The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-26
Lithuanian Refugees
 Describe Experiences
Escape Capture By Russian Army Officials; Also De.
 scribe Conditions in Europe
BROOKLYN NEWS

of the Russian occupation and the inability to oppose 1t. The younger people spoke of fighting, they said, but the older persons, who remem- bered too well the bloodshed of the previous war were not anxious to resist, and the unpreparedness of the Lithuanians ruled out oil pos. slbility of resistance. Great confu- sion followed the occupation, Miss Yeas stated, when the Communist leaders executed Q great property upheaval.
 Nine days after the occupation the father, Martinas Yeas, com. pleted his flight from their estate in Kaunas to Germany. Several weeks later, when word reached the family of a search for the son, formerly e junior lieutenant in the reserve army he too fled and walked across the Lithuanian border into 0erman-oc. cupled Poland, undetected by the Russian soldiers who were being sta. toned along the frontier. With 200O other Lithuanians who had fled he was sent to the barracks ct Gleis- garben Pr. and interned for eight days unetil arrangements were made for him to meet his father and go to Berlin. The rest of the family, the mother and two younger twin sisters, joined them in Berlin In September. travelling mostly ct night and by foot to escape detection by Russian officers. From Berlin the journey was continued by plane to Barcelona where the family obtained passage to Brazil.
 Their observation in Germany re. vealed great moral suffering by the German people. Miss Yeas told of the hysterla of the people at the first sound of air raid warnings and of their dash for the air raid shel. ters. Germans had been told, she said, that British planes were so bad they could never reach Ger many. The realization that British planes not only could come to Berlin but could cause extensive damage, left the people shocked, and con. fused and afraid. His experience of air raiG warnings in Berlin now causes him consternation here when he hears fire sirens. Martin Yeas stated, for there Is great similarity in the sound. r..s
 The young refugees seemed much impressed by the plentifulness of materials and supplies and luxuries in thls country. During their stay in Germany they had become acquaint- ed with strict rationing.
 Asked for her opinion as to the outcome of the present conflict, Miss Yeas turned her attention to the plight of Lithuania and said that all Lithuanians could hope for in the near future was an autonomous state in Germany, but the youpng refugees expressed confidence that the wrong which had been done would be righted in time and Lith- uania would once again enjoy her freedom. The brother expressed desire to return to Lithuania as soon as conditions permit.
 The refugee family arrived in this country two weeks ago and are stay ing at the home of the mothers sister, Dr. Oldona Slupis, Brooklyn. N. Y. In Kaunas they were neigh bors of Mrs. Simutis, wife of the assistant to the Lithuanian Con- sulate general in New York, and at whose local home they spent the week end.
 The mother of the visitors is a native of Pennsylvania and. met her husband when he came to this coun- try in 1913 to raise funds for the Lithuanian Student society in Wilma. During the war the father had been president of the central committee for aiding Lithuanian refugees. At one time he was vice-lninister of education. He was well known to res- idents of Waterbury. as he visited here during his trip in 1913 and later in 1916.
 The young refugees were both law students nt the University Of Kaunas at the time of the 0ccupa~ ton. Miss Yeas interests in this country lie in the field of journalism and she hopes c take up the study