B IB L IO T E K A
In s t y tu t u B a łt y c k ie g o
w Bydgoszczy
■ ■ ■ ■ i OLISH
J t
WORKERS
■»W ID ISH DEMOCRACY
AM ERICAN FR IEN D S OF PO LISH DEMOCRACY
55 W est 42nd Street, N e w York, N. Y.
C hairm an ROBERT M . M cIV ER
Vice-C hairm en
LO U IS A D A M IC O SCA R R. L A N G E PAUL D O U G LA S
Secretary Treasurer
A L G E R N O N LEE A D O LPH HELD
E xe cutive Com m ittee
G E O R G E C O U N TS D A V ID DUBINSKY PAUL KELLO G FRANK K IN G D O N F I R S T L I S T O F S P O N S O R S Louis B rom field A bra m L. H arris Robert M. Lovett R ichard Storrs C h ilds A rth u r G a rfie ld H ays A bra h a m M ille r M orris R. Cohen A do lp h Held Is a ia h M in ko ff Suzanne LaFollette Louis H o lla nd er G un nar M y rd a l C h ris tia n Gauss Sidney Hook Ernest N agel H a rry D. G ideonse Leo K rzycki P aul Porter F iore llo L a G u a rd ia M ax Lerner H a rry Scherman
W a lte r W illc o x
STATEMENT O F PURPOSES.
W e stand f o r a Free and D em ocratic P oland in a Free and U nited Europe. The People o f P oland have shown m agnificent courage and tenacity in th eir struggle against N a z i invasion and dominaition. The occupation o f P oland by the N azis has resulted in the spontaneous emergence o f an underground movement. I t is a broad m ovement w hich unites the resistance against the invaders. I n its ran ks there are m any people ( p a rtic u la rly o f the y o u th ) w ho were not p o litic a lly active before the War but who today ris k th e ir lives in the struggle f o r a fre e and dem ocratic Poland.
In
D I
A WORKING DAY IN THE LIFE OF A POLISH WORKER IN
0 EEUPIED WARSAW
P ublished b y
AM ERICAN FRIENDS of POLISH DEMOCRACY 55 W est 42 Street, N ew York, N. Y.
P rinted in U.S.A.
1941
„¡^¡^214
Nw poiycza si§ do domti
L e t no one thing that the underground movement in tlu oppressed countries o f Europe is only the va in cry o f im potent s u ffe rin g . I t is something vastly m ore sig n ifica n t. I t is a force, a sw elling force, that in spite o f th e ir spies and th e ir f ir in g squads is g iv in g the tyra n ts serious concern. I t mocks th e ir ambitions, th e ir grandiose dreams, th e ir boasts o f the “ new order in E urope.”
The fie rc e resentm ent o f the peoples can n o t be mastered by b ru ta lity . I t can end only w ith the d o w n fa ll o f th eir conquerors.
A s they g ro w weaker, spent and exhausted in the most deva
stating o f wars, i t grow s stronger. N o w underground, i t w ill one day emerge w ith volcanic force. The day o f liberation is coming.
I n tn is vast movement the Poles are p la y in g a heroic part.
N o people has endured more te rrible su ffe rin g s , no people has shozvn a more m ag nifice nt s p irit. The sto ry o f Jan is one out o f a great m u ltitu d e o f like stories. W h a t makes i t p eculiarly revealing is that i t deals w ith the comm on everyday life o f the oppressed, seething and su rg in g u n til i t bursts in to tim ely action.
The s p irit o f Jan seethes and surges a ll over Europe, a w aiting the appointed hour. A lre a d y i t delays and th w a rts the machine o f conquest. Some day ere long, i t w ill jo in in the smashing o f the machine.
R O B E R T M . M c IV E R
A lth o u g h only b rie fly to ld on these pages, they are so f u ll o f tragedies and s u ffe rin g s resu ltin g fr o m inhum an treatm ent fro m the N a z i fie n d is h barbarians that i t causes the reader to stop and re fle c t at the end o f each paragraph.
T h is p icture o f o u r P olish brother Jan symbolizes the s p irit and determ ination o f g allan t and courageous humans over there” w ith w hom the cause o f L ib e rty ties us A m erican w ot kers.
A s a servant o f the toilers o f this democracy, I salute m y fe llo w -w o rk e rs across the A tla n tic and jo in m illio n s over here in pledging o ur all in this w o rld -w id e crusade against the te rrible menace w hich is threatening civ iliz a tio n itself.
C a rry on, fe llo w m e n ; each time you call, y o u r voices seem to be nearer and m ore clear to us ivho are ready to march side by side w ith you in this fin a l battle f o r freedom .
L E O K R Z Y C K I.
TO THE READER:
W h a t you w ill read in these pages is no fig m e n t o f the im agination.
The m a te ria l w as obtained by searching through decrees and announcements issued by the N azis in Poland, fr o m newspapers, both legal and illegal, and fr o m documents and papers smuggled out o f P oland by the w o rke rs’ “ underground" movement. P a rt o f the sto ry has been to ld by persons w ho have escaped fro m Poland.
O u t o f th is m ate ria l we have pieced together a w orking -d ay, a day o f liv in g , to ilin g and stru g g lin g on the p a rt o f Jan K o w a ls k i.
( the P olish equivalent o f John S m ith ), a w o rk e r in W arsaw. Jan is a native o f W arsaw, capital o f Poland, where in the hub o f N azi-occupied te rrito ry , the life o f the w o rk e r stands out in greater re lie f than anywhere else in Poland.
A DAY IN GERMAN-OCCUPIED WARSAW
I t is tim e to g e t up fo r w o rk . I n the b e d ro o m -liv in g ro o m - k itc h e n — c a ll i t w h a t y o u w ill, fo r i t has to do service fo r a ll— the co ld is intense. D u r in g th e siege o f W a rs a w a ll the panes w ere b lo w n o u t o f th e w in d o w s . T h e gaps have been p a r tia lly boarded up, b u t th is p ro v id e s lit t le p ro te c tio n fro m the cold outside. T h e d ra u g h t fin d s its w a y th ro u g h th e m a n y cracks and crevices, dam p seeps th ro u g h the w a lls and m o is t
u re d rip s fro m th e c e ilin g .
