Iditarod pioneer., 1915-08-28
POLAND AND THE WAR

Nearly all the great battles being fought on the eastern front in the European war are in territory that once made up the large independent kingdom of Poland. The present population ot what was formerly Poland is about 500O0,OO0, or practically the same as the population of Austria Hun gary Posen and parts of East Prussia and West Prussia, now German territory, were Polish, as were also Galcla and BukoWlna, now Austrian territory. What Is now known as Poland is in Russia, but there was more Russian territory once Polish,
 Poland passed out as an independent coun- try more than 100 years ago, or shortly be- fore the close of the American Revolutionary war, but 1t Is said that more than 20,OOO,- 900 Poles today cherish hope that they will again have a country of thelr own. Russia several weeks ago gave promise to restore Poland and in this way encouraged the Russian Poles to fight against Germany. Whether the Poles generally believe the promise will be kept IS unknown. They seem to be divided in opinion, though many of them think Germany would be less likely to give up territory once Polish than would Russia.
 Had Poland not been partitioned but had remained an independent country, perhaps there would have been no war today. In that event Germany would not have bor- dered on Russia and might not have held the Russian Slav to be such menace.
 Poland fell, according to William J. Sho walter in the National Geographic Magazine, because of the selfish individualism of her nobles, who constituted one-twentieth of the
 l l. l fo ing rights to the peasants. Unanlmous con sent of the nobles was required to adopt any vital proposition. Usually at least one held out, and this caused Poland to become weak, while adjacent nations became strong. The nobles were strong for freedom, but Ii was an individual freedom.
 So the stronger powers, Russia, Prussia and Austria decided to cut Poland up and take over the pieces. Poland was partl- tioned three different times. Finally the dl vision was settled by the congress of Vienna in 1915. under which Russia received 32O,- 500 square miles, Prussia 26 900 and Aus tria 35 ,000 It was the underst andlng at the time that Russian Poland should remain a kingdom, but the Russian czar was to be the king Otherwise the two govern ments were to be distinct. Various revolts in Poland Ted to the complete absorption of the kingdom into the Russian empire"
 The present Poland lying between the Prussias and Galicia is about the size of New York state, but has population as great as that of New York and New Jersey combined. Russia has tried many measures to kill the national spirit of the Poles. The Polish language was for some time forbid den and the singing of national songs was tabu Yet it IS said that the Russian Poles are now fighting loyalty in the Russian army, as the Prussian Poles are fighting in the German army.
 Germany has employed some of the tao tics of Russia in trying to suppress Polish nationalism, but has had little more sue cess than Russia. There are about 100000 Poles in Germany Mir. Showalter says Aus tria has never treated her Poles as Russia and Germany have treated theirs Austria has proceeded on the theory that the spirit of nationalism carefully directed would be- come a source of strength to the Austrian government. The Austrian Poles are free to sing their national songs and use their national language.
 Except that they must pay their taxes to Austria and serve in Austria's army, they are practically governing" says MT. Sho- walter And well this may be, for all the world knows that it was Sobiesbi and his fellow Poles who saved Vienna and rescued Europe from the Turks"
 The world will await with profound in terest the effect of the great war on the restoration of an independent Poland fondly hored for by millions of Poles-Tacoma Ledger