Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1916. GERMANY AND POLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, 16 November 1916, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1916. GERMANY AND POLAND.

ANOTHER indication of Germany's shortage of man-power is the effort she is making to secure ,700,000 men from 'Poland to help fight her battles. She .promises the Poles independence under O Germaij King, and, the concession win not operate until after the war. On the strength of his Hindertburg is demanding 700,C00. men. Early in the war,.it: will be remembered the Czar of Russia promised to grant the independence of Poland after the war, and the good understanding that prevailed .between the. Russians arid the Poles after the proGermans had been removed from power in Russia, caused the Poles to be well satisfied with this offer. It will be .remember ad that for months at the beginning of, .the war the greatest difficulties Russia-.had to face were the troubles created by the Germans who had. wormed their way into the very heart of Russia, and needless to say these men: sought to create bad feeling between Poland and Russia whenever occasion arose- Admittedly tho Poles in the past have suffered at the hands of the Russian bureaucrats, but they have suffered far more at the hands; of the ruthless Germans since -the occupation of their country in 1915. The people were forced to flee in thousands before' the advancing enemy, and their, homes were pillaged and destroyed. The horrors of Belgium were repeated, and the poles will not take kin.dlyi to. the present offer of independence, for only too well will they, realise that the 700,000 soldiers are at the back of German designs. What the Poles desire is not the nominal "independence?', of Russian Poland,, hut the reunion of German, Austrian, and Russian Poland as an in-' dependent kingdom. It was only under , protest that Britain a hundred years ago (at the 'Congress of Vienna in 1815) agreed to the partition of Poland between Germany, Austria, and Russia, and then only on condition that the should receive just and fair r.eatment, which, however, they did not get'. It is clear that Poland will look to Britain,■.. France, and enlightened Russia for that degree of independence to which she aspires,' and most 'certainly not'* to the cruel oppressor,, Germany. It will be a tragedy if the* Poles, the people of an occupied country, are forced to fight for-their oppressors and, against their friends.