The Washington herald., 1920-05-09
POLAND'SARMY
7OO,OOcSFR0NG
Forces Spread Over Larger
Territory Than Held by
Franco-Americans.
SPRUNG FROM NOTHING
Nucleus Formed by Volun-
teers-Yank Aviators
Gave Much Help.
SPRUNG FROM NOTHING

y
from nothing at all at the time the
armistice was signed to a weIl-or-
ganized force now battering at the
gates of Kiev and threatening Boil
shevist military domination in Rus
sia was outlined yesterday by Maj.
Gen. Sigismund Brynk. military
attache of the Polish Legation in
Washington The Polish military
establishment is regarded by some
American military observers as one
of the most amazing Developments
of after-the-war organization.
Poland has an army of 100000
men. She Is maintaining q front
greater than the Franco-American
front during the war. Less than
two years ago Poland was non-ex-
istent from a military standpoint
There was no Polish government.
There was no centralized authority.
no army and no machinery for rails
ing an army.
Faced Two Foes.
AT the time of the collapse of
the central empires" Gen. Brynk
said, Poland, without a govern
ment, devastated by the invading
ARMIES in the intense fighting of
the preceding four years. faced two
foes. On one side were the Ger
mans. determined to keep their
grip on as much of the country as
they could. On the other, were the
Bolshevists who, aided by Germany,
gradually were pushing their way
westward. Besides. from the south
east the Ukranians were pressing
forward and the Czecho-Sloyaks
were reaching out for the mineral
district of Gallicia.
AT the time Of the signing of
the armistice the Germans held
Warsaw. Riga and the shores or
the Baltic. No sooner had they be-
gun their retirement than the Boil
sheviki, loosely organized forces
deVotinE themselves largely to pill
lage, advanced taking vilno. On
all sides Poland was hemmed in by
antagonists. 1t was a country, as
the saying went at the time. with
out frontiers. but with fronts.
Volunteers Flock to CoIors.
: The task of establishing a mill
tary force to defend the country
and maintain order was taken up
spontaneously by the harassed peo-
pie. Voluntarily the fighting men
Of the country, most of whom had
been drafted in the Russian, Ger
man or Austrian armies, came to
the newly hoisted Polish coiors.
The secret military organization
built up by Gen. Pilsudski serveo
as a nucleus. The military stores
and equipment abandoned by the
retreatlng armies were seized and
a cohesive force created.
When, in November, 1918. Pill
70
Germany, where he had been con-
hned. he was called upon to act as
chic fof state. and Immediately az
ter his appointment he issued a
Proclamation to the Polish people
IN which he asked for volunteers
for the Polish army.
The passionate patriotism was so
great. and Pilsudskfs name so wor-
shipped by the young generation
mat in April. 1919. the Polish army
numbered approximately 100000
soldiers.
Speed Was Essential
Soldiers of Polish birth who at
that time were in the Austrian.
German and Russian armies also
Joined this volunteer organization.
1t was imperative that this army
De organized with the greatest speed
possible. because of the danger that
confronted Poland from two sides.
the Bolsheviks and the Germans.
UP to February of 1920, when a
parliament comes into existence.
k chis army was one composed en-
tirely OF volunteers. Then, pariia-
ment passed a law Of compulsory
service. and called to the colors
men between the ages of from 20
to IS years, which marked the be-
ginning OF a regular Polish army,
Polish legfons. the German, Aus
trian and Russian armies, contrib
uted great number Of experienced
oficers, and in April, 1913. the for
nation OF a military school for Of
ficers was begun
Helped by Americans.
AT the same time the establish
ment of an aviation school was In
process. and in this last mentioned
= Undertaking. great assistance was
recelVed from American aviators
VINO FORMED the Koszciusko Squad
ron, and also participated in the
last battles on the UkrainIan frons
against the Bolsheviks.
Up to March. 1919, the fighting
was carried on exclusively by vol
unteers. In that month the gov
crnment. having been hastily es-
taohshed in the meantime, the draft
law was proclaimed. It became ef-
feetive the following month.
"All this time lighting was poinr
on with the Germans, who reluct.
sntly gave up Polish territory that
had been Incorporated in the Prus-
sian Empire. To Posnania, especia,-
ly. they clung tenaciously. Gradu-
ally the Germans were forced out
returning to East and West Prussia
Poiish authority was set up and
maintained in Polish territory,
Reds Otherwise oeeupfed.
fortunately the Bolsheyiyxi AZ
this time were fighting with Kol-
cnak ana Denikine and were not in
position to force the fighting on
taken by Gen. Pilsudski in April.
1919 The next offensive In INV
forced the Bolshevik east of Minsk.
In December the joint drive Of the
Poles and Let's cleared the Baltic
region. -- =.
AT length the line as IL stands
at present was established in the
north. In the south II faced terri
tory held by Gen. Denekine, At
one time his forces and the Poles
were in contact
while the attention Of the Boil
shevists was diverted by the KoI-
chak and Denil<ine drives Poland
converted its army into a thorough
" trained fighting force. We were
badly In need of supplies and am
nIunition. The allied governments
being no longer at war. sent some