TO STORM WARSAW,

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 195, 16 August 1920, Page 5

TO STORM WARSAW,

100,000 RUSSIANS ADVANCE. PEACE DELEGATES AT MINSK. (B.v Cable.—Tress Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.30 a.m.l LONDON, August 15. According to Warsaw reports a hundred thousand Rubsians are about to attack and storm the city on several , sides. Advices from the German eastern districts state that the Poles are preparing defences against the Russian attacks on j Thorn and Gaudenz, in old East i Prussia, i2O miles north-west of \\ arsaw. The "Central News'' learn* authoritatively that Die Polish delegates have reached Minsk. The newspaper correspondents accompanying the Poles were not permitted fo cross the Bolshevist lines, despite the Bolshevist announcement that open diplomacy would be observed in tiie armistice and peace, negotiations. No news of the negotiations is expected to reach London before Tuesday. The Bolshevist advance is making progress, and the fortress of Soldau. north of Warsaw, has fallen. KamenelV, tbe Bolshevik envoy, in a letter to Mr. Lloyd George, states that despite rumours emanating from interested quarter* indicating that the Soviet had altered its terms to Poland, and also despite .ranee's hostile acts rendering peace more difficult, the Soviet Govern, ment did not consider it necessary to alter the i-.u.ditions of peace with Poland. Mr. Lloyd George communicated the message to the House of Commons. Kamcnetr adds that the Soviet Government? signed peace with Lattvi.i on Thursday, and an armistice with Finland on Friday.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) ENFORCING SOVIETISM. METHODS OF THE BOLSHEVIKS ißeceived l_:m p.tu.l BERLIN, August 1.1. The commander of the Fourth Bolshevik Army informed German pressmen thut a Polish Soviet hud been formed at Bialystok, that it will proceed to Warsaw after tho capture of the capital, und from there it will conclude peace with the Russian Soviet on the basis of self-determination.— (Renter.) A Warsaw message says:.—General Weber states that the "Red?" have completed a scheme for Soviet administration of the whole of Poland, the personnel of which will lie chosen, and peace only made with i:. The bulk of the foreign diplomats, have left Warsaw, owing to ihe unfavourable military situation. The Anglo-French representatives de.ided to go for fear that they would be captured ami held as hostages. Italian and Danish representatives were ordered to return it. any eventualities. •A later message states that a great buttle is beginning at the gates of Warsaw. — (A. 'md N.Z. Cable.) WELL MADE DEFENCES. BY FORMER GERMAN TROOPS. (Received 2.110 p.m.) LONDON. August 10. I The "Daily Chronicle's" Warsaw cor-1 respondent states that two Posen regiments were mainly responsible for the construction of the defences. They were formerly Gorman troops, and have done their work extremely efficiently. ■ Much depends on the leadership. Hitherto the Polish troops have suffered from luck of co-operation between the officers ■ rtnd tbe French officers who were at--1 tached to the various commands in the ' principal centres. Military activity is " greatest at the bridgeheads, where there J is much movement of finely mounted ! cavalry, a notable figure being a bare--1 headed woman.

Owing to the censorship and the cessation of Parliamentary proceedings, it is difficult to learn what is transpiring politically, but there is little doubt that Romandmows-i, the Democrat leader, aims at overthrowing the Government. He delivered a speech at Posen on Thursday demanding many reforms.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

NOT ANNIHILATING POLAND. BUT ENSLAVING HER. BERLIN, August 15. The Bolsh.'viks report that Warsaw is surrounded, and that. Dumowski, leader of the Polish National Democrats, is beading a revolutionary movement to overthrow the Polish Government. The Berlin correspondent of tho New York "American" interviewed Tchitcherin, the Soviet Foreign Commissary, in Moscow by wireless. Tchitcherin said that the Soviet Government had not the least inteution of annihilating Poland. Russia desired only a guarantee against new attacks by Polish armies. "We demand," he said, "the reduction of the Polish army to 50,000 men, but at the same time Poland' 3 workers must be well organised and the members of trades unions well armed in order to ensure tranquillity and to act as a counterpoise to imperialistic Polish landlords. Russia stands ready to withdraw her nrmv from Poland and the Polish frontier, where only 200,000 men will be left. "Russia will iusist that Poland shall grant free land to the families of Polish citizens killed and wounded in the war. The Soviet Government lias absolutely a free hand in the Orient until a general agreement is reached with Britain. Limitations can be determined only by treaty, and I can give assurances that such" limitations will be rigidly observed."—(A. and N.Z. Cable) Reports received in Vienna from Warsaw state that the Poles are not likely io accept the Soviet's disarmament demand, which, they consider, would amount to ignominious capitulation. The Poles are recruiting to the utmost foi a buttle near Warsaw, which they hope may prove another Maine.

HOUR DARK WITH MENACE. AUSTRALIA IN THE SHADOW. .Kecelved 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Mr. Hughes has announced that the Commonwealth will be reF'«^ [« ttu. 1 eacue of Nations Assembly m <■»•«*■• cSti» unanimous that Mr. Hughes 81, ° Sp e_kfng at Bend Lgo Mr- Hughes referred to the Polish situation, stating Et the hour was dark w th menace to Australia. He intimated that » ■ dcience policy, involving immediate ecUon was contemplated.—tA_fll«l N-Z.Xft_ie.Jj