STAND BEGINNING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20040, 12 September 1939, Page 6

STAND BEGINNING

STRATEGY OF. POLES STRONG CAVALRY UNTS ROADLESS COUNTRY WARSAW MAN'S FORECAST (Per Press Association.) WANGANUI, this day. The view that the Polish resistance was only now beginning and that the Germans would meet increasing difficulties as they advanced into Poland, was expressed by M. Michael Sendvk, a former Warsaw resident, who is staying with his wife in Wanganui. M. Scndyk said that Poland was well prepared, never having trusted the Nazi professions of friendship and that the country of ■ eastern Poland was suited for the operations of cavalry in which branch the Polish Army was particularly strong. M. Sendyk left Warsaw 10 weeks ago and came to New Zealand with the idea of settling in the Dominion and finding employment as a motor engineer. Did Not Trust Germany “I had no idea when I left my country that war would break out so soon. Although Poland did not trust Germany and was well prepared last year, Poland knew that it would come to war sooner or later, and strengthened her army from. 200.000 to 1.000,000.'' M. Scndyk said that Poland was a country with an area of 250,000 square miles and a population of 35,000,000. Herr Hitler had intimated to Poland that Germany did not want war, but Poland nevertheless did not trust him und knew when he had trampled over Czechoslovakia, he would turn Ills attention to their country.

In their military preparations, the Poles started with boys at school Every summer the boys went into camp for further training.

Opportunity For Horsemen

Although the German Army had made good progress so far in the campaign, it had to be realised that the advance to Warsaw was on good roads which were admirably suited to the German mechanised forces. When the Poles retreated back to the east, the Germans would find practically no roads in winter, mud and snow and then would come the oppoi - tunity for the Polish cavalry which was splendidly organised and would put up a good fight. The Poles had some of the best horsemen in the world and had won many contests in Germany and other places.

Ranged on the side of Poland were 20,000 Jewish refugees who had been driven out of Germany by Herr Hitler with only £1 each. They were very bitter against the treatment they had received and were all absorbed in the Polish Army and were anxious to get some of their own back. There were 3,000,000 Jews in Poland.

For the past 12 months Poland had been laying up reserve slocks of coal in various parts of the country, also iron and copper and, in their retreat had flooded the mines. There was plenty of coal to last for 24 months. The people also had ample food and clothing and no rationing was needed.