The Ocala evening star., 1922-12-30
THE GREATEST
GENERAL OF POLAND

Joseph Pilsudski was born in Lithu-
ania in 1867. His parents belonged
to the gentry of Poland. All the mem
bers of his family had taken part in
the revolution of 1864 against Rus
sia and the boy grew up with broad
understanding and knowledge of the
struggle of Poland for independence,
and with a hatred for Russian op-
pressors in his heart. He completed
the course in the high school of Vino,
and then went to the medical school of
Charkoff, one of the best in Russia.
At Charkoff the young Pole organized
club among the university students.
The club was discovered by the Rus
sian authorities, and as such things
were counted dangerous in those days
in Russia, it was promptly disbanded
and Pilsudski was ordered to leave the
school and the city.
Pilsudski returned to Vino and
never had change again to continue
his regular university studies. In
later years he completed his education
by reading, but never went to the
university again. In Vino, the Rus
sian authorities suspected him of TAX
ing part in plot against the czar,
and then suddenly arrested him and
banished him to Siberia for Ave years
without trial. The unfairness of this
proceeding revolted Pilsudski, and
from that moment his career was de-
cided. In Siberia Pilsudski joined the
Polish socialist organization, and
when he returned to Poland in 1894,
he took an active part in the work of
the party. For six years he was the
editor of its secret newspaper.
In 1900 Pilsudski was arrested
again. This time capital punishment
awaited him. He feigned insanity and
escaped from prison with the help OF
friends. He left Poland and for four
years he lived in western Europe
visiting England, Switzerland, France
and Austria.
During the war between Russia and
Japan Pilsudski tried to organize ar
uprising in Poland with the help OF
Japan. He went with this project tc
Toxic, but when he reached Japan the
war was nearly over and the nationa'
democrats, fearing defeat, put STOP
to his activities.
Then Pilsudski returned to Europe
and settled in Cracow, where the
Poles had more political freedom thar
elsewhere in the country. He realized
nothing could be done without {
Polish army, so he set about organic
ling one. In Galicia there were many
athletic clubs, and Pilsudski's ides
was to change these into military or
ganizations The Austrian govern
ment gave Pilsudski permission to or
ganiZe troops to be used in case of ;
war with Russia, and in 1910 the Pill
sudski secret troops were transferred
to an official organization called th'
"Sharp Shooters" General Halle
was an able organizer of these forces
and encouraged Polish youths to joi1
them.
When the great war broke out Il
1914, Pilsudski decided that the wors
enemy of Poland was Russia. There
. fore he took part in the war with hi
. troops against that country. Whel
, the czarist regime fell in 1917, he de
cided that the fight against the prin
cipal oppressor, Russia, should END
and henceforth he directed agains
the next bitterest enemy, the Ger
mans. At that time the Germans ha
formed a so-called independent Polls
state, with a view to the formation Q
an all-Polish army to fight on thei
side against the Allies. Pilsudsl
openly protested. He was arrested b
the Germans and imprisoned in tn
German fortress of Madgeburg wher
he remained until November 1918. II
returned to Poland and was appointe
chief of state, which Office was unan
mously conferred on him by the die
in February 1920.
4 Poles generally appreciate Pilsuc
skis efforts in the cause Of indepenc
erce although his personality on
politics are very often criticised. Hi
opponents accuse him of being to
autocratic. They aver that the ur
fortunate Kieff expedition, in the sun
mer of 1920, was made entirely o
his decision and in spite of the Pre-
tests of the diet, and that the pre-
tracted cabinet crises in the summe