Pilsudski's Fighting Organization
The predominating figure in the evolution of the new Polish state was that of Pilsudski, who, on the abdication of the Council of Regency, took the Government of the country into his hands and succeeded in overcoming the internal and external dangers which faced the country after the German collapse.
Pilsudski was by birth a Lithuanian Pole. In 1885 as a student of medicine at Kharkov University he became connected irith the Socialist movement and three years later was banished for complicity in the attempt on the life of Alexander III. though in reality he had been strongly opposed to the plot. In 1893 he returned to Poland and became one of the chief founders of the Polish Socialist party in Russian Poland. The aim of this party was the independence of Poland. In 1900 he was arrested on account of his socialistic writings but he escaped to London, after simulating madness, and two years later returned to Poland. At this time he and his associates adhered to Socialism because they recognized in it the only powerful revolutionary and democratic force and their supreme aim was, by revolutionary means to win Polish Independence.
In about 1904 Socialism in Poland became a wide popular movement. Pilsudski was responsible for organizing the military element in the new party. Primarily this took the form of the "Fighting Organization" but later systematic military instruction was given by means of Rifle Clubs, with the object of establishing a force which would be used in armed revolution tgiinst Tsarist Russia. The war gave them their chance and at its outset they fought against Russia, for "the fight against Tsardora hid become to them a second nature." In 1915, however, Pilsudski stopped recruiting for his Legions, his aim being not to raise an army which was to be used for the purposes of Germany and Austria, but one which would ultimately become the army of an independent Poland.
With this object in view Pilsudski created the "Polish military organization." This organization was carried on secretly and was concerned chiefly with spreading propaganda in favor of a struggle for a Poland independent both of Russia and of the Central Powers.
In 1916 after conflict with the Austrian commanders Pilsudski sent in his resignation. The Austrians refused to allow his resignation but when he withdrew his brigade from the front without any previous warning, the Germans insisted upon his dismissal.
After the declaration of Polish independence Pilsudski was called upon to help in the formation of a Polish army, but this he refused to do, on the principle that a Polish army must not be formed without a true Polish national Government to direct it. In the summer of 1917 he demanded concessions from the Germans, and, in view of the feeble attitude taken up by his collagues, he withdrew from the Council, at the same time ordering kis followers in the Legions to refuse to take the oath. As a result ibout four-fifths of the Legion were disbanded. He was arrested subsequently by the Germans and imprisoned at Magdeburg. During bis imprisonment the Polish military organization continued to develop secretly and when Pilsudski was released by the German Revolution in November 1918 this organization formed the basis of the Polish army.
When Pilsudski returned to Poland in November 1918 he found the country confronted with serious dangers. There was no effective Government, the Council of Regency having been dependent Epon German control; the anarchy in Russia threatened to spread cto Poland, and finally the danger was augmented by the 30,000 rebel German troops which were still in the country. On Nov. 14 the Council of Regency abdicated, leaving the supreme power in Pilsudski's hands. His first work was to establish an army on the foundations laid by the Polish military organization. Through the prompt formation of the army the danger from the German troops was removed and the Bolsheviks were temporarily held back. Pilsudski's next work was to constitute a Government.
Though equipped and provided less adequately than the soldiers of other armies, they were fighting under the banner of the White Eagle, in Polish uniforms and under Polish command, and they bore cheerfully all the hardships of the Eastern campaigns. Their deeds have brought back all the martial glory of old Poland -- the conqueror of Moscow, the challenger of mighty Sweden and the savior of Vienna when the hosts of the Crescent threatened Christendom.
Snubbed at first by the Germans because of the improvised character of their army, they soon won respect and earned the admiration of the highest military commanders. Because of their bravery, the Poles were often ordered to the most dangerous positions and though exposed to murderous fire they never faltered. The evident resolve on the part of the general staffs of the Teutonic armies never to mention the accomplishments of the Legions in the daily war bulletins had at times to be abandoned in view of the stupendous feats performed, and on several occasions "Polish days" were proclaimed by the Austrian supreme command.
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