The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-04-01
WAR REFUGEES
REACH KEN0SHA
Mines. Benjamin and Dav-
id Kalb Return Home
After Eight Years.
CAUGHT BY THE WAR

Eight years ago, Mrs. Bessie Kalb
and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Liba Kalb,
both of Kenosha, left this city with
five children Of the older Mrs. Kslb, to
spend short visit with their rela-
tfves In Lemburg and other cities in
that part of Europe. Thursday at mid
night, after years of suffering over
seas, enforced because they were
caught in the war zone and could not
secure pass ports back to America,
they returned to Kenosha to be greet
ed by their husbands, David and Ben
jamin Kalb at their home at 704 Pearl
Street. The family reunion was not
complete, however, for the other mem
bers of the Kalb family are still wait
ing at Dukla to have their passports
Strengthened out and are not expected
to reach Kenosha for six to eight
weeks.
Word from Washington.
There was two fold surprise for
the husband and father this morning
for after the two Kenosha women had
reached the city Thursday night after
the long absence, this morning a well
come telegram arrived from the state
department at Washington. 1t declar-
ed that the question Of passports for
the other members of the family had
been taken up and granted and that
they would be allowed to sail immedi
ately for America.
Those who are yet to return are
the Misses Sarah and Gertrude Kalb,
both we'll known in Kenosha, broth
er Samuel Kalb and a third sister
Mrs. Nellie Muhlrad with her husband
and two children. When these reach
Kenosha the family are planning a
great celebration to mark the end of
Kenosha's longest visit.
Tells of Suffering.
Travel worn but. still rejoicing that
at last they had returned to "belov-
ed America, the two women told this
morning Of their years Of anxious
waiting and suffering overseas. Most
Of the eight years of exile were spent
in Lemburg whore for a while they en-
joyed their visit before war days.
When they were ready to return in
1914, the war broke and since that
time they have been attempting to
secure passports to America. Just
three months ago they were again all
ready to sail whom strike on tho
hhips held them fer another six weeks
in Europe.
They have been in the very heart
i fnA, - - D1Ia
come through Warsaw to reach the
coast. They declared that the suffer-
ing was indescribable and want and
need were everywhere.
Shoes Cost $3.50.
Mrs. Kalb explained that prices in
Poland had gone up quickly and that
the price of money had deprecated.
"This pair Of shoes cost me $3.50 in
Polish money. she said, "and often
It was almost impossible to secure
food and clothing at any price" She
declared that hundreds were killed in
massacres and that she herself Had
lived through sieges in war days.
Their enforced visit has been so long
that the children who went away
knowing the English languare have
grown up and have largely forgotten
that tongue Mrs Kalb has also ex-
perienced great difficulty in relearning
the 1nglish language after eight years
in Europe.
The arrival Of the two women this
morning recalls the story of David
Kalb, one of the children who went
on the visit and who was caught and
forced into service in the Austrian
army. After serving at Lemberg he
escaped and came to America and join
ed the. United States troops. Later he
returned to Europe and fought under
the "Stars and Stripes.
The two Mines. Kalb were renewing
their friendships of eight years ago
with the friends who learned this
morning of their return.