Poland--Russian Poland--is perishing. And the German high command,
imbued with the Prussian system, is coolly reckoning on the
necessities of a starving people to promote its imperial ends.
West Poland, which has been Prussian territory more than a hundred
years, is a disappointment to Germany; its people obstinately remain
Poles. This time they propose swifter measures. In two or three years,
by grace of starvation and frightfulness, they calculate East Poland
will be thoroughly made over into a German province.
[Sidenote: Devastation of Poland.]
In the great Hindenburg drive one year ago, the country was completely
devastated by the retreating Russian army and the oncoming Germans.
A million people were driven from their homes. Half of them perished
by the roadside. For miles and miles, when I saw the country, the
way was littered with mudsoaked garments and bones picked clean by
the crows--though the larger bones had been gathered by the thrifty
Germans to be ground into fertilizer. Wicker baskets--the little
basket in which the baby swings from the rafters in every peasant
home--were scattered along the way, hundreds and hundreds, until one
could not count them, each one telling a death.
Warsaw, which had not been destroyed--once a proud city of a million
people--was utterly stricken. Poor folks by thousands lined the
streets, leaning against the buildings, shivering in snow and rain,
too weak to lift a hand, dying of cold and hunger. Though the rich
gave all they had, and the poor shared their last crust, they were
starving there in the streets in droves.
In the stricken city, the German governor of Warsaw issued a
proclamation. All able-bodied Poles were bidden to go to Germany to
work. If any refused, let no other Pole give him to eat, not so much
as a mouthful, under penalty of German military law.
[Sidenote: The policy of starvation.]
It was more than the mind could grasp. To the husband and father
of broken families, the high command gave this decree: Leave your
families to starve; if you stay, we shall see that you do starve--this
to a high-strung, sensitive, highly organized people, this from the
authorities of a nation professing civilization and religion to
millions of fellow Christians captive and starving.
[Sidenote: Country to be restocked with Germans.]
General von Kries, the governor, was kind enough to explain.
Candidly, they preferred not quite so much starvation; it might get on
the nerves of the German soldiers. But, starvation being present, it
must work for German purpose. Taking advantage of this wretchedness,
the working men of Poland were to be removed; the country was to be
restocked with Germans. It was country Germany needed--rich alluvial
soil--better suited to German expansion than distant possessions. If
the POLAND that was had to perish, so much the better for Germany.
Remove the men, let the young and weak die, graft German stock on the
women. See how simple it is: with a crafty smile, General von Kries
concluded, "By and by we must give back freedom to Poland. Very good;
it will reappear as a German province."
Slowly, I came to realize that this monstrous, incredible thing was
the PRUSSIAN SYSTEM, deliberately chosen by the circle around the
all-highest, and kneaded into the German people till it became part of
their mind.
German people are material for building the State--of no other
account. Other people are for Germany's will to work upon. Humanity,
liberty, equality, the rights of others--all foolish talk. Democracy,
an idle dream. The true Prussian lives only for this, that the German
State may be mighty and great.
[Sidenote: German system of frightfulness everywhere.]
All the woes in the long count against Germany are part of the
Prussian system. The invasion of Belgium, the deportations, the
starving of subject people, the Armenian massacres, atrocities,
frightfulness, sinking the Lusitania, the submarine horrors, the
enslavement of women--all piece into the monstrous view. The rights of
nations, the rights of men, the lives and liberties of all people are
subordinate to the German aim of dominion over all the world.