POLAND’S LEADER DIES

Grey River Argus, 14 May 1935, Page 5

POLAND’S LEADER DIES

MASHAL PILSUDSKI Profound Effect ON EUROPEAN SITUATION. (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn., WARSAW, May 12. The death is announced at the age of 67, of Marshal Pilsudski, who since the war has been the Dictator of Poland, holding office at different times as Premier, and War Minister. (Received Mav 13, 8.55 p.m., WARSAW, May 12. The death hw- occurred of Marshal Pilsudski, the Dictator of Poland, at the age of 67 years. He was a native of Vilna. and when he was la years of age, h<‘ was sent by the Russian Government into exile in Siberia for five years. He later organised in Poland :i secret army, but in 1907 he fled from Poland. He led 18,000 cf a polish force in the Great War on the side of the Central Powers, against the ’Russians, but he was eventually imprisoned by the Germans in the fortress of Magdeburg. On being released at the end of the war. lie returned to Warsaw, becoming supreme in the Polish Council of Regency. When operating in 1920 against Russians, his force >was driven back, but successfully defended Warsaw. In 1921 lie resigned as Chief of the State and in 1923 resigned ns Chief of Staff of the Polish Army. Three years later he raffle again into prominence, replacing M Wilos as Premier in 1926. Since then he had remained the dominnnt figure, being virtually dictator, though he resigned the Premiership la'er, and remained War Minister. Unifying Force Lost WILL POLISH POLICY CHANGE? (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received May 13, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 13. The critic of international affairs, Mr Ashmead Bartlett, writing in the “News-Chronicle,” says: “Marshal Pilsudski’s death will profoundly affect the European situation, (t may end the attempt to keep Poland equally friendly to Germany and to Russia. Many of the Poles who had been questioning the possibility of continuing friendship with Germany had feared to oppose Marshal Pilsudski. There are now not likely to hide their feelings. ’ ’ He adds: “Poland has lost the greatest unifying force that she has known. She consequently likely to become' a pawn, instead of being a comma nd ing influence. ’ ’

The “Daily Mail’s-’ Warsaw correspondent says: Marshal Pilsudski’s death coincides with the ninth anniversary of his seizure of power. A period of national mourning of thirty-six days will be proclaimed. CAUSE OF DEATH. WARSAW, May 13. Doctors state that Marshal Pilsudski's dentil was due to cancer of the liver. The members of the Government, with his wife and his two daughters, wore at his bedside when he passed n way. FRENCH MINISTER’S VISIT. PROMISE OF CO-ODER ATTON. WARSAW. May 13. The announcement of the death of Marshal Pilsudski has eclipsed the interest in the visit to Poland of M. Laval- French Foreign Minister. The visit, however, has resulted in an unofficial French intimation that there is nothing behind the Franco-Soviet Pact that could cause Poland the least anxiety LONDON, Mav 13. The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ Warsaw correspondent says: “I gather that M. Laval has promised the moral support of France for the Polish aspiraj fions in the Baltic sector, but that he could not be more specific until ho has talked the matflor over.” Cabinet’s Long Session PILSUDSKI’S NOMINEES IN POWER. (Received Mav 13, 8.50 p.m.) WARSAW May 13. The Polish Cabinet has been in continuous session at the Belvedere Palace for many hours, but the real power now rests with President Moscicki. President Colonel Beck Moscicki, who was Marshal Pilsudski’s nominee for the Presidency, is assured of farreaching powers, approaching to a dictatorship, under the new Polish Constitution Moreover, the late Marshal Pilsudski’s friends, who are known as “the Colonel’s group,’’ retain all of the principal Government positions. PUBLIC SURPRISED. (Received Mav 13, 8.55 p.m.) WARSAW, May 13. The general public had no idea that Marshal Pilsudski was a dying man, though hip entourage were well aware fhn’J a crisis was at hand. Marshal Pilsudski’s body is now Iving in state at the Belvedere Palace at Warsaw. THE NEW WAR MINISTERS. WARSAW May 13. freneral Rydzsmigly has boon appointed to succeed the late Marshal Pilsudski in Ihe War Ministry General Rvrlzsmiglv is popular with the nrmv. He was one of the best trust*»d of Marshal Pilsudskiassistants. General Kasrzvski has been appointed to Marshal Pilsudski's other office in the Mini c *trv of War.