T h e re is no hope o f g e ttin g the roo m w a rm . T ru e , Jan has his fu e l coupons, b u t th e y are m ere useless p ap er since th e re has n ever been b u t one d is trib u tio n o f coal. A lm o s t a ll P o lis h coal has e ith e r been sent to G e rm a n y o r issued to G erm ans in P o la n d fo r th e ir d w e llin g s and offices. T h ere is not a scrap of fuel for the Poles.
Jan tro u b le s lit t le on his o w n account, b u t i t is a te rrib le ordeal fo r h is w ife and c h ild re n , w h o have to go b a re fo o te d and ill-c la d in th e b it te r cold. T h e G erm ans have la id th e ir th ie v in g hands on a ll sto cks o f lea th er, some o f w h ic h have been issued to Germ an reside n ts. T h ere is no ru b b e r for soles and heels and the Poles are driven to w earing wooden clogs as a protection against frost and snow.
A s fo r c lo th in g , a ll th a t was a n y goo d had to be b a rte re d lo n g ago fo r flo u r and potatoes.
Germans started th eir w o rk by executing thousands o f Polish w orkers.
A POLISH AND A JEWISH GHETTO
Jan w o u ld have lik e d to m ove fro m th is roo m to a w a rm e r and m ore h e a lth fu l one, som ew here near his w o rk . B u t the G erm ans have ta ken over c o n tro l o f a ll d w e llin g's and s tr ic t re g u la tio n s are enforced re la tin g to Poles and Jews. G erm an sa nctio n is re q u ire d to re n t even a sin g le roo m and Poles are fo rb id d e n , on p a in of e je c tio n , to g iv e a ccom m o da tion , even fo r one n ig h t, to a Jew . ,
B e fo re the w a r Jan liv e d in a n o th e r p a rt o f W a rs a w , o n ly a fe w m in u te s b y s tre e t car fro m h is w o rk . Soon a fte r the b e g in n in g o f the o ccu p a tio n , he re tu rn e d one day fro m w o rk to fin d a police n o tic e o rd e rin g h im to q u it w dthin tw e n ty fo u r hours. B ad as th a t w as, he had re fle c te d a t th e tim e th a t he w as m ore fo rtu n a te th a n th e p o o r w re tc h e s in Poznan, P o m orze and Silesia, w h o w ere g iv e n o n ly t h ir t y : m in u te s in w h ic h to pack one bag and g e t o u t, le a v in g b e h in d the house k e y and a ll th e ir b e lo n g in g s fo r th e b e n e fit o f G erm an se ttle rs b ro u g h t fro m th e B a ltic and o th e r states.
T h e G erm ans had decided to c o n v e rt a ll th a t p a rt o f W a rs a w in to a g h e tto fo r the J e w s .- H a lf a m illio n Jews w ere d riv e n in to th e d is tric t, w h ic h w as then su rro u n d e d b y a h ig h w a ll so th a t th e Jew s co u ld n o t g e t o u t n o r th e G entiles g e t in.
Jan rem em bers the w ide sprea d a ng er a m o n g st the w o rk e rs o ver th is in c id e n t. A t one o f the secret p rin tin g -h o u s e s , a p ro c la m a tio n was d ra w n up d e n o u n cin g the b a rb a ria n N a z is and c o n fir m in g the s o lid a r ity o f th e P o lis h and J e w is h w o rk e rs . T h e le a fle ts w ere s tre w n a b o u t o r stu ck, up on w a lls in th o u s ands. N o t c o n te n t w it h c irc u la tin g lea flets, a t n ig h t, u nd er the v e ry noses o f th e G erm an p olice some m em bers o f the re v o lu tio n a ry w o rk e rs ’ m o ve m e n t to re d o w n a p a rt o f the g h e tto w a ll. W h e n the p o lice a rriv e d in the m o rn in g , th e y
.. . the Germans had decided to convert a ll that p art o f W arsaw in to a ghetto f o r the Jews.
8
0 0 LUDU
PRACUJĄCEGO WARSZAWY
Oo nieskończonego łańcucha zbrodni I okrucieństw, dokonyw a
nych w n » i 'j m kraju, hitlerowski najeźdźca dodał nowa ogniwo:
żywe ciało stolicy Polaki pocięto hańbiącymi morami, jednym za- rządzeniom wyrwano narzędzia pracy z rąk tyalący ludzi ł zniszczo
no podstawy Ich bytu! Czterysta tysięcy mętczyzn, kobiet, starców 1 dzieci nalotącej do niewolników ostatniej kategorii zamknięto na lecenie nazwanym dzielnicą Żydowska, skazeno na wygłodzenie, zdano na łaskę i niełaskę zbirów z S.S Tak moeowego bestialstwa nie zna historia.
Ale nie prawdą jest jakoby znrrądtenie o' utworzeniu ghetta godziło tylk o w Żydów. Tysiące zniszczonych ro ls kirh warsztatów rzemieślniczych, bezrobocie licznych rzesz robotnlkiftc, urzędników, dozorców i pracownic domowych — oto ja k na polakim tareuie w y gląda plon nakazów Llestów i Fischerów.
Nie boimy się o los polskiej I tydow skiej b u rtiis rjl. Pieniądze, torują je j drogę, a tysiące małych i dutycb, ninlcj i .bardziej śm ier
dzących interesów w łą te polską i Żydowską burliiszję z okupsntem I z ucisku jego straszliwego tworzy dis niej lukę, w klóre) moloa „spo
kojnie l y ć ‘. Te warstw y nla rzeka zresztą żadna przyszłość, tak aamo j- k nic rzeka dohra przyszłość luds*. którzy um>eją tyć »>* ko'anwcH.
Clątar kstdsj w ojny i kałdsj niewoli spada zawsze na barki ludu pracującego bez względu na to do jakiego rarodu ona ntleZy.
lis t podłego eynlimn jest w tym , Ze rękami wygnanych z pra
cy robotników polskich I Żydowskich wzniesiono mtiry, które mają Ich dz'ellć tak, js kby inny czekał Ich los po tej i po tamtej atra
pie. jakby inne były ich pragnienia, dątenla i cel«. To nieprawda!
Prześladowania hitlerowskie spadają zarówno na Jednych ja k 1 na drugich: meaowe obławy na ulicach i po domach dostarczają nis- wolników — polskich na pracę do Niemiec, do upiornego Mauthau
sen I krwawego Oświęcimia, a Żydowskich do obozów pracy I męki nad Wisłą I w Lubelszczyzn!« Po obu stronach murów masy pra
cujące ty ją w prym itywnych tragicznych warunkach.
