Evening star., 1937-03-14

to the prisoner of Magdeburg, whom
Warsaw received as a conquerlng
hero. The three Fmperors had lost
their thrones, and after four gener-
ations of thraldom Poland was to be
| free again.
Warsaw Is Saved.
The dreams of old haunted the
| founders OF the new republic, who now
cast their eyes upon the country's
eastern marches, where in days gone
by Greater Poland had stretched from
sea to sea. So PilSudSki led his young
army toward the East Past many
steepled Kiev he led his legions, and
a dream was about to be realized
Then the tide turned with breath
taking rapidity. The Communist cav
airy leader, Budenny, led the attack,
! and the Polish army was in full re-
treat. Warsaw, the capital of the
young republic, was within sight of
the pursuing Bolshevists when the
miracle Of the Vistula" occurred 1t
was now the Polish army's turn to
write dramatic history with a sudden
! offensive. In the Summer of 1920
Warsaw was saved In all these bat
ties Rydz-Smigly played a prominent
part; he became inspector of the Wilma
| district.
For the ensuing Is years Gen. Rydz-
Smlgly had a chance to display his
| genius for self-effacement. But,
| although he was little known, he con-
stantly rose in the estimation of Pill
sudski In May, 1926, Pilsudsk de-
cided to do away with parliamentary
rule and staged coup detat, while
! Rydz-Smigly's soldiers stood by to
support him if need be. The plot
succeeded, and once more Pilsudski
was acclaimed Poland's savior, al
though this time the Left Wing did
no cheering. Refusing to accept his
election as President of the republic
he merely occupied the post of war
minister. Nevertheless, all knew that
he was the real master.
Rydz-Smigly did not join the crowd
OF officers who sought influence and
glory in the government of the
"Sanacja"-national publication. But
he moved ahead and became inspector
general of the Warsaw army district
The rumor spread that Pilsudski pre-
ferred him to all the pushing young
colonies who sought to catch his eyes
In May, 1885, the founder of modern
Poland died and Gen. -Smigly
was catapulted into public notice The
people of Poland held their breath
when the testament of the late mar
shal was read:
Il appoint Gen. Edward Rydz.
Smlgly first defender of the father,
land =. to take precedence over al
officers OF the state, including the
prime minister, all of whom owe hin
reverence and unquestioning obedi.
ence."
Becomes No. l Citizen.
Overnight Rydz-Smigly became Pc.
lands No. l citizen. The military
politicians, popularly known as tht
"colonels," were appalled, Rumor!
of underground discomfort spread IL
Warsaw.
But so strong was the magic poWe,
of Pilsudski's name that even in tht
grave he scored. Last November Presi
dent Ignatz Moscicki handed to RydZ
Smigly the marshals baton. A Law
was passed placing him above the gov
ernment and the prime minister, al
though nominally the President still
retains extensive rights.
Rydz-Smigly's rise to power ha
already effected basic change in hi
country's foreign affairs. The choic,
had to be made between France ant
Germany synonymous terms TO
peace and war. During Pilsudski's pro
tracted illness relations with Franc
had grown cold. Three years ago th'
Reich and Poland signed a treaty o
: arbitration for 10 years by dint o
which theil territorial differences wer
left pending. The signing of the pac
was accompanied by a spectacula
change in the Third Reich's attitude
toward the Poles.
The pro-Nazi policy was sponsoret
; by Poland's foreign minister, Josepl
Beck, prominent member of the col
onel's clique His anti-French bias wa
notorious.
T Change Is Forecast.
Then came Marshal Rydz-Smigly
and his pro-French reputation fore
cast a change. Seventeen years ag
: his country and France had signed
} treaty that amounted to a militar
alliance This document, however, Pc
land no longer seemed to hold in ia
vor. The marshal set to work withou
delay, and his will prevailed.
The success Of his policy was partl
due to Germany's unintended helr
The Reich had torn up the militar
provisions of the Versailles treaty, Will
{ Then the Third Reich began its attac
upon the Free City of Danzig, whicl
, the peace trainers had intended to
T Polands avenue to the sea and worl
, commerce.
| Coincidentally, the French revise
: their former patronizing attitude to
. ward the Poles, whom they now begal
. to treat as a people of importance.
Poland has promptly started tn
E construction of a line Of fortification
to keep Germany in her proper place
= France has also offered her service
, to the marshal in an effort to clear u
t a misunderstanding with her southern
| neiphbor. CZechoslovakia. These pre-
Y liminaries may ultimately lead to tn
formation Of a "bloc Of peace" in tn
Es-., which max prove an effectiv