Evening star., 1945-11-11
Starving Peoples Ripe
For RevoltS in EurODe
General Discomfort in Occupied Areas as Well
as in Other Parts of World Calls for Quick
Cooperation by Big Nations
By Constantine Bro,pn

ever before Unless the major nations
which have contributed to the common
victory decide to give up regional in
terests, power politics, strategic areas
and desire for lf-aggrandizement
more than 100000 Americans would
have made the sacrifice of their lives
and limbs in vain.
Reports from American, British and
other intelligence services and trained
observers abroad are being received in
Washington. They present a gloomier
picture than at any other time IN mod
ern history. These observers, whose job
1t is to report their findings factually,
described unbelievable conditions which
are only seldom mirrored in press and
radio reports for the benefit of the
peace-hungry American public.
In Germany, for instance, a guerrilla
warfare is about to break out. This is
not the result of any political factors or
any aim on the part of the Germans in
the American, British and French zones
to recover the political destinies of the
Fatherland. 1t is due to starvation, lack
of economic activity and an overall
hopelessness.
Armed Bands Roam Germany.
In his report to Washington last week,
Gen. Eisenhower hinted at the danger
OF local outbursts in Germany west of
the Oder River. The reports from the
professional American and British OBJ
servers make the picture appear far
worse than it was described in Gen.
Eisenhowers restrained report given to
the public.
Bands OF former German soldiers and
displaced persons of varied nationalities
are already roaming the western Allied
zones of occupation. Their objective is
to steal food and clothing. Since these
are guarded, their first aim is to steal.
buy or procure arms in any way that
they can. Once in possession of rifles,
pistols or machine guns, they are band
ing together in small groups of Is to So
In some cases women are included-and
proceed to take by force what exists in
lnadequately- guarded stores or in private
homes.
With the coming of winter, which is
usually severe in that part of Europe.
the number Of these organized robber
bands is expected to be greatly in
creased. The loot is being taken to
concealed places and distributed to the
population which is helping the men,
bers of the bands hide and takes care
OF the men who have been wounded in
the forays. Poles, Yugoslavs, Russians
VINO have served willingly or have been
impressed into Hitler's armies also are
ravaging the country and sniping at
Americans, British and French guards
who are protecting the stores of food
and clothing.
Big Increase Is Expected.
All these modern bandits are we'll
trained soldiers and in many instances
are headed by former officers. Among
the leaders there are, or course. many
Nazls who are using the rowing bands
Tor political purposes to create greater
confusion in the western portion of the
Reich. There are no definite figures at
this time as to the number involved in
the organizations. But a cursory esti-
mate places them at about $4,000
/. Our observers believe that this number
will be greatly increased within the next
rev months when conditions in Ger
many are expected to become much
worse and their detection by the Allied
occupation forces becomes more difficult.
There is little information on what is
happening in the zone occupied by the
Russians. The number of inhabitants
there has been drastically reduced be-
cause so many have been deported to
the interior of Russia, while others are
being forciNy encouraged" to move into
the western area.
The reports from Poland are more
definite and reliable. The Polish under
ground, which has fought the Germans
since 1889, is still in existence. The
number of the regulars diminished
after the collapse of Hitler, but now,
however, it is showing another upward
trend. Many destitute peasants and
others threatened with deportation be-
cause they are not in sympathy with the
new regime are escaping from towns
and villages and joining the under
ground.
Polish Motive Political.
F. Unlike in Germany. the compelling
reason which induces tens of thousands
OF small people" to join the under
ground is political. But the total lack
of food, clothing, housing and fuel
greatly contributes to the increase of
, the underground forces which have now
become real problem to the Warsaw
government and the Red armies of oc-
, cupation. In an attempt to cope with
the situation and destroy the under
ground movement which the ruthless
Germans were not able to deal with sue
cessfullE, Russia has divided Poland
into a humber of military areas which
have been placed under the command of
Soviet officers.
Because of the lack of adequate lines
OF communication and of the severe
! winter which has already set in in Po-
land, the activities of the Red forces
sometimes half-heartedly supported by
the local police-are difficult and halt
ing. Some large rowing bands have been
exterminated but they seem to have an
endless supply of manpower from a
desperate people who prefer death by
bullet to slow starvation or work In a
labor camp. According to reports re-
+ ceiyed in Washington, this movement
Is gaining momentum and the Polish
Russian authorities may have a very
serious problem on their hands.
In Yugoslavia. the situation is no bet
ter. Gen. Draja Mihailovic has a force
of about 10000 trained but ill-equipped
men in the mountains of Serbia