POLAND PREPARED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20908, 13 September 1939, Page 9

POLAND PREPARED

NAZIS NEVER TRUSTED CAVALRY AWAIT OPPORTUNITY VrEWS O'F RECENT IMMIGRANT (By Telegraph. — Press Association) WANGANUI, Tuesday The view that Polish resistance was only now beginning and that the Germans would meet increasing difficulties as they advanced into Poland was expressed by Mr Michael Sendyk, a former Warsaw resident, who is staying with his wife in Wanganui. Mr Sendyk said Poland was well prepared, never having trusted the Nazi professions of friendship, and that the country of Eastern Poland was suited to the operations of cavalry, in which branch the Polish army was particularly strong. Mr Sendyk left Warsaw ten weeks ago and came to New Zealand wilh the idea of settling in the Dominion and finding employment as a motor engineer. “I had no idea when I left my country that war would break out so soon,” he said, “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. Preparation for War Mr Sendyk said Poland was a country with an area, of 250,000 square miles and a population of 35,000,000. Hitler had intimated to Poland that Germany did not want war, but the Poles nevertheless did not trust him, and knew when he had trampled over Czechoslovakia that he would 'turn bis 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. Although the 'German army had made good progress so far in the campaign, it had to he realised that their advance to Warsaw was on good roads which admirably suited the German mechanised forces. When the Poles retreated back to the East the Germans would find practically no roads, and in winter mud and snow. Then would come the opportunity 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. Bitterness of Jews Ranged on the side of Poland were 20,000 Jewish refugees who had been driven out of Germany by Hitler with only £1 each. They were very bitter against the treatment they had received, and were all absorbed in the Polish army and 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 stocks 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.