AN EMPTY HUSK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2539, 13 August 1915, Page 5

AN EMPTY HUSK

WARSAW AS THE GERMANS TOOK IT THE ENTRY INTO THE CITY Bt Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 12, 8.20 p.m.) London, August 12. The "Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam correspondent states that tho first German descripions of tho entry into Warsaw betray the truth 'that thoy havo grasped an empty "husk. Everything of military value was destroyed, leaving an impression of gaping emptiness'. A Gorman officer superior describes tho extraordinary character of tho fighting when tho Russian rearguard, with indomitablo courage, harassed, from I'raga, tho advancing enemy. While motoring into Warsaw ho passed scorched fieldsj burnt farms, wrecked carts, and fresh graves. lio was compelled to stop to remove trees, which the Russians had placed across tho roadways approaching.tho suburbs, in order to arrive at the city fortress with' its earthen walls with antiquated defence works. Endless streams of refugees were coming out along the roads, standing on. Iho side of the roads watching the Germans marching in. Every window and balcony was occupied by residents eager to see tho entry. Tho cafes were crowded and the shops open. Though the city was calm, a few hundred .yards away, on the riverside, the Germans were lying behind street'barriers/hiding behind corners of houses to fira across tho river where tho Russians wore entrenched. The rattle of tho machine-guns on both sides, and an occasionally louder greeting from tho heavy guns,' was heard, while, black smoke roso beyond tho river where tho Russian* continued the destruction. Another German officer writes. Tho population did not sleep on 'Thursday night on account of tho loud explosion's whon tho forts were blown up, and tho military buildings and workshops sot on fire. At eleven o'clock in tlio' evening tho control of the city was giyen ti tho civil police, and the troops commenced to cross tho bridges in masses. At five o'clock in tho morning the bridges were blown up, and .at six o'clock an automobile with two German officers arrived, followed by six cavalrymon whose lances were. decorated with flowers, and singing "The Watch on the Rhine." Higher officers arrived in motor-cars at mid-day, while tho Russian. shell and shrapnel _ were falling into the to ml. Tho third day, after the German occupation gave tho impression of a German town festival day, except, that the flags were absent.