The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-03

lierics and foundries In which they
worked. The companies had their lead
ers and were grouped together in
brigades. II Is impossible 70 deny that
the organization was founded with the
idea OF a possible conflict with the Ger
man authorities, but It was done after
nearly all responsible leaders OF the
workmen had been either arrested on
charged OF conspiracy or driven from
the country to avoid arrest
The statement that regular Polish
troops Joined the insurgents are based
apparently on the fact that members
of Polish units deserted, crossed the
frontier and Joined in the fighting.
though the German press pretends the
insurgents were led by Polish, even
French officers. do not believe this
claim H. seriously made by the German
authorities.
German papers speak glibly OF Polish
atrocities. Photographs have been
widely circulated as proof. think e
is unlikely these cases are genuine in
view OF what the Poles have had TO
stand from the Germans. / may say,
however, that the Polish military in
telligence agents have evidence which
have not yet been able to get that
these atrocities were manufactured by
the Germans themselves to promote
counter propaganda.
| Germans Regret situation.
To sum up the impressions / received
during a short journey across the from
tier, believe that the Germans are
beginning to regret the situation in
which they are placed. They realize
that the way in which Herr Hoerzing
carried out the policy of the Government
has carried them further than they ever
intended to go. They are now making
the best of a bad job.
The persons chiefly interested, German
| owners and officials. hoped to obtain a
| favorable result from the plebiscite, mrs,
by the liberal use of propaganda, and
second, by the Bismarckian policy OF the
iron hand accomplished by slilful elm
ination from the arena of the most un-
compromising Polish par'isans. This
second policy clumsily applied by Herr
Hoerzing has resulted in the situation
| in Upper Silesia becoming q scandal In
the eyes of the world, and the produc-
tlon of the coal mines being lower than
ever.
Judging from reports and appear
ances, at least one-fourth of the
| working population Of Upper Silesis
presently will be absent, They have
taken refuge either In Poland or are In
hiding or in prison. Certainly condi'
tons are more normal In the factories
and foundries than in the mines. where
labor is less easily controlled, but 1t ID
not Of the quality which makes for 9
normal. rate of production. The men are
working sulkily under pressure of the
Hoerzing proclamation that those who
do not work are liable to arrest
The spirit of terror still is abroad In
the person of plain clothes policemen
and patrols which fire machine gun.
down village streets at night.
Occupation the Remedy.
The Germans would gladly see tn,
refugees across the frontier return (,
work. but they will not return as long a.
|, the Germans are in command TIL,
, sooner the allied troops of occupation
enter Silesia the better for the world
for not until then will anything like nor
NAL conditions be restored.
, The situation may be summed up Il
the words spoken ito me by a refuge
!. miner the other day. Apart from hi
was thoroughly typical Of his class. H
. said:
, I'VE are not particular about condi
J lions of work as long as we have free
dom. We had to put up with 80 nue.
{ that one hour more in the week will no
hurt lis. I give you my word that
, only the Entente will send troops to RI
US entirely of the Grenzschutz the me
} win go back to work and raise produc
ton higher than 1t was before the wa
! and work an hour extra II need be {
/ get coal for the Entente"