The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-16
BY REBECCA MELADMAN.

TT was a fresh June day, the 4th of June,
1918, and the fragrance of the blooming
- flowers was in the air, when Com
mandant Paul Waschinsky, with fourteen
of his men, galloped down the main street
Of our little town of Kitaigr,d Our village
was entirely Jewish. 1t had about 1000
Inhabitants. The Christian Russians lived
on farms all around it, They brought their
produce to the village and We traded with
them for it.
The soldiers had come from Bolshevist
garrison in Kamenez-Podolsk, about thirty
miles away. We were seeing, though we
knew IL not then, the beginning OF
pogrom.
What is a pogrom?
The sound of that word is the most ter
rTble that can fall upon Jewish ears. 1t is
Russian 1t means an organized robbery
and killing of Jews at the instigation and
under the protection of the Government.
I am the victim of a pogrom. l am
broken early aged woman. am ten years
older than my years. Sweet sixteen! The
words are bitterest mockery! Wretched
thirty more nearly describes What the nor
rors that cost me my youth, my nerves and
my right arm have made CT me.
Commandant Paul Waschinsky was
young. He was not more Ian twenty-five.
His face was smooth shaven. His eyes
were blue. His hair was thick and golden
He was medium sized mau. He looked
a mere boy.
:, The commandant and his fourteen men
rode down the street and back again. lhey
were seeking the largest and fnest mousse
In Kitaigrod. They found 1t in the m'ddie
. of the long street A widow lived there
: Mrs. Fannie Rosenthal an elderly woman.
She was rich and respected and charitable
She had five sons. They lived with her.
u The soldiers rode up to the home or
widow Rosentha and at the order OF Com
mandant Washinsky one dismounted ana
knocked upon the door.
"Good morning. We are from the gar
rison at Kamenez-P odolsk," he said I'VE
have business with the town. We Will
J stay with you while we are here"
The gray haired old widow bowed,
though her knees and hands trembled
Enter, sodaten," she said in quaver-
ing voice.
The soldiers rode round to the stable
Widow Rosenthal sent her sons to help
them place their horses in the stalls. They
came into the house and demanded their
dinner She prepared II at once, the best
she had When they had finished eating,
two of the men went out. They had been
sent by the commandant to call on the
principal citizens.
My father was one of these. The two
men came into our store. 1t was a small
general store in the front part OF our
house. | was peeping into the room to
look at the soldiers. | was fourteen. My
sisters, Rose and Pearl twelve and seven
years old, and my younger brother. Samuel,
gathered about me and looked and listened
too.
you will serve on a committee which
will visit the people of the town. Tell
them we want seventy thousand rubles!
Tell them we must have them in twenty
minutes" Thus they spoke smiling evilly.
My father turned very pale, but he only
said: I'VE will try"
The soldiers went out and spoke to the
next merchant. And they went on to the
next. My father gathered together all the
money in the store. He stuffed II into his
pockets. He called back to my mothe-:
I'VE must give them whatever they ask
Keep the children out OF the way"
We saw him hurry down the street 10
the bank. II was, Of course, Jewish
bank, and in It the town people kept their
funds.
lie win draw everything out at the
bank! He will beggar us!" cried my
mother. at is pogrom!"