POLAND'S CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Issue LI, 24 May 1920, Page 5

POLAND'S CAMPAIGN.

RETREAT IN THE NORTH.

ENEMY PROGRESS CHECKED.

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

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

LONDON, May 23.

Tlie "Times" Warsaw correspondent reports that the Bolsheviks' counterattack against the l'oles on the DvinaBeresina front was a furious affair, resulting in the flattening out of the Lepel salient. After the first sudden onset, however, the "Reds" again showed poor moral, leaving the commanders unable to exploit the success. A continuance •of heavy fighting is expected, but the Polish staff is satisfied with the situation.—("Times.")

A wireless Bolshevik communique says:—We are energetically advancing in the Polotsk region, east of the Dvina, and reached a line ten miles south-west-ward of Polotsk. We occupied several villages further west, and forced the Tchernitza River. After stubborn fighting on the right bank of the Beresina River wo occupied several villages. A particularly fierce r engagement at Ihumen resulted in our favour. Elsewhere the advance is developing satisfactorily.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

An authoritative commentary on the Polish operations shows that to attain the Dnieper line the Poles advanced on a front of 250 miles to an average depth of 100 to 150 miles in sixteen days.

There is no confirmation of the reported capture .of Odessa by the Ukrainians.— (A. and N.Z. and Reuter.)

An earlier wireless communique states: 'Pursuit of the retreating enemy continues in the Polotsk region. We occupied a number of villages to the east of Shklov, after fierce fighting. Our aeroplanes bombed enemy positions and assisted our crossing of Beresina River."

A wireless message from Moscow states that the workers are celebrating the anniversary of the introduction of military training by a people's holiday. A typical slogan runs: "The seal of liberty is a rifle in the hands of the worker or the peasant." The Soviet leaders urge that Russia is surrounded by bourgeois States, and that a system of general popular military training is the only wav to secure life and liberty."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)