Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-02
Women Of Poland
Prepare 10 Take Up
Arms in Wartime
Million Getting Ready
To Train Their Sex
In Defense Work
Nv MARYLLA CHRZANOWSKA,

III SSiSuSS w WIN
By MARYLLA CHRZANOWSKA,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent
WARSAW. Poland. July 1.-The
district mobilizing officer looked up
in surprise. In front of him stood
young peasant woman. She was out
of place in the long line OF young
men who had been called to the
colors as Poland took prompt steps
to meet national crisis.
What do you want?" challenged
the officer.
The young peasant woman held
out mobilization order.
MY husband is i'll. He is not
strong enough to do his duty now.
/ will take his place for the time
being"
AS an incident in Poland's mo-
billzatlon in March, in reply to Ger
msny's demands on this country,
this occasioned no great surprise in
2 Poland.
> This country had "Woman's
Legion" in 1920. During the World
War Polish women served as battle
field couriers. Only a few weeks
aeo Nine. Alexandra PilsudSkl,
widow of Marshal Pilsudski, de-
clared in a public address, In the
event of war it will not be sufficient
for women to replace the men in
the rear guard of the army. When
necessary they must be prepared to
replace the man on the battlefield
as we'll"
Training in 43 Groups.
Today over a million Polish wom-
en-, grouped into 43 organizations,
are preparing themselves to train
the rest of the women of Poland to
work with the male population in
defense of the country.
Foreign observers, in evaluating
the resistance strength of Poland.
take into account not only the COM
parative youth of the population,
60 per cent being under 80 years
of age, but also the physical and
moral strength of the Polish women.
A good 10 per cent of Poland's
population lives on farms which
means that women will be called
upon to carry on the bulk of farm
ing activity, on which the nation
depends. For centuries Polish
peasant women have toiled in the
field shoulder to shoulder with their
men. Physically, they are as strong
as men, with an almost tireless
energy.
Preparedness Campaign.
The present campaign of war pre-
parednesss for Polish women con-
sists of Cd training of young and
healthy women without family duties
to auxiliary military service, (2) pre-
pairing those who cannot leave their
homes to replace men as far as
possible in public services and fac
tories, 80 teaching all Polish wom-
en- how to defend themselves and
their homes in case of attack.
This ''Women'S war preparedness
organization dates back as far as
1922 when a group of women who
had actually fought in the legions
of Pilsudski and the -Bolshevik
war of 1920 formed together as
permanent group to train young
women to auxiliary military serv-
Ice
Working through econdary
schools, and also through special
summer camps. training is now being
provided in health services. air raid
defense, educational work among
soldiers. and liaison duties. The age
OF recruits ranges from Is to As.
Law Regulates Service.
This auxiliary military service for
women is regulated by Polish law.
The army bill of March, 1898, de-
clared that women undergo uni
versal military service only when
they volunteer for 1t" with the ex-
ception that ION motion of the
minister of war, the cabinet NAV
compel women with secondary edu-
cation, between the ages of 10 and
[-45, to be trained for auxiliary mill
tary service in peace time"
Polish history has been particu-
larry rich in woman heroines, be-
ginning with the legendary Princess
wanda, who committed suicide to
save Poland from the vengeance of
German prince who had threat
ened to overrun the country if the
Princess refused to marry him.
Then there was Queen Jadwiga.
who agreed to marry the old and
unattractive Prince Jagiello of Lith-
uania for the sake of her country.
There was Zofja Chrzanowska. who
seized the command from the hands
OF her husband when the latter was
about to surrender the fortress of
Trembowla to the Turks in the 18th
century, and who held the fort until
the arrival Of reinforcements.
Important in Uprisings.
Two important figures in the
Polish uprisings against the Rus
slams were Col. Emilia Platter and
Henryka Pustowojt. Finally, the
thousands of woman couriers of the
Pilsudski legions and members of
the regular army unit, the Women's
Legion" in 1920. 1t is matter of
historical record that Polish women
were mainly responsible for the
saving of Lwow in 1919 and Plock in
1920 from the Ukrainians and Boil
sheviks.
Should need arise. it is pointed
out, Polish women can be expected
to again take an active part in de-
(fense of the country, shouldering
arms II necessary.