Zbrodniczy, podły I podstępny okupant widzi, że represje nie osłabłą pogardy, która go otacza, stara się więc nienawiść, którą czuje wokół, odwrócić od siebie. .T o nie H itler winien męce ludu po'skiego — to winni Żydzi*. I oto szalejąca propaganda otwmiei-l n a tira się przeciw zamykanym za murami ghelta skierować ostrze nienawiści ujarzmionego Indu polskiego.
Ruchy reakcyjne i agentury hitlerowskie |cA przed wojną szy
kowały Jej grunl w naazyiw kraju, wynajdując w momentach naj
powabniejszego jwt zagrotenia ł olski wrogów jej wssędzle. byleby nie pod znakiem swastyki. Al# li d polski, klóry walkę t faszyzmem I hitleryzmem prOwsdził pfśfd tymi dnisinl, kiedy ns polseh bitew 1 w obronach osiedli dowodgil *we) dojrzałości i ofiarności — dzi- alejszą swoją postawą wy Katuj* również, te dobrze zrozumiał Istotę I drogi zwycięskiego *■' «rytmu. Lnd polski rozumie le t sens lej
gry 1 t pogardą odrzuca proponowane mu prkez hitleryzm stano
wisko fepszego, niezamknięłego Jeszcze w ghelcie, niewolnika.
Bo niema lepszych i gorszych stopni w gmachu niewoli niemu gorszych l lepszych kategorii niewolników pod butem brutalnego o ajetd icy ł Są tylko walczący i ci, co się ugięli ..
1 dziś kiedy H itler, mimo s.-ej ruchliwości dyplomatycznej, m i
mo narastającej faszystowskiej rodziny „osi* I mimo pon ory S tali
n a —nte m oi# zebrać owoców owych zwycięstw m ilita rn yc h — .opór łamiący przepity, nakazy t zakazy zaborcy ma olbrzymie znaczenie.
A opór ten, choć nie zdołał zapobiec utworzeniu ghetta, wzmogą i i ; ł dałem ka tdy m . M aiy pracujące polskie przerzucane dziś brutal-
*oymt rozkazam i z miejsca os miejsce, masy pra'-ująoe Żydowskie zamykane dziś za murami ghetta, musy zakuwane z dnia na dzień
•lin iej w kajdany nlew .H , widzą wyraźnie p-zed sobą wielką, krw ią ociekającą drogę w alki o Niepodległą Polskę Ludową —o Polskę, któ
ra zrealizuje wieazrie Id eały Wolności, Sprawiedliwości Społecznej 1 Równouprawnienia wszystkich narodów.jej ziemie zamieszkujących.
Zwycięstwa w tej walce nie przyniesie zbawcze przybycie takiej czy innej armii na nasza ziemie, nic dadzą go pakty i u m o w y -a lo rewoluryjay ruch mat ludowych Polski, zbratanych zjnnym t ludam i Kuropy. walczącymi dziś z faszyzmem l wszelkim i przejawami tyra n ii i totalizmu na wazyitsleb wojennych podziemnych t frontach.
Zrozum lM te tej drogi przeu ka głęboko »świadomość chłopów, robotników I inteligencji pracującej. Rozumieją ją musy pracujące po obu «trenach murów. B oczył mur wybudowany l rozkazu zabor
cy potrafi znłazrzyć -wspólnotę ideałów I myśli, cy t mote zniweczyć wieloletni IruJ w-póla-cj walki robotników polakieb i tydowsklch, wałki ja ką przez tyle ła t prowadzili oni z polską l żydowską bnr- tuazją, z wyzyskiem, faszyzmem I oszukańczymi przegrodami raso
wymi. Klei Póki w masach, pracujących polskich i tydowsklch tyje pragnienie wolności, póty mur len jest tylkoaztuczną przegrodą, któ
re razem z faszyzmem w pył upadnie, jako jeden z przejawów dziś zwycięskiego jutro pokonsnego barbarzyństwa. Nie poto jednak, aby
■ a gruzach tyrh murów znów polscy 1 żydowscy, kapitaliści zawarli pakt wz jemnaj pomocy i zakuli w yry w.ijący się z niewoli hitlerows
kiej lud pracująry polski w jarzmo ucisku i wyzysku.
Nn miejscu ty.-.h murów, na gruzach hitlerowskiego domu nie
woli. ns gruzach domów zwalonych w rzasie bohatrrsklej obrony stolicy - staną mury domów robotniczych, szklanych domów Wol
nej Warszawy.
W izja le j nowej alolloy, wizja Niepodległ-j Polski ludu prscu- Polaki Socjalistycznej, która obali i zniweczy wszelką niewolę i zam ieni nasz kraj w wielką Ojczyznę Wolności • nozwolt nam prze
trwać fiM elęteze okresy I nie osłnhrąć nni na chwilę w walce!
W ałka ta przvnlrsia zwycięstw»!
Pleśń taj w alki z re dobrze t rr.wolecyjns robotnie*« Wola i pa
miętny. skrwawiony w 1«04 rokp czerwony H ac Grzybowski - dziś zam katęly za murami ghetta!
Niech żyje Wolność!
Niech żyje W olna Warszawa — atoltra Polski Ludu Pracujacegoł Nlaeh ty ją Niepodległa P e ls ls Socjalistyczni I
Warszaw«, w listopadzie 1040 r.
t
. . . P olish proclam ation was draw n up denouncing the barbarian N azis and c o n firm in g the s o lid a rity o f the P o lish and Jewish w orkers.
. . . and Jews answered by publish
ing above leaflet.
9
fo u n d , flo a tin g p ro u d ly over the ru in s o f the w a ll, th e red and w h ite fla g o f P o lan d.
A s Jan w a lk s along, he th in k s w h a t a d iffe re n c e th e re is betw een the d w e llin g s o f P oles and Jews and th e b r ig h t and c o m fo rta b le houses in a n o th e r p a rt o f W a rs a w , occupied b y G e r
m ans and th e ir fa m ilie s . T h is p a rt o f W a rs a w includes parks, r iv e r e m b an km e nts, a d m in is tra tiv e b u ild in g s , th e a tre s and o th e r places o f am usem ent. N o P o le can o b ta in p e rm issio n to go and liv e in th is p a rt o f the capital.
