Great Falls tribune., 1921-06-13
WHAT SAW IN UPPER sILEs'A

Some aspects of the situation IN
Upper Silesia and the facts about Ger
man enterprise in that countr. are de-
scribed BY Mr.. Edgar P. Ratabone, IN
an interview with a representative OF
the London Observer. Mr.. Rathbone
who was at one time chief government
inspector of mines on the Rand, mas
Just returned from tour in his capa-
city as a mining engineer through the
industrial districts of Upper Silesia.
'This," he said, ''is what l saw:
First Of all, the Upper silesian coal
basin is the most important coal region
that has been developed in eastern
Europe. 1t possesses at least ~ gooo
workable coal seams. with sufficient
coal, at the rate, of fifty million tons
a year, to last for three hundred years
at the very least. The whole of this
region has been developed entirely By
German capital and enterprise.
Besides the coal. which is largely
steam coal. there is the most important
zinc mine in central Europe. and there
are fairly large quantities Of lead and
copper ores. Large chemical works
turn out great quantities OF the hy-
products of coal. and there Is a great
deal of machinery manufactured.
'In connection with all these indus
tries the Germans have developed a
wonderful system of housing and edu-
eating their work people The work
ers live frequently in colonies. with
tenement houses. flats and cottages at
the lowest possible rentals. stores tor
purchasing at practically cost price al
the things in every day use. schools,
kindergarten, domestic classes for
girls, gymnasia, and all kinds of baths,
including hot and cold spray, electric,
and so on.
''All these up-to-date and economic
al arrangements and benefits for the
work people are due to German lnltia-
tive. The work people are parity Ger
man and partly Pole. but in no case IS
the Polish population of Upper S'lesia
what may be termed true Pole. The
language is a dialectic mixture Of Ger
man and Polish. often called Wasser-
Polish, and if any part OF the district
were to be placed under Polish admin
istration. and the Poles were to insist
upon their language being taught IN the
schools. the Wasser-Polish population
would not be able to understand their
teachers.
''The large majority Of this Polish
population. and the German also. are
Roman Catholics. In the agricultural
districts the people are extremely lgno-
rant. and are easily persuaded to sup
port whichever party the politicians
and priests tell them to support. lhese
poor people are naturally very much
between the devil and tho deep sea. ior
under Polish rule they would be liable
to be called into the army. and unher
German rule they are responsible Tor
their proportion of the war debt.
Another factor in the situation IS
that Poland has had large sums OK
money advanced by the French gov
ernment. and that French SPECTATORS
have taken up large concessions ana IN
terests in the country. This factor
might easily influence French SYM
pathies towards the Polish plebiseite
''The Polish government did not, as
far as ! could see, show itself to De
at all competent to deal with the 7eiy
difficult situation that has arisen 10
Of the Germans beng un,
named and their own people wen
euipped with weapons. Banditti are
coming into Upper silssia
and robbing and numbering the people,
In the great industrial area. Several
shocking crimes were committed While
I was there. usually by men who drove
up in motor cars and shot their victims
and ransacked their premises. and al
ways got away unpunished.
"Imagine," Mr.. Rathbone ADDED
''the effect Of all these crimes on
peaceful population, whose only DE,
sire il to get back into full work. ana
thus help the country to contribute ITS
proportion towards the payment OF the