Evening star., 1944-09-17
Threat of Chaos Now Faces
War-Torn Europe's Future
Wise, Energetic Policy by Big Three Held Urgent
HLiberated Underground Youth Is to Be
Taught Respect for Law.
By Constantine Br0vn

btUE DVOWW
started, but is being carried out by in.
divtdual groups which frequently take
what should be the law in their own
hands. There is no doubt that q num-
ber Of Quislings deserve the firing squad.
But even that must be done in an ord
erly fashion in order to rehabiltate the
law which the Nazis have destroyed.
According to the few available reports,
there are bands Of youngsters with nerv-
Gus fingers on the trigger who fire in
discriminatory on every one they learned
not to like during the four years Of
German occupation Of the city.
Three Underground Groups.
France had three organized under
ground groups. The active military
group was established soon after the
start Of the war by officers of the gen.
eral staff These men formed the bulk
Of the French Forces of the Interior
and are regular soldiers Their task was
to help the Allies as freebooters, in a
military manner as soon as they set foot
on French soil. Originally their number
was small-not more than 25, 900 men
| SNe Ae WOO o"SACo "1tA1ll lew AlOlltAAo
before the invasion by many youngsters
who were drilled in the usual army way.
The second group was that of Gen.
| Charles de Gaulle. Their number was
not known to any one. Their task was to
supply political and military intelligence
to Gen. de Gaulle's headquarters, to
promote their chiefs personal cause
and also do some very useful sabotage
work. These men worked in small groups
all over the country and had only the
slightest contact with the general staff
underground.
Finally there was the Communist un.
derground, said to exceed 200 900 mem
bers. These were organized principally in
| the industrial belts of France around
the old Communist "cells" which had
existed In France since 1924. They are
the only real political outfit existing at
the present time in the country and
while their actions were primarily dedi-
Gated to the organization of France
after the war, they of course aided in
sabotage and other methods of fighting
as once was taught to the associates Of
the Comintern by Moscow
Discipline Is Rigid.
Their discipline is rigid, although on
the surface they appear to lack CO.
hesion as much as the other two organi-
cations. Millions of young French men
and women have joined these organiza-
tions in the last two years. They were
welcomed. They were taught to handle
weapons, indoctrinated in revolutionary
doctrines and were let loose in the coun-
try to destroy the Germans and all
those suspected of collaborating with
the enemy.
AS is natural in such wide popular
movements. many personal grudges are
settled by members Of the underground.
Unexpected power placed in the hands
Of people who recognize no authority
except their own must inevitably lead to
q chaotic internal situation. An un.
pleasant or cowardly neighbor who re-
fused, because Of fear of the German OF
Vichy authorities, to give shelter or
food to the underground members was
likely to be denounced as a collabora.
zionist and found himself in a concen-
tration camp.
There have been reports of "execu-
tions" of individuals in the industrial
belt around Paris and in Marseille by
members of the underground. And no
one as yet has sufficient authority to
buck these young patriots who did
splendid work fighting the enemy.
A similar situation exists in all
countries which have their fighting
underground organizations. To imagine
that these people, mostly young men
who have learned to handle knife or
tommy gun at AN age when they
should have learned to read and write,
can be easily brought under a central
and lawful control, would be displaying
too much optimism.
Not Easy to Handle.
The leaders also have their own
philosophy. They are generally men and
women who have little to do with poll.
tics. The tragic conditions of Europe
have made them into leaders of bands
and guerrillas. They have no use for
their former political men whom they
blame as much as the enemy for the
plight OF their countries Without much
preparation for administration, in the
sense known to us before the war, they
believe they can do better than their
predecessors and intend to keep the
power which was temporarily entrusted
into their hands by circumstances.
1t Is hardly conceivable that the gov.
ernments which have been in exile will
be able to deal with this problem. Re.
volutionary forces are not easy to han.
die. The Germans, who policed Europe
Tor four years with the aid of tanks
and planes and had superlative secret
service, the Gestapo, at their disposal.
nave not been able to prevent the sa-
botage activities of the underground
movement.
VIII the governments which have
been In exile for several years be able
10 regain their authorityP Indications
are that 1t is hardly likely. Gen. de
Gaulle already is having a hard time.
although he has on his side the fact that
ne was the one Frenchman outside tia
country who raised the standard of re-
sistance when all the other political
leaders of France collapsed morally.
He Is skating on thin ice in Paris. re-.
shufhing his cabinet frequently. No one.
not even his most ardent collaborators
can say whether he will be able ia
maintain himself in the turbulent
| waters of the present French ro1,t;,a,