A HUNGRY FAMILY
T h e w o rs t tim e fo r the w o rk e r is the m o rn in g . Jan fin d s i t im p o ssib le to keep h is eyes fro m th e d ra w n face o f h is w ife and th e b lue cheeks o f th e , c h ild re n . H is w ife gets m ore lo w s p irite d e ve ry day. Y e s te rd a y she stood a ll m o rn in g in a lin e , o n ly to re tu rn e m p ty -h a n d e d fro m th e shops. T h e c h ild re n , la c k in g good food, seem . day b y day to Ire w a s tin g a w a y O fte n a b a d , f r ig h t w ill hasten the process.
T h u s , y e ste rd a y, tw o o f the c h ild re n re tu rn e d fro m school, w e e p in g and te rrifie d . B e tw ee n sobs th e y re la te d h ow , a fte r the second perio d . G erm an p olice entered the school and 1ocked a ll th e doors. G erm an docto rs had th e n exam ined each ch ild , ch oosing th e m ost ro b u s t and ta k in g fro m each a bout h a lf a g la s s fu l o f b ’ ood fo r tra n s fu s io n in to the ve in s of w o u n d e d G e rm an soldiers. T h e teacher - had trie d to p ro te s t b u t had been q u ic k ly silenced b y th e th re a t o f th e c o n c e n tra tio n camp.
I f th e y are to re g a in th e ir s tre n g th th e c h ild re n m u s t have m ore food. B u t h o w is Jan to g e t i t fo r th e m ? T h e G erm ans have ta ken m o s t o f the food, e ith e r to send to G e rm a ny, o r fo r th e c o n s u m p tio n o f G erm an o ffic ia ls , soldiers, p olice and c iv ilia n s . T h e best fo od is issued o n ly to G e rm an shops w h ic h are b a rre d to th e Poles. H o w o fte n has Jan passed such shops, th e ir w in d o w s laden w ith w h ite bread, ro lls , cooked m eats, preserves and fr u it s — b u t a ll fo r th e G erm ans, even the P o lis h c h ild re n m a y n o t have a c ru m b o f it.
10
EVERYTHING FOR THE GERMANS
T h e re is a w id e d iffe re n c e betw een the ra tio n s o f food a llo w e d to v ic to rs and v a n q u is h e d :—
R a tio n in g T a b le
T h e G erm ans are a llo w e d m uch m ore fo od th a n th e Poles.
T h e fo llo w in g fig u re s w ill show the d iffe re n ce in th e ir w e e k ly ra tio n s :
Poles G erm ans
F ats 2 ozs. 9 ozs.
M e a t 8 ozs. 1 lb.
Cheese none 3 ozs.
S ugar 8 ozs. 2 lbs.
Peas none 4 ozs.
Jam none 6 ozs.
Cake, p a s try etc. 2 ozs. 4 ozs.
O a tm e a l none 2 ozs.
F lo u r o r m aca ro ni 4 ozs. 4 ozs.
Sago o r p o ta to flo u r none 2 ozs.
B o u illo n -c u b e s none 5 pieces
E g gs 1 3
G erm an c h ild re n are e n title d to s u p p le m e n ta ry ra tio n s o f c h ild -n o u ris h m e n t foods, and so w ere P o lis h c h ild re n u n til, several m o n th s ago, an o rd e r o f the G erm an a u th o ritie s canc
elled the issue o f such foods to P o lis h c h ild re n .
P eople w h o have some m on ey are able to b u y on th e b la c k m a rke ts. Jan s im p ly can’t a ffo rd it. O ne p o u n d o f sugar on the ra tio n card costs a bo ut 10c. O n the b la c k m a rk e t the p rice w o u ld be a bo ut $6.00. S i m i l a r l y fo r bread and potatoes, even a b o ttle o f v in e g a r costs $2.00.
A t tim e s, w hen the pangs o f h u n g e r refuse to be d ulled , Jan w i ll go to an e a tin g house and, fo r once, eat his f ill.
O n ly a cheap e a tin g house, h o w e v e r, as th e b e tte r class res
ta u ra n ts and h otels are e x c lu s iv e ly fo r th e G erm ans,
11
. . . f o r Poles forbidden.
CHILDREN SUFFER MOST
T h e y o u n g e s t c h ild has been b o rn since th e w a r began.
I n peace tim e th e H e a lth In s u ra n c e S o cie ty w o u ld have p ro v id e d p ro p e r tre a tm e n t fo r Ja n ’s w ife , b o th befo re and a fte r th e co n fin e m e n t. T h e re w o u ld have been a p e rio d o f co n valescence in a w e ll-e q u ip p e d hom e. U n d e r th e G erm ans there is no such tre a tm e n t and th e c h ild is th in and s ic k ly .
A d o c to r frie n d w h o has exam in e d i t several tim e s o n ly shakes his head. T h e c h ild needs b e tte r food, m ore fre s h a ir, o u g h t to go to the c o u n try . Jan laughs b it t e r ly a t th is . B e fo re th e w a r he c o u ld n o t o n ly a ffo rd good food, b u t co uld m anage to send h is c h ild re n to h o lid a y cam ps s u p p o rte d 12
b y the w o rk e rs ’ clubs. N o w , a ll these clubs have been closed.
E ven recreation grounds are forbidden to Polish children.
Notice-boards bear the words ‘‘O n ly for Germ an children.
S w im m in g -p o o ls , s p o rts -g ro u n d s and p la y -g ro u n d s , a ll are reserved fo r G erm ans.
E v e n i f he had the m oney, Jan could n o t send his c h ild re n to the c o u n try . T h e people th e re have in s u ffic ie n t fo od fo r them selves. T h e n , all Poles have to get a special perm it to tra v e l. T h e y m u s t p roduce evidence o f necessity and h u m ilia te them selves before the G erm ans, o fte n o n ly to be in s u lte d and refused. B e tte r d ro p th e idea, th e less one has to do w ith the G erm an a u th o ritie s th e b e tte r. F o r the Jews it is even worse. T h e y m ay not use the railw ays or steamers at all.
T h e tw o o ld e s t c h ild re n a tte nd th e e le m e n ta ry school, b u t d e rive lit t le b e n e fit fro m i t u n d e r th e N a z i system . In the p a rt o f P o la n d in c o rp o ra te d in to the R eich the G erm ans have closed a ll P o lis h e du catio na l e stab lish m en ts. T h e Poles now
P olish children are fo rce d to w o rk.
