COUNTER – ATTACK

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 206, 28 August 1920, Page 7

COUNTER - ATTACK

BEGUN BY RUSSIANS. IN BREST LITOVSK AREA. ALLIED MESSAGE TO POLAND, URGED TO KEEiP WITHIN FRONTIER. (liy r.ililc—l'rcss Association. - -Copyright.) ("ccelveil 1_..".0 p.m.) LONDON, August 27. A wireless message from Moscow states that the Bolsheviks have launched a, counter-attack on Brest Litovsk. Resistance has been stiffening in this sector, nnd a counter-attack here was anticipated by military experts. The "Daily Chronicle's" Warsaw correspondent states that General Weygand is leaving Warsaw and returning to Paris. It is rumoured that his action is a protest against the non-execution of his plans, particularly in the north, where four Polish armies nre facing west, hemming in 0000 Russians againstthe German frontier, instead of continuing the attack upon the retreating Russians. There is a noticeable recrudescence of the spirit of exclusiveness amongst the Polish officers, which marred the earlier co-operation with the French officers. Britain, France, Italy, and America have' sent messages to Poland advising restraint as regards Russia. America's message urges Poland to stop unnecessary bloodshed, and adhere to the boundaries as fixed by the Versailles Treaty, and to accept reasonable pence terms. Poland's reply to tho United States' Noto expressing the hope that Poland would not ndvance beyond her ethnographic boundaries, hu* been received. It is understood that tho reply does not contain anything that might be construed as disapnointing to tho United States. In compliance with the Anglo-Italian ultimatum, the Bolsheviks have agreed to withdraw the demand for the Polish workmen's militia. A Moscow wireless states that M. Dombsky, chairman of the Polish delegation, at the third session of the peace negotiations, announced that the basis of the Soviet proposals is generally unacceptable. The Council of Action, after consultation with Kameneff and Krassin, announce that the Russian Government's withdrawal regarding the civic militia removes all the difficulties in the way of a Russo-Polish peace. The Council urges the British Government to publish the full .terms on which they will make peace with Russia. The "Daily Chronicle" protests against intrigues between the Council of Action and the Russian delegates, as the Russians gave an undertaking to confine themselves to dealings with the British Government. The Port of Danzig has been reopened for the transport of munitions to Poland. (A. and N.Z. Cable.) Marshal Foch, questioned yesterday ion tho operations in Poland, said that everything was going very well. The Bolsheviks were breaking up, and sensational developments may be expected. After hard fighting tho Poles captured tho fortress of Ostrolenko, north-east of Warsaw, and forced the passage ol the Marew River. The Bolshevists surrounded near M*ava made a desperate struggle to break through. A portion succeeded in escaping eastward. Tho Bolshevists in Eastern Galicia are retreating on tho whole front to avoid a threatened flank attack from the north. Tho French General Lanzeroc commands the Southern Polish front. Lithuanian advance guards entered Vilna, which the Bolsheviks almost entirely evacuated after plundering the city—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) NORTHERN ARMY WIPED OUT. LONDON, August 27. Reports issued by tho Polish staff claim that the entire Bolshevik northern army has been accounted for, the only Bolshevik military forces left in Poland being those in Volhynia, Galicia, and General Budenny's cavalry. The war correspondent ofjfthe "Lokal Anzeiger" of Berlin says thnit Bolshevik regiments are still crossing the German frontier with full war material, and ordnance of every kind is heaped up within the frontier in indescribable quantities.— (United Service.)