger and toe bones
lay on the ground wit hthe mudcov.
cred and rain-soaked clothing.
Wicker baskets were scattered along
the way-the baskets in which the
baby swings from the rafter in every
peasant home. Every mile there
were scores OF these. each one telling
death. | started to count. but after
n little had to give it up. there were
so many.
Died BY Hundreds Of Thousands
That is the desolation one saw along
the great road from Warsaw to Pinsk
mile after mile, more than 200 miles
They told me a million people were
made homeless in six weeks OF the
rnFpNun Hrfyyn IN ~
ber 1916. They told me 800 600 died
on the way. The rest. scarcely hall
alive. got through with the Russian
army. Many of these people whom
the Paderewski committee is trying
to relieve
In the refugee camps 100000 survl.
vors of the flight wers gathered by the
Germans, members of broken families.
They were lodged in jerrybuilt bar.
racks. scarcely waterproof, unlighted
unwarmed in the dead Of winter. Their
clothes, where the buttons were lost
were sew5G o.. There were no con.
venienccs, they had not even been
able to wash for weeks. Filth and
infection from vermin were spreading
They were famlshcd, their daily ra
ton cup OF soup and piece o.
bread as big as my fist.
Desolation in Warsaw
In Warsaw. which had not been des
troyed, a city of 1000 900 Inhabitants
one OF the most prosperous cities o
Europe before the war; the street
were lined with people in the pang
OF starvation. Famirhcd and rail-
soaked, they squGtted there with thci
elbows on their knees or leanin
against the buildings, too feeble t
lift hand for bit of moncy or
morsel OF bread If one offered It. pei
ishing Of hunger and cold. Charity di
what II could. The rich gave all tina
they had, the poor shared their las
crust. Hundreds OF thousands wer
perishing. be- and night the pctur
Is before my eyes people starvin
a nation dying.
In that situation the German con
mander issued a proclamation. Ever
able-bodied Pole was hidden to Gc
many to work. II any refused. let +
other Pole give him TO seat. not
much as mouthful, under penalty
German military law.
This is the choice the German 20
eminent gives to the conquered Pole
to the husband and father of n star
ing family: Leave your family to d
or survive. as the case may be. Lea,
your country, which is destroyed,
work in Germany for It's further d
struction. II you are obstinate. v
shall see that you surely starye
Facing Death or Slavery
Staying with his folks. he Ia doom,
and they are not saved; the father al
husband can do nothing for them:
only adds to their risk and sufferir
Leaving them, be win be cut OF fro