13
have to send th e ir c h ild re n to G erm an schools, p a y in g h ig h fees o n ly to have th e m educated on N a z i p rin c ip le s . B e tte r to le t th e c h ild re n ru n w ild th an to have th e m g ro w up G e r
mans.
So Jan sends his c h ild re n to the G erm an c o n tro lle d school b u t th e y are ta u g h t se cre tly, in p riv a te houses, P o lis h la n g uage, h is to r y and g e o g ra p h y. T h e G erm ans v ig o ro u s ly p e r
secute those responsible fo r these p riv a te classes and q u ite a fe w teachers have been dep orte d to G e rm a ny. B u t th e fig h t fo r the soul o f the P o lis h c h ild re n s till goes on.
NO EDUCATION FOR THE POLES
T h e o ld e s t b q y is Ja n ’s m o s t d if f ic u lt p ro b le m . H e is capable, s tu d io u s and in te llig e n t. H e had a lw a y s hoped to be a d o c to r. H e w as a lw a ys re g u la r in a ttendance and p u n c tu a l and w as h ig h ly com m ended b y his teachers. I n tw o years he w o u ld have fin is h e d h ig h school and m ig h t have g o tte n a s c h o la rs h ip to a m ed ica l school. B u t a ll h is h a rd w o r k has been in v a in . T h e G erm ans re g a rd the Poles as a slave-race, w hose o n ly m issio n in , life is to s u p p ly m uscle and b ra w n . A n e le m e n ta ry school and a s h o rt te rm at a lo w grade te c h n ica l school is enough fo r (he P o lis h c h ild re n . T h e G erm ans, th e re fo re , closed a ll secondary schools, u n iv e rs itie s , te c h n ic a l colleges and th e o lo g ic a l schools. T h e W a rs a w U n iv e r s ity is oc
cupied b y the G estapo and b u ild in g s o f o th e r e du ca tio n a l in s titu tio n s b y th e S.S. and G e rm a n police.
A n d so a ll the b o y ’s e ffo rts and a ll the sacrifices Jan has m ade to help h im on have been w asted. H e n o w loafs aro un d, w o rk le s s and! in ever lo w e r s p ir it and h is 'm o th e r fis m ad w it h a n x ie ty lest one d ay he sh ou ld be k id n a p p e d in the s tre e t b y th e G e rm an “ p re ss-g an gs” and sent o ff to G e rm a ny fo r fo rc e d labor.
14
Jan w a lk s on. I t is tim e he w ere a t w o rk . H e no lo n g e r goes .by; stre e t car, a lth o u g h th e a lte rn a tiv e is a w a lk o f some th re e m iles. A n y w a y , th a t is b e tte r th an w itn e s s in g some o f the th in g s w h ic h happen in the s tre e t cars.
T h e re are separate c o m p a rtm e n ts fo r Poles and G erm ans.
O fte n , w he n th e cars are crow ded, G erm ans squeeze in to the P o lis h c o m p a rtm e n t and even the w o m e n have to g iv e up th e ir seats to them . H o w m a n y tim e s has Jan seen w om en and even c h ild re n th ro w n o u t of the tro lle y s b y G erm an so ld iers ?
RICKSHAWS
B efore the w a r i t was a pleasure to w a lk a lo n g the streets o i W a rs a w . 1 hey w ere a lw a y s fille d w ith a gay and liv e ly th ro n g . N o w the streets lead th ro u g h a b arre n, desolate waste o f d em olishe d houses. T h e debris has been cleared a w a y, b u t at e very step ru in e d w a lls s tre tc h u p w a rd in m u te appeal to th e skies. T h e re are no stream s o f cars on the road, o n ly an occasional car fille d w ith G erm an o ffic e rs , o r som etim es a h o rs e -d ra w n cal), a ve h icle w h ic h before the w a r had a lm ost disappeared. B u t m o s tly one sees o n ly ric k s h a w s . These are d ra w n b y P o lis h stu de nts and i t is a lm o s t th e ir o n ly means o f liv e lih o o d . T h e y have attached tra ile rs to th e ir b icycle s and go o u t p ly in g fo r h ire. T a x is are no lo n g e r to be seen.
Jan misses the o ld fa m ilia r d in o f the streets, the m usic and s in g in g o f stre e t m usicians. W h e n the G erm ans came, these m usician s, instead of s in g in g p o p u la r songs as before, w an de red fro m stre e t to stre e t and c o u rty a rd to c o u rty a rd , p la y in g and s in g in g o n ly P o lis h n a tio n a l and re v o lu tio n a ry songs. In th e end the G erm ans, n o tic in g the e nth usia sm evoked, fo rb ad e i t a lto g e th e r.
Some o f th e streets have been e n tire ly destroye d and new roads c u t th ro u g h . Jan can’t bear to lo o k a t the street names.
1 he o ld P o lis h plates have been rem oved and G e rm an names 15
g iv e n to a ll th e streets. T h e m u s t b e a u tifu l square in W a rs a w is n o w called “ A d o lf H it le r Square.’’
Jan goes in to a store, n o t v e ry h o p e fu lly , fo r cigarettes, d he storekeepers are a p ro m in e n t W a rs a w s p e cia list and a w e ll- k n o w n poet. T h e la tte r, w it h h is a u th o r frie n d s , abandoned th e ir w r it in g as th e y co u ld n o t b rin g them selves to s u b m it th e ir w o rk s to th e G e rm an censor. B o th d o c to r and poet p re fe r to sell m atches, c o tto n , a n y th in g th e y can g e t h o ld of.
T h e re are no ciga re tte s, as Jan had expected. A s he goes a lo n g someone o ffe rs h im a new spaper, th e W arsaw Journal.
Jan brushes i t aside and spits. A lthough it is in Polish, he knows this paper is published b y the Germans. H e can’t read Germ an lies and anti-Polish rubbish. H e w i ll w a it u n til n ig h t w he n he can read an a u th e n tic P o lis h paper.
A ROUND-UP
S u dd e nly, in s tin c tiv e ly , on an im p u ls e b o rn o f m u ch e x p e ri
ence, Jan dives in to a n a rro w a lle y , s p rin g s th ro u g h th e fir s t d o o rw a y , races up th e s ta irs and crouches in a d a rk corner.
O u ts id e , p olice w h is tle s can be heard, accom panied b y fo u l G erm an e xp le tive s and s h rie k s o f w om en. A ro u n d -u p .
Jan knows that all the male captives over the age of tw elve w ill be loaded into cattle-trucks and sent to G erm any to w ork.
