Evening star., 1939-09-04
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

It was on October 10, 1894, that
Hope, for a season, bade the world
farewell, and freedom shrieked as
Kosciuszko fell"
The place was the battlefield of
Maciejowice, in Poland.
Freedoms shrek marked the end
Of Polands liberty.
Kosciuszko was Tadeusz Andrzej
Bonawentura Kosciuszko. He fought
In vain to save his native land from
disappearance into the borders Of
Prussia and Russia.
Kosciuszkos statue stands in La
fayette Park. With Casimir Pulaski,
the vivacious cavalry officer who
died in the Revolutionary War at
the Battle of Savannah, he prob
ably is the best known to Ameri-
cans Of all the Poles who ante
date Paderewski.
Rewarded by Congress.
Kosciusko was made a brigadier
general in the Continental Army in
1888 for long. faithful and hon
orable services Later Congress
showed its appreciation with a gift
to him of 500 acres in Ohio, 500 acres
which now are hidden by the build
ings of the City of Columbus. His
American exploits probably are ia
miliar to most. But perhaps few
are unaware that this American
Polish patriot played the leading
part in attempting to stave off for
Poland an annihilation similar to
the dissolution she faces now.
Thomas Campbell, the Scottish
poet who recorded freedoms shrek
in verse five years after the battle,
presents the Battle of Maciejowice
as the "bloodiest picture in the book
of Time"
There KoSciuszko was so battered
that two years later he still carried
the marks of the battle-"incurably
wounded in the head" (around which
he wore black kerchieD, has three
bayonet wounds in the back, and a
part of his thigh is carried away
by cannon shot" He could scarce
ly bear the torture of moving. And
Poland was dead, not to be revived
until after the World War.
The internal difficulties which
proved fatal for Poland were already
pulling the country toward her end
when Kosciuszko was born February
IL. 1746. His father was sword
bearer of the platinate of Brzesc
living in Lithuania in town known
to those who could pronounce it as
Mereczowszcyno. His background
was poor but well-born.
In Throes of Anarchy.
Nineteen years later he entered
the military academy in Warsaw
At almost the same time a new
King. Stanislaus II Poniatowski, was
put on the Polish throne. The
country was in state of anarchy.
One large group wished the liberali-
zation of the country. an opposed
group sought the retention of the
status quo.
The groups were led by noble
families who refused to be recon-
ciled. The new King was too weak
to control the situation. Frederick
the Great of Prussia and the EN-
press Catherine of Russia were in
terested in the internal disintegra-
ton of Poland for the enhance
ment Of their own power. In 1772
these two. with the Empress Maria
Theresa of Austria, partitioned Po-
land. taking for themselves fourth
Of the country's territory.
While the first partition was be-
Ing completed, Kosciuszko was study
Ing military engineering and the
technique of artillery in France. He
had scholarship for these studies
as result of his attracting the
notice of Prince Adam Casimir
Czartoryski, the leader of the liberal
group. The opponents of the Gar
toryskis were the Potockis, rich land
owners in Poland's south.
Kosciuszko returned to Poland
with the rank Of captain. His first
task resulted in his going to Amer
lea. He undertook to teach mathe-
matics to the daughters of the Het-
man of Lithuania, Sosnowski of
Sosnowica. He fell in love with
daughter Ludvika. The two eloped.
The mighty Hetman sent his RETAIN
ers after the couple. The retainers
returned with Ludvika after beat
ing her intended husband, whom
she never married.
Accepted by Washington.
The Polish captain moved on to
Paris, where he heard about the
American Revolution and received
letters of introduction from Benja-
min Franklin. After some hesita-
ton, Washington, who had had
enough of foreign officers unable to
speak English, accepted him into
the Army. He built the fortifica-
tions around Saratoga which con-
tributed to Burgoyne's defeat there.
He fortified West Point, and he was
Gen. Nathaniel Greene's chief engi-
neer in the southern campaign.
In 1871 the Polish internal prob
lem, quickened by the blows for per-
sonal liberty struck in the French
revolution, became critical. The
Diet adopted a liberal constitution.
Goaded by group of noblemen,
Catherine of Russia decided to war
on Poland to insure the constitu-
tions overthrow. Poland appealed
to her ally, Prussia, but King Fred
erick William declined to support
the country for the sake, as he put
1t. of a constitution which he had
never approved.
Against the Russian army of
100000, the Poles pitted $4,000
troops, which were led by Prince
Joseph Poniatowski. the King S
nephew, and Kosciuszko. Kos
ciuszko beat the Russians at Du-
bienka. The incredible victory over
the superior force assured Kos
ciuszko's lasting eminence as the
haro of tho Do1ich rooolo P,,t nm