Evening star., 1942-05-03

to shadows by chronic hunger, sway
on their thin little legs; endless
lines of women stand in front of a
few food stores, often to wait in
vain, because they come first and
buy up everything without money
or cards. The sight of those swas-
tikas creates an atmosphere of
Sadism, terror and brings home the
nightmarish threat of the new
order" 1t is very real.
Underground Poland Explored"
I saw something else that was
very acknowledgement Poland. My
official mission carried me into it,
otherwise 1t Is extremely difficult
of access. Underground activities
in Poland are conducted throughout
the country. They are surrounded
by every precaution. Even had to
present my papers and prove my
right to make contact with the high
est underground authorities. For
obvious reasons I cannot disclose
even the minutest details of this
splendidly functioning organization.
But I saw how effectively and
fruitfully they work against the
Nad occupants on each of the fight
ing fronts.
I had been ordered to discuss a
very important problem with
Wladyslaw *" I had known him
in pre-war days as an able pro-
fessional man who led rather a
frivolous life. He had fought
bravely in the 1899 campaign, and
was now one of the staff of the
Polish underground movement.
I could hardly recognize him. He
was emaciated and bony, with a
deep, concentrated look and gray
hair. Seeing me, he smiled-prob-
ably recalling the gay" old days
He greeted me heartily. Suddenly
he looked at his watch and pressed
a button concealed in a wall. Then
I heard the familiar words: Here
speaks London. We are broadcast
ing"
Wladyslaw "X" said: "I have
worked out something that rem
ders all foreign broadcasts audible,
although my receiving set is several
houses away. This helps me tre-
mendously in my conferences with
the editors of our papers. My motto
is, Never expose yourself on the
streets-it costs time, and sometimes
life Not SO long ago they wanted
to take away some of our most i'm
portant men,"
What do you mean-they wanted
to take away some of your men?" I
asked.
well, the Germans tracked down
one of our printing shops and wanted
to arrest our men. But our men
fought to the very last cartridge and
the Nazis were unable to take them
alive. We are prepared for such
unfortunate occurrences and are
issuing our publication from a new
shop"
Caught in Man Hunt.
As I had many problems to dis
cuss,. was given the opportunity to
meet many people. The organiza-
ton consists of secret "cells" in con-
tact with each other by inter-
mediaries, so as to reduce to
minimum the consequences of each
detection of a "cell' by the Ger
mans.
Every casual contact with Hmm
ler's henchmen was test of cold
blood and self-reliance. I had the
unpleasant experience myself of
being caught in Nazi man
hunt. Fortunately my well-prepared
identification papers and documents,
coupled with a thorough knowledge
of German. enabled me to go free.
1t was nasty experience, however,
and yet only a foretaste to what
might have been an epilogue OF
torture!
How did I get back? The same
way as all our friends. These mis-
sions are periodical, and so keen. is
the desire to serve that volunteers
draw lots. Some day these missions
will assume collective and fighting
character. The people of Poland
are looking forward to them with
impatience and longing.
tReleased through North American