A
worse fate awaits the young women.A fe w days ago Jan had received a le tte r fro m his s iste r in a n o the r to w n . She w ro te h ow , to g e th e r w ith some fiv e h u n d re d o th e r g irls , she had been called to the la b o r o ffice . T h e y had been fo rce d to s trip naked, and w e re exam in e d b y doctors. A f t e r b e in g i l l fo r th re e days, she had received a card to prepare to go w it h a tra in -lo a d o f o th e r g ir ls to G erm any.
16
W h e n , laden w ith disease, these g ir ls re tu rn fro m th e G e r
m an so ld ie rs ’ camps, th e y are ru th le s s ly s h o t b y G erm an m achine guns.
* * *
Jan w a its fo r w h a t seems an age. T h e n a ll is q u ie t and he em erges fro m h is h id in g place. W it h q uicken ed step he h u rrie s on to the fa c to ry , he is a fra id he w ill be late.
AN UNDERGROUND PAPER
A t the fa c to ry , he goes in to h is shop and p u ts on his o veralls.
I n h is h ip p o cke t s o m e th in g ru s tle s . H e sm ile s to h im s e lf.
T h e y have done i t a gain. F o r the m o m e n t he feels q u ite happy. H is com rades, a c tiv e ly engaged in sp re ad ing secret c o m m u n ic a tio n s , have a lre a d y g o t a n e w le a fle t th ro u g h to h im . H e w i ll read i t to -n ig h t. A n d he m u s t n o t fo rg e t, before le a v in g th e w o rk s h o p , to leave in his d ra w e r his c o n trib u tio n to th e p u b lis h in g fu n d . T h is m on ey w ill be s e c re tly collected b y some u n k n o w n person and handed to an e q u a lly u n k n o w n trea sure r.
T h e m o n e y is u rg e n tly needed. T h e G erm ans have re q u i
s itio n e d a ll stocks o f paper. T h e y have even s trip p e d th e sta
tio n e rs ’ shops o f n e a rly a ll th e ir books and sent th em to the paper m ills fo r re p u lp in g . T h a t is w he re the G erm ans g e t the paper fo r th e ir noisom e p u b lic a tio n s . So th e “ u n d e rg ro u n d ” w o rk e rs have to send a lo n g w a y fo r th e ir supplies. T h e cost run s in to la rg e sums. T h e n the presses m u s t be m oved fro m place to place c o n s ta n tly .
R e c e n tly th e G erm ans discovered one such place in W a rs a w . W h e n th e y k n ocke d and received no re p ly , th e y th re w in hand- grenades and m achine gun ne d th e house. T w o com rades w ere k ille d and a w o m a n w as w o u n d e d and died la te r. B u t th ere w as a f ig h t and the G erm ans d id n ’t have i t a ll th e ir o w n w ay.
17
D
ro d k a p r z y k r e g o » krę p uią ce *.«
s ic |« iy c v e .k u U c x n e ä o p rz e a k rz e i i s u c jłliz m o w i IC z ry k z z y ty m z# w y g o d n y » tra s z z k
A le ía a z y z m n u n io s
^ ' ł . ' ç» , ;t id u J e g o r»
^ ^ S l P r r e , , - - hv
■6*. , h%
W OJS KO i N IE P O D L E G Ł O Ś Ć
A# 4 LISTOPAD 1940 ROKU * *
W E S O E E P IS M O
L IS T O P A D A 1918 R.
W OJS KO i N IE P O D L E G Ł O Ś Ć
e . A ! GIUTł/U.N 1940 ROKU ________ __ • _ WŚRÓD POLSKICH 20LN1EWZV WINSTON
d r o g a w o l n o ś c i
0 FORWC łŁj pokSKi . TS.FŚL p r z,(SZŁ
'0 LISTOPADA 1440 R
a — rWMKATRMM
P O B U D F h
W i A n o M O Ś C I P O L S K IE
U nderground papers
B u t no one begrudges h is share o f the cost and th e “ u n d e r
g ro u n d ” a c tiv itie s are g ro w in g day b y day. R ou nd up s, co n c e n tra tio n camps, even execu tion s p ro v id e no d e te rre n t.
Jan gets on w ith h is w o rk b u t soon begins to fee! tire d . H is lim b s ache and feel lik e lead. In s u ffic ie n t food, and w o rk g re a tly speeded up b y the G erm ans are to o m uch fo r h im . I n o rd e r to g e t th e m a x im u m o u tp u t to f i l l th e gaps made b y th e R ..A .F. in the w est, the G erm ans have a bolished the 8 -h o u r day and the w o rk e rs m u s t do a t least 10 hours. A l l h o lid a y s have been c u rta ile d and the g ra n tin g o f th e m is le ft to the d is c re tio n of th e em p lo ye r.
STARVATION WAGES
N o r are th e w o rk e rs p a id fo r th e e x tra h ou rs. W a g e s have g e n e ra lly been m a in ta in e d at p re -w a r levels a lth o u g h th e cost o f liv in g has gone up b y a bo ut 500 p er cent. F o r the same jo b th e G e rm an w o rk e rs in P o la n d g e t n o t less th a n tw ic e the pay o f the Poles, p lu s a special liv in g a llo w a n ce w h ic h in its e lf a m o un ts to as m uch as th e to ta l w age o f a Pole.
T h e re w as a fa c to ry o w n e r re c e n tly w h o declared h im s e lf re a d y to raise the wages o f his P o lis h w o rk e rs . W h e n the G erm ans heard o f i t th e y im m e d ia te ly th re aten ed to close his fa c to ry and p u t h im in p riso n . T h e G erm ans have issued a decree fo rb id d in g , on p a in o f im p ris o n m e n t, a ny increase of th e wages o r im p ro v e m e n t in th e w o r k in g c o n d itio n s o f th e Poles. N o th in g is a llo w e d fo r o v e rtim e and any w o rk e r w h o asks fo r an increase m a y be fin e d o r im p ris o n e d . T h e w o rk e r has no p ro te c tio n , h is tra d e u n io n s have gone, the leaders have been k ille d o r im p ris o n e d and a ll th e fu n d s a p p ro p ria te d . S trik e s are o u t o f the q ue stion . M a c h in e guns are the G e r
m an s’ re p ly to a n y such a ction .
