The Washington herald., 1918-08-22
HUNS TORTURE
POLISH YOUNG
UNSPEAKABLY
National Council Here
Gives Vivid Description
of Horrors Inflicted.

Two new chapters in Polish history
were made public here yesterday at
the headquarters of the Polish Ma
tional Council.
One is the story OF a brilliant Mill
tary achievement by a handful of
men against the combined military
power of Germany and Austria. The
other Is an appeal TO the civilized
world" signed by the Polish Peo-
pies Party at Lubin. Poland. which
recites series of terrible punishments
and atrocities perpetrated upon men,
women and children for their protests
against the further dismembe-ment
of Poland.
The military achievement has 10 do
with a march Of more than 1900 miles
on foot by the Carpathian Iron
Brigade OF the Austrian army. 1t vas
composed of Poles. who revolted and
deserted in a body. There were 1900
officers and men who fled at night over
the Carpathian Mountains. and who
fought their way to freedom. One
detachment, which went beyond the
Dnieper River. has since Joined the
forces OF the Czecho-Slovaks. Another
and smaller group. led by Col. Haller,
reached Archangel.
Arrived In Rags.
Details of the physical features OF
the two marches, which have just
been received, present a pitiful picture
Of the hardships OF the men. Provi-
sions gave out time after time: they
were unable to obtain clothes. and
withal they were in a country infest-
ed with German agents, and thus
Cnn1nnllp6 fora aHnitinnaI nhafruN-
tions.
Despite all difficulties, the two army
groups succeeded in reaching their
destination. The contingent that ar
rived in Archangel marched into the
town without shoes. Their feet were
bound in sacks. old clothing and rags.
Their uniforms were tattered and
frayed, and their numbers were deci-
mated by death.
The other story tells in detail of
the punishments visited upon those
Poles who protested against the ced-
ing OF the district Of Cholm to the
Ukraine.
Children and Women Tortured.
Boys and girls. men and women
J have been whipped to insensibility
! their ears have been torn off, pins
! nails, they have been dragged through
the streets by the hair of their heads
and have been confined in under
ground cells. which were flooded with
water. The official report of the
Polish Peoples Party at Lublin, reads
as follows:
In JaszcZow gendarmes drove pegs
into the floor. tied people to them by
| their hands and feet, and beat them.
I'm Dzierazina they tied people to
beams in such a manner that the
soles OF their feet could be fiogged.
"In Krasnystaw. for two days, the
floors Of underground prison cells
were flooded to frighten arrested per-
sons.
ITO extort statements from the az
rested persons, they were wnIpper
Horribly. They were struck with the
| butts of guns and canes, ard were
placed on the ground while their cap
| tors pressed them with their k'Ices
In many places the persons were tied
To beams, and there wcIe cases OF
persons being hanged by their feet
and then tortured until they became
| unconscious.
Both young boys. girls and old men
hao to undergo this examination and
liCBBnB.
"a number Of those Tossed art
dying. These facts, which are in ouI
possession. relating to those tortured
as well as to their oppressors, we
transmit to the knowledge Of the civil.
lied world.
And the Polish people. who with.
stood the cruel Russian government
and witnessed how the greatest OF
satanic powers was reduced to dust
will not now submit through crue
persecution.
New warriors will rise. The un.
faltering work of creating power from
among the people will not cease. We
withstood The power of Russia, we
will also withstand the power oi
Austria and Germany. The power Of
the people will not be hindered bS
any worldly power"