The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-19

! prisoners OF war lauding the German
colonists in Russia.
Thanks to the German colonists." wrote
one Of the prisoners. Two find everythint
prepared for US wherever we come. Oul
heroic colonists have not only grown rici
in this savage country. but have erected
here real German fortresses. We know
Everything the enemy Is doing. We SCI
every move Of his as In a mirror. l d.
not know what we should have done with
out these true sons of Germany, wht
served our fatherland molly. The Rus
slams did not even settle their own peopl
among our colonists. After this how car
We help believing that Gott Is with us
Our colonists know how to hide their pro
visions from the Russians. but when W.
come they find for us everything-bread
milk, tea and sugar"
Every Little Detail Arranged.
Another letter contained the following
extra ct:-"Immediately upon our arriva
! in n city we know who has provisions. wht
| has shown hospitality to the Russian
troops and, therefore. must be hanged, ane
who had hidden things away"
A Russian report concerning the actvi
ties of the German colonists in Russis
during the war reads
Their espionage system is perfect
Every step Of the Russian troops, the
position of every division OF the RUSSIAN
armies, is known to the German Gen
eral staff with the greatest precision
We had no such details as the Germans
had about the Russian troops
When Russian troops passed through the
regions occupied by the German colonists
fires would break out here and there, de-
stroying grain and feed for the horses
Often the bells would ring, the German
colonists thus signalling to their neish
bors, informing them Of the arrival OF
Russian troops.
It was brought out in the Duma thai
German colonists residing near the Rus'
sian trenches, dressed as Russian soldiers
and officers, mingled with the RUSSIAN
troops and then transmitted Information
to the German army
Protests Against Colonists Ignored.
The Russian government. knowing that
Germany was practically organizing ar
army within the Russian Empire by set
Ting these colonists and reservists never.
movement. When one of the Governors
suggested that the German colonists bt
watched closely and hindered from set.
Ting at strategic points in such large
numbers the German Amba ssador in Pet
rograd complained to the Minister OF For
egn Affairs, and the Governor was repri
manded.
Thus little by little German colonists set
tied in the neighborhood Of most OF TIL
Russian fortresses, and during the wa
proved of the greatest assistance to tn
German armies. Near one Of the eastern
| fortresses a German colonist built hug
mill from which he could signal to tn
Germans. At another fortress a hug
cross was erected in place Of the mill
which had been destroyed by fire. ant
which also served as point Of communi
cation with the Germans. Near one of tn
| fortresses 1t was discovered that the Ger
man colonists had a complete bridge pre-
pared, which could be put together quickl.
and was intended for the German troops
Near Osovetz, on the strategic roa'
toward Belostok. a Russian subject Of Ger
man descent, Hachsbach, bought larg
| estate several years before the war AM
| commenced to work out project of dry
| ing the marshes along that region HI
hired large number of men, and withil
a short time the road between Osovetz ant
Belostok was in good condition. The loca
representatives Of the Russian nobilit.
were enthusiastic in their praise Of Hachs
bachs work without realizing that he wa
doing 1t to enable the Hindenburg armie
to pass. Hachsbach was appointed hon
orary judge for his services to Russia
which were in fact service to the German