New-York tribune., 1920-01-19
Polish Nation
Absolved of
Staying Jews
Continued from page 1

Oh military automobile, the six
women IN the crowd and about TWENTY
IVY men were separated from the mass
a ana inc remainder, thirty-five in nun,
peI' were shot with scant deliberation
ana no trial whatever. Early the next
morning three wounded victims were
shot IN cold blood as soon as life
revealed itself in them.
4. Ida. April II, 1919
.On April II, 1919, the Polish military
1oTces captured Ida from the Russian
bolshcviki. After the city fell into the
nahds or the Poles the soldiers pro-
ceeoeo 10 enter and rob the homes of
.ne yews. During this period Of pill
age thirty Jews were killed.
5. Wilno, April 1921, 1919
On April 19 Polish detachments en-
tered the City of Wilno. The city was
definitely taken by the Poles after
three days Of street fighting, during
which time they lost thir-y-three man
killed. During the same period some
sixty-five Jews lost their lives. From
the evidence submitted it appears that
none OF these people, among whom were
1our women and eight men over fifty
years of age, had served with the Boil
sheviki. Eight Jews were marched
three kilometers to the outskirts of the
City of Wilno and deliberately shot
without the sembancc of trial or in
vcstigation. Others were shot by SOL
diers who were robbing Jewish houses.
No list has been furnished the mission
Of any Polish civilians killed during
the occupation. 1t is, however. stated
on behalf of the government that the
civilian inhabitants of Wilno took part
on both sides of the fighting, and that
some civilians fired upon the soldiers.
Over 1000 Jewish houses and stores in
the city were entered by Polish SOL
diers and civilians during these three
days and the inhabitants robbed and
beaten. 1t is claimed by .he Jewish
amounted to over 10,000,00O rubles.
Old men and women were carried away
without trial or investigation. Two of
these prisoners have since died from
the treatment they received. Included
in this list were some OF the most
prominent Jews of Wilno, such as the
prominent Jewish writer's Jaffe and
Niger
6. Kolbussowa, May Z, 1919
"For few days before May 7, 1919,
the Jews of Kolbussowa feared that ex-
cesses might take place, as there had
been riots in the neghboring towns Of
been the result of political agitation in
this district, and of excitement caused
by case of alleged ritual murder in
which the Jewish defendant had been
acquitted On May 6 company of
soldiers was ordered to Kolbussowa to
prevent the threatened trouble. Early
in the morning of May great num-
bcr of peasants, .alhon2 whom were
many former soldiers Of the Austrian
army, entered the town. The rioters
disarmed the soldiers after three peas
ceeded to rob the Jewish stores and to
beat any Jews who fell into their hands.
Eight Jews were killed during this ex-
cess.
7. Czestochowa. May II, 1919.
shot fred by an unknown person
slightly wounded a Polish soldier A
rumor spread that the shot had been
fired by the Jews and riots broke out
in the city in which Polish soldiers
and civilians took part. During these
riots five Jews, including a doctor who
was hurrying to aid one of the in
jured, were beaten to death and large
number were wounded. French off1-
GERS, who we're stationed at Czesto-
chowa. took an active part in prevent
ing further murders.
"On August 8, 1919, the Polish troops
took the city Of Minsk from the Bol-
sheviki The Polish troops entered the
city at about 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, and by 12 O'Clock they had abso-
lutte control. Notwiths standing the pres,
ence in Mnsk of General Jadwn and
other members of this mission, and
the orders of the Polish command gen
eral, forbidding violence against civil
ians, thrty-o -one Jews were killed by the
soldiers. Only one Of the number can
in any way be connected with the Boil
sheviki movement. Eighteen Of the
deaths appear to have been deliberate
murder. Two of these murders were
incident to robberies, but the rest were
committed, to all appearances, solely
on the ground that the victims We're
Jews. During the afternoon and in the
evening of August the Polish SOL
ders, aided by civilians, plundered 377
shops, all of which belonged to the
Jews. 1t must be noted, however, that
about 80 per cent of the stores in
Minsk are owned by Jews. No effective
Jo C<h