Evening star., 1948-07-10

Last month I drove through the Polish part
OF East Prussia, from the Masurian Lakes to
Danzig, then through Pomerania to stettin,
and southwark through the recovered territories
to Breslau and Czechoslovakia.
Although it is now over three years since the
fighting ended the countryside is still stricken
place. In East Prussia in particular, it is rare
to find building, however insignificant, which
shows no signs of war. Destruction is not con-
fined to the large cities, or even the market
towns; hamlets and isolated farmsteads are in
ruins, and, more striking than any destruction
of buildings, more than nine -tenths OF the
prewar population have left.
At first the settlement Of these recovered"
but empty territories was painfully slow. It
was an unattractive prospect, even for Poles
who had formerly lived east OF the Curzon Line,
and who were now homeless. Even where the
land was fertile there was no shelter for man
or beast, there were few implements with which
to cultivate the soil, and above all, maraudlng
bands, deserters from the Russian and German
Armies and former members Of the Polish un-
derground movement would attack any new
settler if there was chance OF finding food
or livestock.
But considering the difficulties and the dan
gers, much has now been accomplished. Al
though large tracts Of the poorer land are still
untitled, all the good soil is under cultivation,
and wherever one goes one sees signs OF re-
building.
There are many types among the new settlers
from Central and Eastern Poland. One who
remains in my memory is an old lady Of over
10. She was born in Russia, and had married
there, her husband having small estate which
they farmed together. In 1919 they had to
leave, and they came with such money as they
could bring with them to Poland. There they
bought farm of about 200 acres, and started
to build new life for themselves. Shortly
after the Germans had swept across POLAND,
the husband died, and the widow continued as
best she could, helped by her only son. He was
killed in the Warsaw uprising, and soon after
ward her 200 acres was taken from her under
the land reform act. Now, alone she has found
herself Job in Danzig, and is starting to earn
her living as low-paid government employe.
Making Do With Little.
But most Of the people spoke to still had
their strength and most of their life ahead OF
them. IT not enthusiastic about their new
homes they were at least happy to have a
place where they could settle, earn an honest
living, and bring up their children. Living
conditions, by our standards, are appalling,
but ones standards alter If one has spent a
few years in Siberia or German labor camp
or among the ruins Of Warsaw. To such persons
even the shell of burnt-out barn, provided
the walls are still standing, and there is q bit
of thatch to keep out the rain, means the be-
ginning Of q new life. So long as they have
hope, so long as they feel that by their own
efforts they can bring about some improvement
in their condition and build home for their
family life has meaning.
AS drove through this country, and talked
TO the people who were starting to make their
homes there, my mind went back to the first
act Of this drama, which had seen in Poland
and Germany in the autumn OF 1945, to the
light four wheeled carts, each drawn by one
half-starved horse, and piled high with the
most valuable belongings Of a family on the
move, and perched on top OF this mound Of
precious Junk, the grandmother, grandchild or
any other member Of the family unable to do
the journey on foot. Not only the Junkers and