Unforgivable Outrage

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 28, 21 June 1940, Page 2

Unforgivable Outrage

' , : As hard pressed- as the Allies may,, be, their indomitable spirit would never give way to a murderous gangster and his bestial followers who slay innocent children and revel in it. - < The following article from the “Post’s” London representative, and published in the “Evening Post” on .June 15th proves to us' that Hitlerism MUST BE DEFEATED:— “From the time of the taking of Bydgoscz, agents of the Gestapo have been..pursuing the Polish Scouts. They rounded up more than a hundred of them and herded ‘them in front of the Town Hall. ~ They were young boys of between 10 and 16 years of age, wearing either Scout uniform or school clothes. At the same time they took other victims until they had collected about 150. ’ - HH' Passers-by did not realise, at first, what it was all about. The guards suddenly spread out and the Scouts were lined up in front of the wall of the' Town Hall. Opposite them the Germans set up a machine-gun. The Scouts realised at last what was to take place and took off their hats; from a nearby church a priest came out and forced a way for himself through the crowd towards . the intended victims. ’ The Germans held him back, but the priest raised his hands and with the crucifix held aloft gave benediction to those youngsters who awaited their death. The Scouts knelt and offered up their prayers. From the Germans there came a short order. . The soldiers manned the machine-gun, whilst the Scouts sang the Polish National Anthem, “Boze cos polsce.” At this moment the priest was removed by force and the Scouts straightened up, crying out “Long Live Poland!” The stutter of the machine-gun broke out and the line of Scouts slowly grew less as the victims fell one after the other, with a last cry of “Long Live Poland.” Even some of the Germans could not bear to witness ..this dreadful sight and one after the other they went away murmuring “Diese -kleine Helden” (these little heroes). In the distance the motionless priest held the crucifix in his rasied hands. When the last Scout had fallen the Gestapo - agents threw themselves on him to arrest him. He was condemned to clean the latrines. Since that time his fate is unknown. The above information is given by the Boy Scouts’ Association.” •