19
GO SLOW WORK
Jan and his com rades have to be v e ry c a re fu l in th e ir w o rk . T h e re is a G erm an decree w h ic h p ro v id e s h eavy penalties, n o t o n ly fo r bad w o rk m a n s h ip b u t also fo r “ fa ilu re on the p a rt of th e w o rk e r to show g o o d w ill. A l l day and e ve ry day Jan and his pals c o u rt th is ris k . I t is n o t th e ir in te n tio n to d e liv e r goo d w o rk m a n s h ip . T h e y m ake as fin e a show of w o rk as th e y can. B u t a ll th e tim e th e y are w a s tin g precious m in utes, a d ju s tin g m achine p a rts w h ic h need no a d ju s tm e n t, o ver- s c ru p u lo u s ly e x a m in in g m a te ria ls , re p e a tin g , as th o u g h u n co nsciou sly, th e same o p e ra tio n , d ro p p in g th e ir to o ls and re trie v in g th em o n ly v e ry s lo w ly and g e n e ra lly d e la y in g the w o r k as e ffe c tiv e ly , y e t as u n o s te n ta tio u s ly as th e y can. T h u s the G erm an e ffo rt at in te n s ific a tio n fa ils . T h e w o rk e rs have become v e ry s k ilfu l in th is fo rm o f sabotage and even the G e rm a n su p e rviso rs can fin d no ta n g ib le p ro o f o f it.
F ro m tim e to tim e the G erm ans become so in fu ria te d th a t th e y choose a t ra n d o m a n u m b e r o f w o rk e rs and send them to c o n c e n tra tio n camps. Som etim es th e y even execute th em . B u t no such a c tio n has th e s lig h te s t effect. E v e ry w o rk e r does h is b it and does i t w it h th o ro u g h n e s s and gusto.
N o t the least a c tiv e in sabotage are a n u m b e r o f w o rk e rs w ho h a v e been b ro u g h t to W a rs a w fro m G d y n ia . These h ig h ly experienced d ock w o rk e rs , can do o n ly u n s k ille d w o rk here fo r a m is e ra b ly lo w w age. I l l as th e y can a ffo rd it, the o th e r w o rk e rs have assisted th e fa m ilie s o f these m en w ith s m a ll c o n trib u tio n s to save th e m fro m s e m i-s ta rv a tio n .
CONSTANT FEAR
T h e w o r k in g day is o ver and Jan is on his w a y home. T h e c u rfe w h o u r is d ra w in g n ea r and th e streets w ill soon be q u ite e m p ty . E v e n m u n itio n w o rk e rs , w a ite rs , d octo rs, nurses, those
20
w ho have G erm an p e rm its to be o u t a fte r th is tim e , p re fe r to g e t ind oo rs. M a n y tim es i t happened th a t some w o rk e r, d iv in g h is hand in to his p o cke t fo r h is p e rm it, has been sh ot b y the G erm ans w h o th o u g h t he w as re a ch in g fo r a gun. O fte n people have been h it b y s tra y b u lle ts fire d b y the G erm ans w h o seem to be in co n s ta n t dread even o f th e ir o w n shadows.
Jan w a lk s as fa s t as he can F e a r fo r h is fa m ily spurs h im on. T o -d a y , as e v e ry day, he is h aunted b y the fe a r th a t he w ill be m e t b y one o f his n eigh bo rs b e a rin g d re a d fu l t i d ings— the c h ild re n have been c a rrie d o ff— h is w ife has been arrested o r deported. In th e fe w m om en ts befo re he reaches hom e Jan dies a thou san d deaths. H e breaks in to a run a n '1 a rriv e s at th e d o o r s w e a tin g and exhausted. Is e veryone here?
A re th e y a ll r ig h t?
A n d so day a fte r day, there is the c o nsta nt w a itin g fo r su d den catastrophe.
Jan reca lls the h a p p y days befo re th e w a r. T ire d b u t cheer
fu l a fte r the d a y ’s w o rk , th ere was a lw a ys a glass o f beer, a b it o f gossip, perhaps a liv e ly debate w it h h is pals in the ta v e rn . Jan had a fa ir a m o u n t o f le isu re and he and his w ife lik e d th e m ovies. T h e y n ever go n ow . A l l e d u ca tio n a l and in s tru c tio n a l film s have been banned and the film s w h ic h are show n e ith e r c a ric a tu re the P o lis h a rm y and a u th o ritie s or g lo r if y the “ h e ro ic ” deeds o f H i t l e r ’s hordes.
VODKA INSTEAD OF CHOPIN
N o se lf re s p e c tin g P ole w i ll go to the th e a tre o r a concert.
A l l serious plays, a ll P o lis h n a tio n a l and classical m usic, the im m o rta l w o rk s o f C h o p in and P a d e re w s k i have been banned.
T h e G erm ans suggested the p la y in g o f jazz and the presen
ta tio n o f re v ie w s o f a p a r tic u la rly lo w class. N o t co n te n t w ith s ta rv in g th e b o d y o f th e Pole, the G erm ans a im also a t de
s tro y in g th e n a tio n a l soul and d e m o ra liz in g th e P o lis h race.
In c o u n try d is tric ts m a n y saloons have been opened and
21
v o d k a is on sale a t a b s u rd ly lo w prices. T h is is to encourage d rin k in g , w h ils t in W a rs a w th e G erm ans opened a g a m b lin g - den, a place never seen in p re -w a r P o lan d, in o rd e r to get m on ey and encourage vice.
Jan and h is w ife w ere fo n d of rea din g. T h e re w ere e xcellen t le n d in g fa c ilitie s at the loca l lib r a r y . T h e G erm ans, a fte r clo s in g a ll th e lib ra rie s , reopened th e m la te r w it h a new ca ta logue fro m w h ic h a ll b ooks on P o lis h p o litic a l, econom ic and n a tio n a l h is to ry had been rem oved. M o re th a n 1,500 a uth ors had been e lim in a te d in c lu d in g Joseph C onrad, also a ll books in E n g lis h , even d ic tio n a rie s , except A m e ric a n e dition s. N o b oo k was in c lu d e d w h ic h had in its t it le th e w o rd s “ P o la n d "
o r “ P o lis h .” P a rlia m e n ta ry debates, speeches b y p ro m in e n t leaders such as th e S o c ia lis t D a s z y ń s k i, even studies o f the c o n s titu tio n o f P o la n d had been excluded. A l l p o e try , novels and p la ys w it h a n a tio n a l fla v o r shared th e same fate. Tt is even re co un te d h o w th e G e rm a ns e xcluded a b oo k entiP e d
“ Pests and th e ir D e s tru c tio n ” because th e y th o u g h t i t refe rre d to them selves, w hereas i t w as a b o o k on g ard e n in g .
