The Waikato Times THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1940 POLAND’S TRAGEDY

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21015, 18 January 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1940 POLAND’S TRAGEDY

Meagre news from Poland that seeps through devious channels to the outer world indicates that the defeated Polish nation is still suffering ghastly hardships and oppression. There is evidence that if the war should be prolonged, Poland’s agony will not be lessened but probably increased all through the period of the conflict. As in other directions, Germany is showing in Poland that she has little hope of winning the war, for she is reported to be making no attempt to reconstruct the stricken country. Apparently the Nazis argue that if there is a chance of losing Poland again they should not waste money and effort in attempting to repair the ravages of war. At sea Germany is showing the same hopelessness by literally driving her ships into the waiting arms of the Allies, or scuttling them. Those ships could be held in neutral ports, even if at some cost, to be claimed when Germany has gained the victory of which she alleges she is confident. But in Poland, over 30,000,000 people have been thrown into a shocking state of chaos, in which they must wait till succour comes. Germany is far more keenly interested in building machines of war and preparing heiself for the great campaign than in giving any sort of justice to the vanquished Poles. The plight of those millions is tragic indeed, and if the war is to last three or more years it will become much worse yet. It is difficult to see any help being given the Poles this side of the declaration of peace—unless one half of them embrace Bolshevism and the other half Nazi-ism. They have been disarmed and rendered incapable of serious resistance to their new masters. Germany and Russia are too pre-occupied, too careless or too hopeless of gain to lend a helping hand, and there is grave danger of the national morale becoming hopelessly submerged in a wave of disintegration. Murder and other crimes are reported to be rife already, despite the sternest repressive measures. In Warsaw alone it is reported that 170,000 were killed, and the capital city and many other towns have been wrecked, while thousands of farms are abandoned and neglected. It is doubtful whether Poland will be able to feed itself adequately, but it is certain that Germany and Russia will seize a large part of the country’s production.

If the lot of the Poles themselves is tragic, that of the several millions of Jews is far worse. All Jews between the ages of 14 and 60 years are undergoing two years of forced labour, which can be prolonged “if the instructive object is not attained.” What that means is open to the imagination. In addition the Jews have to find their own tools, food and blankets. In truth this despoiled land is eloquent of German and Russian “frightfulness” and an object lesson for the world. The fate of Austria and Czechoslovakia even has not been as cruel as that of the nation that dared to attempt to defend itself against Nazi aggression. One grave danger from the world s point of view is that the very depth of their suffering will compel the Poles to seek relief by capitulating to their Nazi and Bolshevik masters. It must be remembered that the victors’ propaganda machines are roaring ceaselessly over Poland, and it may be that the poison will take effect.