(A special Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent today visited the scene of yesterday’s anti-Jewish pogrom in the town of Przytyk, Radom District, Poland, and telephoned the following account to London.) By Boris Smolar (Chief European Correspondent, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
This town today resembled a besieged city during wartime after 700 Jewish families had yesterday undergone a pogrom reminiscent of Tzarist days in Russia in its brutality and careful preparation.
Steel-helmeted police, armed to the teeth patrolled the town in groups of six, while the Jewish population, still panic-stricken, moved with all their possessions from the outskirts to the thickly populated Jewish section.
The town presented an appearance of ruin, with the windows of every Jewish house broken, window-frames torn loose, doors battered in and Jewish shops showing signs of having been pillaged and wrecked. Raiders even stopped to slash bedclothes and mattresses in Jewish homes.
FINDS 35 JEWS WITH HEADS BANDAGED
Visiting the homes of stricken Jews, this correspondent found thirty-five in bandages, most of them with head injuries in addition to twenty-five removed to hospitals in Radom.
Two Jews were killed and one Christian died after having been shot by anti-Semites from a truck.
An aftermath of the disorders came tonight when anti-Semites attempted to throw the town into darkness by shutting down the power plant. The plant continued to operate under a heavy guard.
Urgent relief is required by most of the Jews, who, for the time being, have lost their means of livelihood. Peasants are refusing to sell them food.
MOB INCITED BY ANTI-SEMITIC LEADER
The pogrom broke out at 2:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and continued for many hours. The mob, previously incited by the anti-Semitic leader, Wladyslaw Korcz, gathered in the market place, shouting anti-Jewish epithets.
Police attempted to halt the mob from invading Jewish streets, but retreated when they failed, leaving a free hand to the rioters.
A number of Jewish youths rushed to prevent the mob from invading the Jewish streets, but they were repulsed by the police, preventing resistance.
The rioters then proceeded to raid Jewish homes and shops, cutting a wide swath of devastation and pillage.
AUTHORITIES FAIL TO HEED WARNING
The authorities had been warned in advance that anti-Jewish riots could be expected in view of unchecked anti-Jewish agitation. Only last week a Jewish delegation visited Radom, chief city of the district, appealing for protection to District Commissioner Tremarucet.
The District Commissioner replied, “What do you Jews want? Not a single Jew has been killed so far.”
Today, Commissioner Tremarucet arrived on the scene of the rioting to investigate. He issued a statement saying: “Impartial investigation has established that the pogrom resulted from Jewish provocation.” The statement was made before the investigation had been concluded.
The police prohibited this correspondent from photographing the victims and the pillaged shops and houses, confiscating his camera. Two correspondents who accompanied him were detained and taken to police headquarters, where Commissioner Tremarucet ordered the writer not to take any pictures. The camera was later returned.
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