The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-18
EYE WITNESS Tells
OF CRUELTY OF REDS
TO POLISH PRISONERS
(By Associated Press)

The following letter Is given
textually as received from Warsaw as
the simple but graphic report of an
American eyewitness visit to the bat
trefront and his statement as to
extreme cruelties against Polish
troops. The letter is accompanied by
a number of photographs showing the
Polish victims of these atrocities.
The letter is written on the letterhead
of the Polish Mechanics company.
inc, having branches in New York,
Chicago and Detroit, and was signed
by the president of that company:
"WARSAW-We left good United
States under the impression that most
what has been written about Bolshe-
viks was full of lies. Stories Of Pol
ish soldiers, describing cases OF the.
most refined cruelties practiced upon
captured Polish commissioned and
non-commissioned officers and SOL
diers, could not change our views.
"On August rs we had an opportun-
fly to be convinced by seeing and
touching the deeds of red knights.
"Our Ford truck, loaded with bread.
underwear. sweets, ciga rettes and
soap, left Warsaw with decision to
reach the fighting columns. We
passed through Jablonna and Serock
and stopped in Pultusk, where a
crowd of women surrounded police
man and spy, disguised as a woma n.
In the middle of the market we found
the grave of a Bolshevik chief who
captured Pultusk, but was killed at
the end Of the battle.
Approach Battle Line
Next day we approa ched the battle
line in ChorZele. We met the first
killed man by the road, Red army
soldier, lying on his back with eyes
looking toward Warsaw. He wore the
coat OF Polish soldier, but was rob-
bed of everything else by his own
comrades.
"A few yards further we found four
Polish soldiers. captured by the red
army, undressed and then murdered
in the most beastly manner. One
thousand Polish infantry were fighting
for IA hours 5000 Russians. When
finally the Polish line was broken,
Russians began to YELL Comrades,
stop fighting; you are surrounded" A
group of As Polish soldiers were cap
tured, undressed and every one was
murdered in the most horrible way
with sabres.
''In Chorzele we met a group of Boil
them were barefooted, poorly dressed,
many of them in Polish uniforms and
sick of fighting. Every one of them
claimed that he was forced to fight by
Communists and there was one among
them who brought with him 80 Polish
prisoners.
Fight in Large Bands.
Large groups of Russians, usually
commanded by cOmmiSSarieS fight
very well, but small bands and single
soldiers throw their arms and sur
render They were brought into Po-
land under promises that there will be
universal uprising of workers and
peasants and easy capture of War
saw. Bolshevik commanders promised
their men seven days of freedom in
Warsaw, so that everybody would
have chance to rob and plumber 'un-
limited treasures stored in the Polish
capital.
THE attack upon Warsaw cost Boil
sheviks 10000 men in killed and
wounded, 100000 captured, 10000 dis
armed by Prussians. The war is not
over. A Siberian army was rushed
against tired, but enthusiastic and vic
torious Polish legions and another SUI
preme effort of the heroic nation will
be needed to protect democracy and
liberty
polish citizens condemned the Jew
ish attitude, but have shown no desire
to do them any harm. From our point
of view the population and the gov
eminent are too careless and too leni-
ent with criminals acting against the
government and country which gave
them shelter and unlimited privileges.