T h e ban on books has ru in e d m o s t o f th e P o lis h p u b lis h in g firm s . T ho se s t ill c a rry in g on can b a re ly m ake ends m eet since no b oo k o r p e rio d ic a l, o r m u sica l w o rk can appear w it h o u t p e rm is s io n w h ic h is a lm o s t u n o b ta in a b le . T h e G erm ans have ordered e v e ry b ookshop to d is p la y in its w in d o w a copy of a b o o k “ D ie P olen v o r B e r lin ” (P oles at the G ates o f B e r lin ) , a s a tire inte n d e d to ta u n t and m o ck the P o lis h people.
T h e banned books can o n ly be c irc u la te d in secret. T h e y pass fro m hand to hand a m o n g st frie n d s and are read i f a n y th in g , m uch m ore e a g e rly th a n before.
22
LISTENING ON LONDON
A f t e r su pp er th ere is a d iscree t k n o c k a t the door. T h e n eigh bo rs com e in b rin g in g books. T h e y ta lk and read and th e ir w o rrie s are m o m e n ta rily lifte d fro m th e ir shoulders, th e ir eyes ta ke on a new lig h t, shoulders lose th e ir stoop, fis ts clench w ith h eigh te ne d re s o lu tio n . T o n ig h t there is a le a fle t to be read.
I t is a M a n ife s to w h ic h is g o in g o u t to th e w a r'd , te llin g i t P o la n d w i ll c o n tin u e th e f ig h t u n t il v ic to r y is w o n .
T h e h o u r o f broadcasts fro m L o n d o n d ra w s near. Jan’s w ife goes to th e d o o r and listen s. T h e y have to be ca re ful. O n ly re c e n tly , the G erm ans ca u g h t th e occupants o f a nea rb y house lis te n in g to L o n d o n and sentenced th em to tw e lv e years im p ris o n m e n t. Jan gets o u t the re c e iv in g set and tunes in. H e a d ju s ts the earphones and listen s. “ H u s h , the E n g lis h N ew s—
L a s t n ig h t the R .A .F . bom bed H a m b u rg , C ologne and B e rlin . I n th is a tta c k P o lis h p ilo ts to o k p a rt. A l l o u r planes re tu rn e d safely to th e ir bases.”
L a te r, fo r tifie d and cheered, th e p a rty breaks up w it h a f r a te rn a l handshake. A s th e y separate th e y repeat th e o ld w a r- c ry —
F R E E D O M , E Q U A L I T Y , I N D E P E N D E N C E .
So Jan and his fa m ily re tire . Jan s tirs u n e a s ily in his sleep.
T o -m o rro w the a n x ie ty w ill b e g in anew, there w ill be again his sleep. T o - m o r ro w the a n x ie ty w ill b eg in anew, th ere w ill the dread o f the catastrophe w h ic h lu rk s ju s t a ro u n d th e corner, ready to pounce.
B u t th o u g h m a n y m a y p e rish in the s tru g g le fo r freedom , raar.y w ill also s u rv iv e , and te rr ib le w ill be the r e tr ib u tio n w h ic h w ill one day o v e rta k e those fie nd s o u t o f h e ll, whose o n ly jo y is th e m is e ry and w retchedness o f others.
23
PROGRAM O F THE A M ERICAN FRIENDS O F POLISH DEM OCRACY
T h e A m e ric a n F rie n d s of P o lis h D e m o c ra c y seek to unite all w ho are really concerned about the Poksh people whose fate is so closely connected w ith th a t o f w o rld democracy. Its purpose is to aid the struggle fo r the crea
tio n o f a free and dem ocratic Europe. A free and demo
cratic Europe is impossible w ith o u t a free and democratic Poland— th at is one o f the m ost im p o rta n t lessons o f the European history.
The A m e rican F riends o f Polish Dem ocracy intend to develop th e ir w o r k in the fo llo w in g d ire c tio n s :
1. B y conducting meetings, dinners, lectures, forum s, by rad io broadcasting, publications and collaboration w ith the press, especially w ith the P olish dem ocratic press in this country.
2. B y aiding the dem ocratic elements among, the P olish Am ericans in th is country.
3. B y assisting in securing speakers on Polish and European p ro ble m s fo r o rg a n iz a tio n s w h ic h request them . 4. B y a ssistin g, in e v e ry le g itim a te w a y , p o litic a l exiles
'f r o m P o lan d, p a r tic u la rly in th is c o u n try .
5. B y a id ing the dem ocratic underground m ovement in P oland.
6. B y fo rm in g state and local committees o f A m erican F riends o f P olish Dem ocracy to w o rk along the above lines.
W e appeal to all w ho cherish Dem ocracy to enable us to ca rry out our program . D onations w hich w ill— d ire c tly o r in d ire c tly — help the P olish U nd erg ro un d struggle against the N azi barbarians are a sound investm ent fo r the fu tu re . Please help us by sending y o u r donation and co n trib u tio n to the A m erican F riends o f Polish Democracy, 55 W est 42 Street, N ew Y o rk , N . Y .
PDLAIVD FIGHTS
A F O R T N I G H T L Y B U L L E T I N p u b lis h e d b y the
Am erican Friends of Polish Democracy,
w ill supply you w ith first-hand interesting inform ation about life in Poland, the Polish U nderground M ovem ent and its heroic struggle against the N azi invaders.
s
IT W ILL BE SERVED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANYBODY W H O W ILL ASK FOR IT.
W rite to the
Editor of "POLAND FIGHTS"
RO O M 1103 A 55 W EST 42 STREET
N E W YORK, N. Y.
The "M ANIFESTO
TO THE PEOPLES OF THE W ORLD"
IS A H E A R T E N IN G CRY O F PROTEST O F THE PO LISH PEOPLE
It protests against N azi wickedness and b ru tality and expresses the firm w ill of struggle against them. It is an expression of belief in ultim ate victory. This startling document is a call of the Polish Underground fighters to a ll the peoples of the world. This pam phlet w ill be m ailed free of charge to anyb o dy w ho asks for it.
• W rite to the
Editor of "POLAND FIGHTS"
R O O M 1103 A 55 W EST 42 STREET
N E W YORK, N. Y.
