The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-21

would be situated just between Russia and
Germany. 1t would prevent the invasion
OF the Russians and the invasion of tho
Germans.
Poland. though oppr essed more than any
nation ever was, shows nevertheless such q
vitality as to command the admiration Of
the world. 1t produced of late such re-
markabe men of letters, painters, sculp.
tors, musicians, scientists that q German
critic, hostile to Poland, in admiration ex-
claims: "a nation which produces such
men is worthy to be independent"
Poland has suffered from many causes.
1t was once a republic with an elective
king; it had no natural boundaries; its
aristocracy ruled the country; the clergy
became insolent and the peasantry were
serfs OF their lords. But if Poland has
sinned. 1t has suffered enough, beyond en-
durance. 1t has been in mourning for over
a century.
1t is asserted by all that no military oper-
alton can strike the heart of so immense q
domain as Russia. 1t is defended by its
very immensely, and the campaign of
Napoleon has shown how dangerous it is
to invade Russia. But there are some
weak points ON the frontier, and especially
fiict serious wounds. Here the Vistula in
tersects the land from south to north, and
here the western basin of the river is de-
fenceless. and can be easily seized by the
Germans. Not so the eastern part of the
basin. The extensive swamps, impenetra-
BILE woodlands present already in them
selves great resisting force, besides in that
part are situated the most formidable fort
resses of central Europe. Warsaw is a
stronghold. and the fortress OF Ivangorod,
formerly Demblin. covers the approach
to the capital from the southwest.
Twenty-one miles below Warsaw the
united streams, Bug and Narew, join
the Vistula, and both streams
are commanded from the north
by the fortress of Modlin or Nevo-Geor-
giewsk, which passes for a model of mill
tary engineering. Lublin, formerly fort
ress, has been superseded by Zamose, which
commands the swampy uplands near the
Austrian boundary, and further toward the
east on the Bug is situated Brest- Litevski,
the second in importance of the fortresses
forming the Polish quadrilateral Here the
invading Germans and Austrians will be
checked, and here some decisive battles will
be fought
Germany. owing to its rapid means of
communication and to its superior mill
tary organization, can rapidly invade
Poland. But suppose now. that the Rus
SLAMS concentrate and drive the invaders
out They of course in that case invade in
their turn Prussia. and here again the an
cient provinces of Poland now under Prus-
STA sill become the battle-t field. Here Ger
many has in that region two strong fort
resses, Thorn. on the Vistula, and Posen,
on the Warta.
Cracow, the ancient capital of Poland, is
an Austrian fortress, and if war will be
carried on in Galicia. the Poles have to suf-
fer again. 1t is strange, but it is true.
Posen, Cracow and Warsaw. three former
capitals of Poland, and each of them is oc-
cupied now by different nation-Posen
by Prussia, Cracow by Austria. and War
saw by Russia Strange fatality.
The conference of the two emperors is
watched by millions of people, but by no
people so much as by the nation in mourn
ing. NJ. LoPATEcKI, Phi. d.