Evening star., 1942-05-03
Parachute Mission to Poland
Described by Army Officer
Underground Leaders Kept in Contact With
London; Defeated People Plan for Their Day

This story of q secret mission
to Poland by parachute is told
by q Polish Army officer t0hose
identity obviously cannot be dis
closed. He recently came to
Washington on his 1Day to an
other assignment in the Far East.
1t Is hard to suppress the longing
to see Poland again, even though the
visit be short and clandestine. I was
fortunate enough to win the draw
among many volunteers for a mis-
sion to Poland. MY trip was to be
made by airplane and parachute
landing. My comrades wished me
the best of luck, but looked at me
with envy.
Nothing about the technical de-
tails of my journey, nor the char
acter of my mission may be revealed
but I can now describe the journey
itself
I set out in one Of the latest type
bombers My friend. the pilot, rose
to more than $4,000 feet and re-
NAMED at that altitude. Our trip
was safe one and went exactly ac-
dark-a moonless night-when we
reached our destination. Last-min-
ute checkups, last words of God be
with you" and ] leveled of.
Descending by parachute, found
myself near a pine forest. Our cal
culations had not been completely
accurate, and I was forced to seek
contact with people. I wandered in
an unknown district before I caught
sight of village cottages. I ap-
preached one of them and knocked
on the door. The owner, an old
man, looked at me inquisitively,
questioned me.
Leader Is Brought In.
had a story prepared in advance:
was on my way to near city.
I Travelled by night; suddenly the
horses were frightened by a wild
boar; they got loose and ran wild.
fell out of the coach and wandered
in the forest trying to find place
to ask for nights lodging.
The old man listened attentively.
He agreed to take me in. We began
to talk about things in general, then
the conversation took a turn to pol
itics. At first both of us spoke cau-
tiously, but we gradually became
more open with our expressions The
old man seemed to understand the
situation better
You know" he said, there Is
some one In our village who knows
more than I do. I will fetch him
here-wait for mel" He returned
with man quite younger than him.
self and who impressed me with his
intelligent appearance. You two
can go on talking. while I go behind
the barn to take a nap" the old
man said and left us.
The conversation took an alto
gether new turn with my new COM
panion. realized that I could be
frank with him. He spoke with me
enthusiastically, eagerly and simply
astounded me with his knowledge
of the general international situa-
ton. He smiled, shook his head
and brought out several under
ground newspapers. I could hardly
believe my own eyes when I saw
the dates and the information
contained in them. My companion
proudly began to disclose the secrets
Of illegal newspaper printing. I
was soon convinced that the re-
ceiving Of broadcasts from abroad
was carried out in systematic and
accurate way. But it is a most
dangerous Occupation" He men
toned the names of the victims in
his district-women. children, aged
all lost without trace.
Revenge Is Promised.
Gods will! But with Gods help
we shall repay them"-his voice
took on tone of bitterness and re-
venge. Every one of them is
marked by us. Not one of them
will leave this place alive. For our
blood and suffering, for our degra-
dation and misery, for all of that
we will repay them, so help me
God! Remember that! Tell them
IN London that we shall wait for
them. The women especially are
fighting over the number of victims
each is to have. They have suffered
lot, they have wept too often"
Although very tired, I didn't sleep
that night. In the early morning
I left with my companion for the
city. On our way he spoke to me
OF his plight. Look" he said. "Its
a shame. I have one horse left
they took everything away from
me. Any day now may be forced
to beg for my living-I, a landowner
from generation to generation. Well,
we here in the villages have at least
something to put in our mouths.
but there in the cities-God help
them-they die like flies. But they
are just as tough as we are here.
Wait and see"
did see! I saw what every one
knew, but one has to see it with
ones own eyes to feel and under
stand the whole truth of this trag-
edy. What does a street In a Polish
rifv 1opk 1ikoo NHor1, x,,{xnI t.~,,.nz