Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-09-03
BROWNSVILLEITE
VISITS POLAND.
ON BATTLE Line.
Louis Dixon Returns Home
After Five Weeks Spent in
War Stricken Country.

Ninety per cent of the Polish pop
ulation has bolsheviki tendencies.
That is why the Russian soviet govern
ment attempted 10 gain a foothold in
that country" said Louis Dixon Of
Brownsville, who has just returned
after an absence of three months i'm
Europe, five weeks of which he spent
in Bialystok, in Poland.
Mr.. Dixon said he escaped from
Bialystok on the last train out of that
city for the west just a half day ahead
of its capture by the bolsheviki forces.
At that time there were thirty train
loads Of Polish wounded and dead on
the tracks in the railroad yards wait
ing 10 be moved out ahead Of the on
rush If the red hordes from the east
All were gotten out safely Mr. Okon
proceeded into Germany with his sis
ter. Miss Dina Okon, who he brought
to the United States with him, and
who Is now in Brownsville.
The news already has recorded the
reorganization of the Polish forces
and the advance on wide front
which resulted in saving Warsaw and
forcing the bolsheviki out of Poland.
Food conditions appeared 60 be
good wherever | went, and the peo-
pie seemed to have plenty Of money
and were spending. although the
mark has greatly deprecated in val
ue. A half dollar of American money
was worth about one hundred marks.
and for this amount one could obtain
a very good meal"
He said that service with the bot
sheviki army is voluntary. but that in
Poland there was compulsory service.
and that the fighting there is more
because If the presence Of foreigners
in the army than because Of any de-
sire to fight on the part Of the Pol
ish troops. He said that this was due
TO the fact that ninety per cent Of the
Poles sympathlze with the Russian
soviet regime.
Mr.. Dixon described the condition
cf the Jews in Poland as generally
bad. He said that atrocities against
them are frequent. Often the boards
Of old men are pulled out. taking skin
and flesh with them. He said he
knew of one case where an old man
was chained 70 tree. an attempt be-
ing made 10 pull him apart by both
beard and legs.
MIR. Dixon was born in Poland, but
about two years ago acquired his
American citizenship. He said that
several efforts were made to detain
him. but that his citizenship papers
resulted in his release Otherwise he
met with little difficulty. although
impediments were placed in his way
In his efforts to secure passport for
his sister He went To Europe with
the intention of bringing a brother
with him, but as his brother was un-
der 45 years old, and therefore with
in military age, he could not leave the
country.
When reached the border on my
way into Germany, Mr.. Dixon said,
Il had couple Of half dollars. two
or three quarters and a few dimes.
Officials at the border attempted TO
take them from me. and would have
taken my other funds had they not
been in checks. Instead Of giving il
TO them ! distributed the change
among some boys loafing around the
place. learned Of one case where
two and half million marks were
taken from man on his way out. be-
sides about S2500 in American mon
ey and the man was jailed A fic-
titiouS charge Of being a spy was
placed against him.
THE United States for me" con-
clud | Mr.. Dixon. They couldn't
make me live there again if they paid
me a healthy salary TO DO So"