MILITARY BISHOP                       
 
                           of the                           
 
                    POLISH ARMED FORCES                     
 
                     Your Excellency :-                     
 
                                                            
 
 
  Upon my return from Russia I consider it an honor  
to submit, to Your Excellency the following report:  
                       When I reached Kuibyshev on May 8th, 1942, I was   
informed that there is a widespread opinion in the United States of   
America that I, as well as the 155 Polish secular priest, and 52 Polish   
tary chaplains (in Russia), were accorded full religious fre
 
                                                            
 
 
But, what is the nature of this religious freedom? When General Andere   
informed the Soviet authorities that the Polish Army ls Christian and   
therefore needs priests, our milltary chaplains immediately acted upon the   
authorization given to exercise their priestly functions in the autonomous   
Polish army. In that first period Soviet authorities, in some locations,   
did nothing to hinder the holding of public,  religious services, even for   
                 our, civilian population.                  
 
                                                            
 
 
   Nine military chaplains exercised their priestly   
functions for the benefit of the soldiers' families and the civilian   
        population in the southern part of the USSR.        
 
                                                            
 
 
However, most of the Catholic Poles, were without  
any pastoral care and 152 priest, were detained in concentration camps or  
                        in prisons.                         
 
                                                            
 
 
Since the early part of April Soviet authorities  
made it impossible for our chaplains to travel any considerable distance   
o minister  to the spiritual needs of our civilian populatio
 
                                                            
 
 
Fearing that if the Polish Army should leave for  
   the battle field or for any reason should be evacuated   
 
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