SILESIAN HORRORS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 208, 2 September 1919, Page 5

SILESIAN HORRORS.

TERRORISM CONTINUES.

ALLIES URGED TO ACT.

LITTLE HOPE FOR COMMISSION

(By Cable.— Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 8.50 a,m.)

LONDON, September 1. The '"Times" correspondent at Sesnowice states that though the Allied Commission has begun an inquiry into the insurrection in Upper Silesia, tho Germans continue to terrorise the colliery centres. Troops indulge in bursts of machine-gun fire in the streets, and people are compelled to use passports at nignt, otherwise they are shot. The Germans with"a view to justifying the recent outrages, allege that the it? surgents provoked the troops, committing numerous atrocities. The Polish military authorities declare that the evidence of the alleged atrocities is manufactured. If any have been committed they are nothing compared with the horrors of which the Germans were guilty.

The correspondent supports the Polish denial, and states that he personally investigated over fifty cases of murder and brutality. For example, one of the insurgents was tied by the arms to the stirrups of two cavalrymen and the horses were spurred to a gallop until the victim's arms were torn out by tho sockets. The Allied Commission at present is taking evidence only of Germans, and has not yet inspired the confidence of the people, who view the inquiry with pessimism, but remain quiet, awaiting its results. .German tyranny is not likely to end unless Allied'troops are sent to Silesia. Speedy occupation is desirable in order to strengthen M. Paderewski's hands at Warsaw. Deputations interviewed M. Paderewski and General Pilsudski, and demanded Polish intervention in Upper Silesia. M. Paderewski replied that it was not intended to give Germany the excuse she desired, but otherwise" he would use every means to prevent further ill-treat, ment of Poles. He hoped the Allies would ratify the treaty at the earliest moment in order to show that the Poles are not playing Germany's game.— ("Times.")

The "Times"' correspondent at Cracow recently asserted that the German methods in crushing the insurrection in Upper Silesia, of which authentic details have now been gathered, rival some of the worst devices adopted in Belcium in 1914. It is estimated that a million civilians were ill-treated in various ways. The fact that they were mostly German, emphasises the ruthlessness shown. The complete population of two mining centres was driven out of their homes, and left to starve, many suffering from rifle-shots and beatings. Refugees are unanimous in declaring that the insurrection was due to the intolerable military tyranny. Many victims declared that they had fought for the Germans in war time, and now only desired arms to fight against them.