DEATH OF “MAN OF IRON"

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20107, 14 May 1935, Page 9

DEATH OF “MAN OF IRON"

PASSING OF MARSHAL PILSUDSKI DIPLOMATIC REACTION ANTICIPATED United Press Association —Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyrlgbt (Received May 13, 6.30 p.m.) WARSAW, May 12. The death is announced of Marshal Joseph Pilsudski, virtual Dictator of Poland and Minister of Military Affairs, aged 72 years. The doctors state that Marshal Pilsudski’s death was due to cancer of the liver. Members of the Government, with the wife and two daughters of the dictator were at the bedside when he passed away. Restless Career Marshal Pilsudski, who was known as the “Iron Man of Poland,” was bom at Vilna, and when 19 years of age was sent to Siberia for five years. He organised a secret army on his return, but in 1907 fled from the country. In the Great War he sided with the Central Powers and led 18,000 Polish Legionaries until he was captured and imprisoned by the Germans in the Magdeburg fortress. On his release he returned in 1918 to Warsaw where he became supreme head of the Council of Regency. He invaded Russia in 1920 but was driven back.. He resigned his post as chief of the State in 1921, and as chief of the Army Staff in 1923. Re-appearing he drove out M. Witos in May, 1926, from the Premiership and since then has been virtually Dictator of Poland.

DEATH COMES AS SURPRISE DIPLOMATIC REPERCUSSIONS ANTICIPATED United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 13, 8.55 p.m.) WARSAW, May 13. The public had no idea that M. Pilsudski was a dying man, though his entourage was well aware of the crisis. The announcement eclipsed the interest in the visit of M. Laval (French Foreign Minister) which, however, has resulted in an official French intimation that there is nothing behind the Franco-Soviet pact to cause Poland the least anxiety. General Rydzsmigly has been appointed to succeed M. Pilsudski. General Rydzsmigly is popular with the army and is one of the best trusted of M. Pilsudski’s assistants.

General Kasrzyski has been appointed to the Ministry of War.