The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1939. POLAND EMULATES BELGIUM.

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1939, Page 6

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1939. POLAND EMULATES BELGIUM.

In view of all the possibilities of the war situation, it. now seems very fortunate that there has been time for preparation on the part of Britain. It is certain that, ! while Germany meantime has left nothing, undone, and was last H Aiaivh ready for war, the opH position she has now to face is = far greater than it would then f have been. The Governments of = most Dominions are now demon--11 stealing that their co-operation ||with Britain during recent months 2 (must have been very considerable, = even though it was not advertised. Hln Soulh Africa there has, indeed,! H been revealed a difference of. = opinion, but it was to have been 1 s anticipated in view of the racial | division. Between France and ■ | Britain the degree of co-operation ” has doubtless been from the out-1

set far more complete than it. was Ji in 1914, . but the necessity of co- | ordination dictates that there | should be no premature disclosI ures. There yet is consequently I neither detail nor continuity in | the reports of operations outside | of Poland, although there are lull dications of the development on | the Western Front of hostilities I on a vast scale. It is admitted I that the French have begun a I thrust near the Swiss frontier, | which was not by any means a prominent sector in the early stages of the Great War, so that the German defences in that quarter may be judged not to be so strong as they are further north, iOn the sea the enemy has suffered his first loss in the sinking by

a British cruiser of a steamer with a food cargo from Argentina. It may be expected that the blockade of Germany will prove far more effective this time than in the last war, since the submarine menace is less, and the naval disparity greater. It will be some time yet before any adequate idea of the scope and. course of hostilities can be gauged with any accuracy. The tactical phase has scarcely developed, and the rival camps remain preoccupied largely with the I strategical aspect. Nor is the political aspect yet fully defined. Japan, for instance, has to be considered. Russia is making overtures for a settlement with her. While aerial, military and naval developments elsewhere remain to . be seen, there now is an adequate picture of the opening warfare, that in Poland, to indicate that the heroism which the legions of the Reich encountered as the\ launched their might in 1914 is I being again met this time. The forces of Poland are showing a very brave front indeed to the j enemy, who stops at nothing in the endeavour to bring about a quick decision. Everywhere else the Allies will have had at least as good a chance as the Germans from the outset, whereas in Poland great superiority in the air has given an immense advantage to the attackers, who are using terrorism as well as concentrated military action. Already the

» Poles have vindicated their right to be classed as great fighters, standing up on every front with excellent discipline in spite of the barbarous methods employed to lower the national morale, methods to which the Allied Powers have pledged themselves not. to stoop. Poland has a long and worthy history as a nation. Unless she had been inherently a genuine nation, there would not to-day, be the time afforded her allies for preparation. Dismembered and divided among Germany, Russia, and Austria, the Polish nation subsisted for more than a century in a greater or lesser degree of slavery, demeaned by the Germans and Russians, and shown some consideration by

the .Austrians alone. It’was because the Austrians had allowed their, section of the nation some degree of self-government that there was in the south a class of officials capable in 1919 of taking over the administration of the re-united nation. Since then a large and disciplined army lias been formed, and a national economy developed. It would seem that Poland now is going through a trial such as may well weld the country into a stronger unity and strength. It is the blood of its soldiers that will cement the nation anew into the same solidarity as it exhibited in past centuries. Doubtless Germany and Russia have contemplated a return of the order existing before the Great War, when they shared most, of Poland between them. The determination of Britain and France to check German aggression must make them review their pact in a new light, especially as it relates to Poland, whose rights, unless Germany triumph, must be vindicated. There early are indications that Germany will be defeated sooner in this war than she was -defeated before, and with this prospect it may confidently be predicted that, however great the sacrifice she is now making. Poland will not have defended her independence and her rights in vain.