Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-01
AMERICA URGED
TOSAVEPOLAND
Gertrude Atherton Sug-
gests Dispatch of U. S.
Troops to Check Reds
SUPPLIES ARE REQUIRED
Many Poles in Our Army
Would Be Glad to
Serve
BY GERTRUDE ATHERTON
Special Cable to Evening Public Ledeer

by GERTRUDE ATHERTON
Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger
Copyright. 1919. bD Nc,o York Times Co.
Paris. Jan. 1.--Although the confer.
ences are at a standstil for the mo.
ment. owing to the holidays. there is
a continuous buzz of speculation over
the first subjects to be treated by the
over priority claims.
After hearing all sides and almost
with equal sympathy, It is impossible
not to come to the conclusion that the
Polish question is the most significant
SO far as the peace and general well.
being of Europe are concerned.
American sympathy for Poland has
been largely sentimental Once q
great and powerful nation, she was
bitterly wronged by the PARTITION. and
during the recent war was devastated
more thoroughly by the Germans than
France or Belgium. The eloquence of
Paderwski opened many purses in the
United States and inspired still more
good wishes for the union of the three
several parts of the ancient kingdom.
So far so good and no doubt the great
nations will keep their pledges to re.
store to the smaller and long.op.
pressed races their ancient rights.
But that is a question for tomor.
row, and the Polish question of the
day-of the moments acute
If it is treated with Indifference
chaos may result in a large part of
Europe. a Bolshevist army is on its
eastern border. The German eastern
army. under Hoffman,, whose mum.
bers are estimated at from 100000 to
100000. is in the northeast and is
either sympathetic with the Bolshe.
wiki or using them for it's own ne.
farious purposes.
Allied Help is Necessary
General Pils,' sky has a small loyal
army in Poland, but few arms and lit.
tie ammunition. and his men even lack
shoes. General Haller, head of the
Polish army in France, Is hoping from
day to day to be permitted to take his
10000 men to Poland; and, although
there may be natural rivalry between
the two generals, they are agreed on
one point-they cannot stem the Bol
shevist tide without Allied help.
1t is all very well to say that the
French and British armies are tired
'and should be demobilized as quickly
4 as possible. They have done their
part. No one grudges them a well
earned rest. or. at least. asks more OF
them than police duty. But Is is quite
otherwise with the American army. II
is true that the Americans want to get
home. but they are as hardy as 10,
of backwOodsmen, and there is nc
sign of war wearness among them
comparable to that which you see IN
the face of every poilu. There is q
great work still to be done in Europe
and we must do it if we are to save
the peace of the world.
However. so far as Poland goes the
vast majority of the American army Is
quite safe. But in this American
army there are 10000 men of Polish
birth or blood. They would give rec
blood and morale to present Polish
armies. and their deathless nationa
spirit would make them respond ca
gerly as volunteers if an opportunity
were given them, or would send then
off cheerfully under orders. But they
must take not only arms, ammunition
and clothing for themselves, but fol
the brave. ragged Polish army. Ever
women and children are massed OF
the frontier against the well-equippe,
Bolshevik and their German well
wishers.
Poland Robbed by Prisoners
Two million Russian prisoners hav,
been sent home across Poland. pillagin,
as they go. The German prisoners from
Russia have been worse. Eight hundre,
thousand Polish workmen, driven int
Germany in the course of the war. hav
been sent home, and they are pauper
for the most part.
The wonderful national spirit o
Poland is in danger of being extin
gushed by atrocious sufferngs and end
Iess misfortunes II the Bolshevis
plague obtains entrance it will sprea
like the Spanish influenza, for there
no more infectious germ than that O
anarchy and revolution among despair
ing men. And if that great and CROWN
army of Bolsheviki sweeps across Polan
II will enter both the Central Power
and Italy. and then there will be chao
for more years than we shall live to SCI
Hindenburg may save Germany if hi
own army is unaffected. but if he doe
IL will be to conquer Poland and Russia
and in that case this great and terribl
war will have been n mere prelude. Wit
Russia under her heel Germany ca
laugh at the surrender of her fleet an
at the Allied occupation of the Rhin
provinces When. her new day come
she will sweep the earth, and we sha
go down with the rest.
Only a strong, united buffer State lili
Poland can avert this tragedy. If "
make her strong enough to hold tn
Bolshevikl on the one hand and Gel
many OF the other the world may loo
forward to a long period of peace. bl
not otherwise.
Poland an Economic Question
Germany has little coal of her owl
The great mines that supply her are
Poland, just as her great iron min,
were In Lorraine. Deprived of coal an
iron, no country can dominate other
II is not a sentimental question, but a
economic one. 1t may interest US to lo1
forward to the restoration of Polan
because she occupies romantic place
history, but it should interest us muC
more to save ourselves from a choit
between domination by blood thirst
anarchists and cruel Germans.
Besides the Polish soldiers in Franz
there are thousands Of Poles in Il
United States who would volunteer to
IN Poland at once IL the Governme
could equip and send them over.
had a long talk with General Hall
today, He Is a lean, active wiry man
not tall but so full of force and ma
netism that you know at once his II
mense popularity with the Polish trooI
His narrow, dark face, with its rath
Tartar eyes, flashes with an intelligen
that inspired me with immediate con