icult alternative. That their country would at some time or other
become a battling ground of the contending armies was quite evident.
Whether Russia or the Central Powers would emerge as the final victor
was at least open to dispute. Whatever side the Poles chose, might be
the wrong side and bring to them the most horrible consequences. It was
undoubtedly with this danger in view that the "Gazeta Warzawska" printed
on August 15, 1914, an editorial which in part read as follows:

"Remain passive, watchful, insensible to temptation.

"During the coming struggle the Kingdom of Poland will be the
marching ground of various armies; we shall see temporary victors
assuming lordship for a while; but change of authority will
follow, and inevitable retaliation; this several times, perhaps,
in the course of the campaign. Therefore every improvident step
will meet with terrible revenge. By holding firm through the
present conflict you best can serve the Polish cause. In the name
of the love you bear your country, of your solicitude for the
nation's future, we entreat you, fellow countrymen, to remain
deaf to evil inspirations, unshakable in your determination not
to expose our land to yet greater calamities, and Poland's whole
future to incalculable perils."

This, of course, was far from being a rousing appeal to support Russia's
cause, but it was even further from being a suggestion to support that
of the Central Powers and revolt against Russia. Polish newspapers of
the next day printed a proclamation signed by the Commander in Chief
Grand Duke Nicholas prophesying the fulfillment of the Polish dream of
unity, at least, even if under the Russian scepter, and promising a
rebirth of Poland "free in faith, in language, in self-government."

On August 17, 1914, four of the Polish political parties published a
manifesto in which they welcomed this proclamation and expressed their
belief in the ultimate fulfillment of the promises made. The net result
of the sudden three-cornered bid for Polish friendship and support,
then, seems to have been that the leaders of Polish nationalism had
decided to abstain from embarrassing Russia, even though their
resistance against Germany and Austria with both of which other Poles
were fighting was not always very deep-seated.

During the first month of the war practically nothing of importance
happened in the Polish territory. Ger