Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1939. POLAND’S MILIT ARY PROBLEMS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1939, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1939. POLAND’S MILIT ARY PROBLEMS.

A MESSAGE from Warsaw* yesterday stated that the ‘ x projected Russo-German non-ag'gression pact does not modify'the attitude of the Polish Government one iota and does not change its strategic plans in. the event oi war, ‘ the presence of a Russian or German army in Poland being regarded as equally menacing.’’ There is every indication that Poland is prepared resolutely to defend her territory and Britain and France have reaffirmed their pledges To give her military support against German aggression. If. however it has now to be assumed that there is no longer any question of Russia co-operating to the same mid. Poland's prospects cannot be called bright or promising. The Polish army is described as of the usual East European type defined by a German authority. General von Metzsch, as consisting of ‘‘millions of superficially trained men whose technical equipment’ is very considerably behind that ol the Western European powers.” Poland has some important advantages of strategic position, but how far she would be able to turn these advantages to account in a conflict with Germany in which she had not the support of Russia is at best problematical. In his book, ‘‘The Military Strength oi flic Powers,” Air Max Werner observes that; “Poland would be helpless in face of the overwhelming military strength ol Germany without the military support of France and the Soviet Union.”’ Observing that the biggest weakness of the Polish army is in its lack of modern offensive weapons, Mr Werner adds: —

It may be assumed that in aeroplanes and tanks, the Polish army has about one-tenth of the strength of the Red Army on a peace-time footing, and about one-tenth of the strength of the German army on a war footing. The pride of the Polish army, and its elite corps, is the cavalry, which is the second strongest in Europe. In the opinion of Polish military leaders this arm must be particularly strengthened owing to the length of the frontiers to be defended, the lack of transport facilities, and the necessity of greater mobility. In a conflict with Germany, Poland would be laced by an enormous superiority of aircraft, mechanised weapons of all kinds and artillery.' Il is unlikely that Britain and France could assist her to any very great extent on her own soil and their military support presumably would be effective only il it compelled Germany from the outset to use a very large part of her total fighting strength in other theatres. Taking account only of geographical factors, Poland is strongly placed. On the map. notv that Germany has absorbed Bohemia and Moravia and established a military protectorate over Slovakia, Poland appears as a great salient wrapped round by German territory. - There are important modifying factors, however. For example, a German army forcing the Polish Corridor would find itself faced by the. Vistula, a river with a breadth in that region of 3,000 feet and unbridged over a great part of its length. Then again, although control over Slovakia gives Germany another 180 miles of frontier marching with Poland, the frontier region consists of high mountains, running east and west all the way from Moravia to Ruthenia, now held by Hungary. Two passes lead from Slovakia into Poland, the Jablonkow Pass on the extreme west and the Dukla. Pass on the east. Slovakia has only one railway and one good motor road and both run east and west along a river valley, parallel to the Polish frontier at a distance of about twelve miles. There are no convenient, roads of approach to the mountain passes. Poland has considerably better road and rail communications on her own side of her southern frontier. There is a much more open and convenient approach to Poland from Ruthenia. than'from Slovakia, and a German-Hungarian alliance would thus be a serious threat to Poland. On the whole, however, Poland has some advantages of interior Hues and convenient communica.tions which in a. measure offset her handicap in having hundreds of miles of frontier to defend. Tn war against an enemy of approximately equal strength, Poland would have reasonable chances of carrying out the strategic plans of mobile defence favoured by her military leaders. How she would be likely to fare against a stronger enemy, using forces very much better equipped on land and in the air and possessing a decisive superiority in fire power and other vital factors, is a very different matter.