Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-08-19
K|Ev EVACUATED
WHILE BURNING
Americans With Polish Army Tell
Thrilling Story of Flight
From BoIsheviki.
MANY ATROCITIES BY REDS
Evacuation Is Weird and Picturesque
Happening-Hacked and Mutilated
Bodies of Polish Soldiers At
test Cruelty Of Reds.


the evacuation of Kiev by the Polish
army was received in Washington, in
the shape of mail dispatches from
Warsaw, the Polish capital. Colonel
Gaskill, formerly of the American
army. but now of the Polish railway
mission, and Jay P. MOffat, secretary
of the American Legation at Warsaw.
furnished two of the clearest stories
of the actual abandonment Of the
Ukralnun city.
The account, which, although not
official, Is regarded as reliable infOr-
nation, follows:
Picturesque and Thrilling Event.
"The evacuation of Kiev by the Pol
ish army was picturesque as well
as thrilling event. Credit for saw
ing not only his men but also for the
rescue of the immense swarm of ref
ugees which accompanied the army
must he given to General Rydz Smig-
ley, the Polish commander Of the Kiev
occupation. Since the evacuation
'hese refugees have been making their
way into Warsaw clad In anything
remotely resembling clothes and have
been giving truthful but none the less
extraordinary accounts of the expert
ences which they have undergone.
Colonel Gasklll, who came out of
Kiev with the Polish troops, was with
the Polish staff Tiers throughout the
entire experience and witnessed the
planning as well as the execution of
the evacuation movement. Mr.. Moffat
took part in the evacuation of Jlto-
miercZ and experienced, after the
Budenny red cavalry raid, thrilling
night ride through the forests of Ko-
vel, while the peasants along the way
were apparently taking pot shots at
any soldiers they saw, with little re-
gard to the color of their uniforms.
"The stories told by both Colonel
Gaskill and Mr.. Moffat confirm what
has so often been said Of the cruelties
Of the red troops. Colonel Gaskill
told with considerable vividness Of the
descent of the reds upon the city even
before the troops and refugees had
amid turbulence and constant indIs-
eliminate firing by the reds on refu
gees and troop trains. Fortunately
their aim for the most part was poor.
Mr.. Moffat in his region saw the hack
ed and mutilated bodies of Polish SOL
diers along the roadway at Jitomiercz,
and the bodies Of four mutilated sol
diers hanging in freight car, their
wounds attestlng that their deaths had
been made as horrible as humanity
possible.
"The condition of the refugees was
described by both men as pathetic,
men. women and babies being huddled
into box cars, and all arrayed in most
extraordinary makeshift clothing.
They had been summoned to flee the
city with hardly more than an hour
Of warning and all had fled almost
as they stood. They had abandoned
their homes with no preparation. They
had no food and no clothing other
than what they wore. Even more ter
rible than the refugees, however, was
the condition Of the people whom the
Poles were obliged to leave behind
since the trains could not accommo-
date them. There were incidents In
which fathers and mothers gave up
their places in order that their chill
dren, particularly their daughters,
might escape from the doomed region.
Ordered to Leave City.
Up to the last, according to Colonel
Gaskill's account, the Poles were de-
termined to hold the city. The staff
had not only planned but had put
into operation scheme for defense,
and General Rydz Smigley was salts
fed that while the cost might be
heavy, they could hold their ground.
All the time that the decision was be-
ing made, Colonel Gaskill stated, the
staff headquarters was fairly besleged
by Russians and Poles begging the
general not to abandon them and pre-
dieting their fate with the return of
the reds.
The knowledge that the reds had
crossed the river and were advancing
from the north was confirmed by the
appearance of red airplanes which be-
gan dropping incendiary bombs on the
city so that in relatively short time
half a dozen fires were burning.
"While the Polish staff was en-
deavoring to reach a decision the posi-
tive order came from the chief Of
staff, Pilsudski, to abandon the place,
and a wild rush Nof preparation began.
A Polish Red Cross and other agen-
cies began to gather together the ref
ugees and the army officials to mar
shall their men. These preparations
were, of course, noted by the enemy,
and the number of red planes in
creased. BY the time the movement
was actually under way the conveys
were suffering from gunfire as well
as from the bombs of the aviators, and
in the city which they had left be- i.
hind the fleeing troops and refugees
could see the flames mounting steadi-
ly from burning buildings. The ride
out was an exciting one. The trains
could only be moved at slow speed
and Polish soldiers were required on
the footboards of all the engines to
maintain order and prevent panic"