FIFTH MILITARY POWER

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1939, Page 4

FIFTH MILITARY POWER

POLAND’S ARMED MIGHT

Poland’s greatest military strength | lies in her remarkable man-power. During the war, apart from ordinary casualties, over 1,000,000 Poles died ot privation. Naturally mosl of these were old people, so that the normal age balance of population was disturbed. Thus to-day 50 per cent, ol the people of Poland are under 25 years oi age—66 per cent, undei a 0! These are remarkable figures. J hey mean that Poland, with a population of only 34,000,000, can mobilise an army larger than France with 41,000,000 (writes Bernard Newman m the London Daily Telegraph). They are even more significant when considered in detail, 'rhe conscript classes being called up are nearly as large in Poland as in Germany. Consider the situation in the immediate post-war years—a defeated Geimany in the trough of despair, bankrupt and without hope, and a resurrected Poland charged with enthusiastic and optimistic virility. Thus in the years 1920-5 the average number of boys born in Poland was 515,000. In Germany, with double the population, it was only 675,000.

More recent figures are even more striking. Although free from Government stimulus, the Poles are naturally more prolific than the Germans, and in the last 10 years the average number of boys born in Poland was 511,000. In young man-power, therefore, Poland is only slightly inferior to Germany. „ , The Polish army is thus a factor ol great importance. Poland is actually the, fifth military power in the world. The standing army exceeds 300,000, including 45,000 regular officers and N.C.O.’s, while trained reserves exceed 2,000,000 men. In time of war Poland could mobilise an army of 4,000,000 soldiers without crippling the essential economic life of the country. The Standing army includes 30 divisions of infantry, with two of mountain troops. These divisions are well equipped, and are trained to fight as independent units. Poland’s frontiers are so vast —3,438 miles —that it is impossible to visualise warfare based on continuous lines of trenches; a Polish Maginot Line is not a practicable proposition. According to its station, each division has its allotment of mechanised and armoured vehicles. Polish tanks are of excellent quality and performance, and are now being produced in large numbers. Supporting troops include 30 regiments of field artillery attached to the divisions, independent brigades for general reserve, 10 regiments of heavy artillery, mechanised units, anti-air-craft sections and armoured trains. I witnessed a shoot at unprepared targets by a. field artillery brigade, find was more than favourably impressed. Yet the outstanding feature of the Polish army is its cavalry. I should class this as the best in Europe. It is certainly the quietest. More than once as I attended manoeuvres in Eastern Galicia I found myself surrounded by •cavalry who had given no hint of their approach. I much admired their equipment and the fashion in which it is mounted —so that a man may ride at a canter without the slightest jingle. Cavalry may be discredited in the West, but in the wide expanses of Eastern Europe its role is very important. In a poor communications, the activities of mechanised forces are limited by considerations of supply, but in any part of Poland cavalry can live in the country.

Mounted troops consist of three regiments of light cavalry, 27 of Uhlans, 10 of mounted chasseurs and 10 squadrons of scouts. The divisions of the cavalry are traditional —all are equipped alike, with the machine-gun as the dominant weapon. I found the troops of excellent, quality; trained to fight in small groups, their initiative was keen and hteir eye for cover remarkable. The Poles-have developed the offensive as well as the defensive powers of the machine-gun. I saw one remarkable advance by machine-gunners alone, without the support of infantry, artillery or tanks. While one line kept up a fierce barrage of bullets, a second line advanced ahead. This in turn sent out a venomous fire, and the process was repeated.

OWN ’PLANES MADE Polish arms are as good as any in Europe; some are of native invention, others made in Poland under license. For example, Poland now manufactures her own ’planes from our Fury and Blenheim prototypes. At the recent aircraft exhibition in Paris, Polish exhibits attracted wide attention. From the other point of view it is interesting to note that the quick-fir-ing gun now being installed in many British ’planes is a Polish invention.

Polish first-line aircraft number 1,250, with a similar number in reserve. There is an ample proportion of bombers —neighbouring countries offer far better targets than does Poland. The Los (Elk) with a load of a little under 3,8801 b., and a. speed of 260 miles an hour. The Wilk bomber has a range of over 1200 miles (Wolf) allmetal fighter carries two machine-guns and one gun, has a range of nearly SOO miles and a. speed of 200 miles per hour.

Most interesting, perhaps, is the Mewa (Sea-gull) observation ’plane, akin to the British Lysander type, but lighter and more easily manoeuvred. All these ’planes are produced completely in Poland, and are exported in considerable quantities to the countries of south-eastern Europe. With a large-well-trained and wellequipped army, Poland’s only potential difficulty is that of supplies in wartime. Her Baltic coastline might easily be overrun in the first few days, and the alternative route via the Rumanian Black Seaports is lengthy and precarious. Yet Poland can be selfsupporting to a considerable extent. Her difficulties are based on the fact that her native supplies of metals and coal are largely drawn from Upper Silesia, which is adjacent to the German frontier. The problem has been tackled with foresight and energy. The French loan of £25,000,000 two years ago has achieved remarkable results. While other countries talk of five-year plans the Polish press and Polish conversation re-echo with the continual mention of “C.0.P.”

The initials stand for “Centralny Okrtg Przemyslowy,” or the Central Industrial Area, in a, triangle within Hie confluence of the rivers Vistula and San. about the town of Sandomierz. has been created a new industrial development. Existing towns and villages have increased their population by thousands per cent. One new, town of 30,000 inhabitants sprang up| within a year! Already dozens of giant factories are in production. Considerable reserve stocks of essential commodities have been accumulated. The

mountain streams of the Carpathians to the south yield abundant power. Three is even a direct supply of “earth gas” from the Polish oil-fields. Thus the overwhelming bogey of the Polish high command has been laid. Even if the factories and mines of Upper Silesia, were overrun or destroyed in the first days of war, Poland would no longer be crippled. She could carry on under her own re-

sources until outside help could come | by roundabout routes, or direct from | Russia. It would be a fatal mistake on the part of a potential enemy to underestimate the strength of Poland. Its people, have a natural courage, like all the Slav races; unlike some, they'have an adequate self-confidence, not even dimmed by their geography—with no strong frontiers and sandwiched between two powerful nations. Their patriotism is intense, and can onlj r be compared with that of the Irish.