THE WESTERN FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16123, 11 January 1916, Page 4

THE WESTERN FRONT.

THROUGH SWEDISH EYES.

DETERMINATION TO CONQUER

WONDERFUL ORGANISATION-

A party of Swedish journalists arrived in London recently after a visit under official auspices to the Western front.

Mr. Edward Alkman, editor of the Goteborgs Posten, told a Central Nows representative that his group of journalists had toured the French front in Champagne and Artois, and had visited Rheims, Arras, and other towns which had been badly shelled. Of this phase of the war he chose not to speak, but he could not find words strong enough to express his praise of the spirit of the French nation, army, civilians, and politicians. " Our impression of the army is the most brilliant one possible," said Mr. Alkman. "We spoke to hundreds of officers and men, we had interviews with President Poincare, M. Briand, and other statesmen. We came to England convinced of France's determination to fight to the end and to achieve victory at whatever cost. No other belief is open to us after what we have seen and heard.

General Foch, with Gallic humour, told us a democracy is not wicked, but when attacked it defends itself, and France is doing that with her whole heart and spirit."

Professor Helge TJackstrom, LL.D., a member of the Swedish Parliament, was one of those who visited the English front. He and his colleagues were vastly impressed by the wonderful organisation for serving the armies at the front. "It is very expensive, but it is very complete," he said. As to England's share in the war. Professor Backstrom explained that Sweden had not been so fully informed as she might have been —but this at least was clear, if England had not done her share she was evidently going to. Professor H. Sjogven, of the University of Stockholm, said that he had come away with the impression that the armies under General .Toffre and Sir John French were the best disciplined, the best equipped, and the best organised in the world. To-day the French were prepared for an offensive of unparalleled strength and magnitude. The spirit of the troops, from the highest general to the rawest recruit, was that of the unconquered and unconquerable. '• I cannot speak in too high terms of the French and British troops," said the professor. "Their morale is superb, and amongst all there is an indomitable feeling that victory is assured to the allies. The confidence of the soldiers individually and collectively is supreme, because they feel with marked pride that their strength, which is increasing hour by hour, will bo irresistible when the hour comes to strike a shattering blow at the enemy. We were not allowed to approach too near the front lines, but we saw sufficient to give us at least a cameo impression of the united might of Britain and France. We had a long chat with Sir John French, and here we noticed no depression, but a quiet, restrained confidence as to the fate of the enemy. Naturally, we paid a visit to the many ruins which tell their own story of destruction p,nd devastation. Men's eyes have never, looked upon anything fo terrible, so haunting, and unforgettable. It seemed as if the devilry of war could accomplish no more " A REIGN OF TERROR. PRUSSIANISM IN WARSAW. TROOPS WITHOUT RESTRAINT. A despatch from Petrograd. considerably delayed in transmission, has the following reports on the state of Warsaw since the German occupation. Little news is allowed to come to Russia, but a correspondent of the Russkoe Slovo now tells how the invaders dissolved the Central Citizens' Committee —a heavy bl-»w to Polish national sentiment. The paper? contained articles concerning the dissolution. Polish women were mourning, the churches were filled, and for three days Warsaw mutely and sadly protested against German political terrorism.

Then a procession of workmen carrying! red flags bearing the letters P.P.S. (Polish Socialist Party) appeared with flags inscribed : " Long Live National Independent Poland '. Down with the German Oppressors The crowd rapidly grew, and soon all the square around the Mitzkevitck monument was thronged with people. New revolutionary banners ap- ; peared. The Polish national flag was displayed, and a Catholic priest in white; robes mounted a platform and blessed the assembly, the members of which afterwards sang the hymn : " Under God's Protection, ' Then the procession slowly moved away to the statue of the Virgin, in the Cracow suburb, where everyone knelt and sang the national ' anthem : " God Protect Poland." Volleys of Rifle Fire. Before the Lazenky Park, where General Beseler's quarters were situated, the crowd stopped, and cries were raised in front of the Belvedere Palace: Down with the base plunderers." Carried awav by enthusiasm, the demonstrators saw no danger. Suddenly a rifle volley rang out, followed by a second and a third, and the crowd scattered in confusion. In a moment the space before the park presented a terriblo picture. The panic-stricken people rushed hither and thither, and women and children were crushed and killed. The Ouyesdoff Valley was cleared and only a few scores of dead bodies remained. Of the occupation gene/ally the writer says : — At first tho Germans behaved correctly and tried to restrain their soldiers. -.ie windows and doors of all tho disorderly houses were placarded with notices which had a restraining effect on the men but they soon ceased to bo frightened' and the night orgies of the German officers became one of the worst features of life in \\ arsaw. Soon the Germans grew more insolent ( and overbearing towards the conquered Poles. Caricatures relating to the con- , quest of Poland appeared in great num- , bers. One of these represented Warsaw as a siren sitting on the knees of a fat .Bavarian, who was drinking beer In another a Pole in national costume was almost covered by an enormous German helmet, and a miniature banner bearing the words. "Poland has not perished yet, was falling from his hands A march was written on the capture of V, arsaw and despite the discontent of the people, was played in all the restaur ant?. Terror and Terrorism. Ihen followed tho dark davs \fter the firing on tho crowd, the German authorities threw away all restraint and took away all the privileges thev h-.ri granted. " J u<la 'Hie citizens' courts were filled the. street life closed at ten o'clock in the evening, and the Prussian lieutenants re ceived permission to make themselves drunk in the restaurants. The citizen militia was subjected to th control " f V °" Glazenap, the police*? ponce-

The shopkeepers were compelled to re move all Russian inscriptions and to substitute German words, while German names appeared instead of Russian in the streets.

Still, the Germans continued to make fresh demands, until they veritably tore the last crumb of tread from the mouths of the people. Prices rose to a height undreamed of, and harrowing stories of starvation appeared daily in the pre.ss. The agents of the German secret police flooded the theatres and restaurants, and their presence caused men to fly from WareaTr.