The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-05-01
SAYS DOLSHEv|KI
STORIES ARE TRUE
FORMER ELKO BOY NOW ON POL
ISH FRONT FIGHTING BOLSHE-
vIK TELLS OF CONDITIONS IN
LETTER TO ELk0 EDITOR

Front, Before Dvensk, Feb. 6, 1920.
Editor Free Press:-Thinking perhaps
you might be interested in a first hand
account of conditions prevailing in
Poland today, / respectfully submit
the following observations trusting
that they may be Of interest to your
readers.
I came to Poland some months ago
with Hallerts Volunteer Army and
since that time have visited most of
the larger cities as well as several of
the agricultural districts and feel nc
hesitation in assuring you that the
newspaper accounts of the miserable
condition of the people, shortage of
food and lack of work are all too true.
The Russian, German and Bolshevist
armies have in turn visited the coun-
try and carried off everything that
was actually nailed down, so that
today, with the steady rise in prices
and deprecated value of the Polish
mark. the common man scarcely
knows where to turn. In fact, how
the working class exist is a mystery
to me. A pound OF black bread that
cost one kapeek before the war, now
costs sixteen roubles, sugar is fifty
five roubles a pound here in the viii
lage where / am stationed, or pre-
war $3.50. All the necessities are in
proportion. OF course, there is plenty
of food in Poland if one has the
money. One may buy a good dinner
at a first-class hotel for 800 marks,
which at the present exchange is only
about $3.50 in American money, but
take u Polish army officers, who
get GOO or 700 marks a month, and
one gets a good idea of how high the
prices are.
However, while there is discomfort
in the country there is no chance of
Poland going Bolshevist, for the peo-
pie are very patriotic and eager to
help in the government, also the
troops are loyal and know what
Bolshevism means. One of the biggest
factors. however. are the numerous
relief missions, chiefly American,
who are distributing food, clothing.
etc, and who have done wonders in
preventing starvation. There are also
the missions engaged In fighting the
typhus and other diseases. 1t is inn
possible to exaggerate the value OF
assistance being given by the Ameri-
can government to Poland at this
critical period. and, needless to say
the Poles are deeply grateful.
Despite the fact that Poland is sur
rounded on all sides with enemies and
is waging a great war with her from
tiers still unsettled, the government
is making great advances in bringing
the people together after over a hun
bred years of foreign domination
Such measures as the land reforms
which will take the land from the no
bility who own 1t all and give it to the
peasants has done much to keep the
people contented. Already three
universities have been opened by the
Poles, where for the first time in
many years they may attend lectures
in their own language. And. in fact
the government is doing wonders
hampered as it is by the old system
of government and officials. who have
each their own idea of government.
While the Poles were ruled by the
different enemy governments and be
came accustomed to different forms
of government. they all retained theil
native language, and so today in Pc
land. everyone speaks Polish. Prus
sian and German. while most of the
better class speak French and English
as well.
In the army. even more than in the
civil government, we see the difficulty
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