The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1916. GERMANY'S TREATMENT OF POLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1916. GERMANY'S TREATMENT OF POLAND.

The desperate straits to which Germany i ; j now reduced, in view of her rapidly decreasing man-power, has resulted in the formation of a scheme tl:at does credit to her barbaric cunning. For many long years the Polish people have groaned under oppression, but through all their sufferings there has always been one great hope—that they would once again become a nation, free from the yoke of tyrants. It is, however, | concerning Russian Poland more particularly that the world at larsro is now - most anxious, for Germany has evolved a wily scheme, ostensibly devised to foster Polish nationality, but in reality to secure as many Poles nr. possible to fight against the Allies. It will be remembered that on the outbreak of the ~ war the Czar announced his intention of ie conferring Home Rule on Poland, but le the capture of Warsaw and the invasion of the Germans has naturally put that project aside for the time being. Now Germany conies forward with a proi clamation that the Austrian and German Emperors have agreed to establish an "independent" Poland, with a hereditary monarchy, constitution, and national army. It is significant that no sooner have the artificially-created demonstrations been carried out as a sign to the world of Polish rejoicings than a wireless- message is received at ts Geneva to the effect that "autonomy will not commence till after the war." The subtle devilry of this nefarious _ scheme only becomes apparent in the light of this wireless message, which clearly means that the Poles will be swept into the German war machine to l " prolong the war, and that when peace n _ is declared Germany will not be in a >n position to control the destiny of the is Russian Poles, who, instead of being "' granted autonomy by Rtftsia as a reM ward for ,'dherenee to the Russian se cause, may naturally look forward to he harsh treatment for their treating ' e , Russia as an enemy. It is truly a most diabolical plan, in which the Germans

stand to gain, anil the Polos arc bound to lose. As ii matter of fact, the German ruse is nothing but a forcible enrolment of Poles in the fighting line of the Germans under the guise of a fictitious independence. The German authorities know full well they have no right to a. voice in the disposal of Poland until final victory 11413 given them that right, but the need for men is pressing, German morality is nonexistent, the Poles are either being] vilely duped or cruelly coerced, and j Germany is posing as the champion of Liberty, yet all the while caring for nothing but getting hold of the million or so Poles to swell the Austro-German forces. The French newspapers were quick to discover this disgraceful subterfuge, and to expose it freely and strenuously. For months past, we are told, the German papers have been ingeniously attempting to prepare the Russian Poles to flock to the German colors. It was thought that the 'Poles were quite alive to Germany's object, but flattery and guile, coupled with organised, official promptings, may >have made an impression on the less intelligent. The idea of Poland as a buffer State —always between the upper and nether millstones—is flattering to Germany ingenuity, but if the Poles only thought for a moment they could not fail to come to the conclusion that their again becoming a nation was dependent entirely on the power of Germany being so broken that 'Poland could not be menaced or tyrannised over by the Teutons. It suits the German plans to imply that Russia is the menace, and not Germany, but the crime that the latter is now perpetrating is one for which she will have to answer when the day of reckoning comes. Meanwhile it is to be hoped that the Poles will not jeopardise their future independence by fighting agtiinst Russia. It is most probable that this move of Germany has a very close connection with lier efforts tc get Russia to make a separate peace, but it should serve a diametrically opposite pnrpose, and increase the Allies' efforts to put an end to sucli abominable iniquities.