UPPER SILESIA

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 6 May 1921, Page 5

UPPER SILESIA

, ORDER RESTORED IN SOME

TOWNS,

GERMAN TYRANNY,

REPORTS EXAGGERATED

BY CABLE—.eRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT LONDON, May 5. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Express says the fighting continue in the south-eastern districts of Upper Silesia.

Allied troops have restored order in some towns, but the Polish insurgents control the country districts.

It is announced that the Polish Government has recalled Korfantz, the chief Polish plebiscite commissioner, who has proclaimed himself dictator over Upper Silesia, and announced that the Polish Government was established within the territory bordered by ■what he called the Korfantz _ line. French troops, however, had already forced Korfantz to pull down the Polish fla£ at his headquarters in Beuthen.

Italian troops suffered serious losses while fighting the insurgents in Pless. Details are not yet known.

Polish bands are threatening Glei-.-•■wife on all sides, and efforts to dislodge -the Poles-fromi the. artillery barracks captured yesterday proved fruitless. German police endeavoured to storm the barracks, but the French general 5n command of the inter-Allied troops refused aid.

Later messages state that in thedisfrict of Gross Strelitz a. mob of Germans on one 'side and a mob of Poles on the other surrounded an Italian battalion and severely handled it, but the Italians in Pet^rgratz disarmed a large Polish* band. Street fighting continued throughout the night in Hindenbuxg. «

The Polish insurgents in Kattowitz, after capturing the town, erected barricades, using carts and barbed wire.

It is reported that SSjOOO7 regular Polish troops are being concentrated on the Silesian frontier.

A Warsaw correspondent states that Korfantz has proclaimed himself dictator and leader of the Polish, insurgents. JHe - has issued a passionate

proclamation urging his followers to continue the fight until the country is freed, from <Serman tyranny and oppression. Thousands are flocking to his. standard, and it appears that the Allies will have to deal with another Zeligowski or D'Annunzio.

Feeling is running high in the capital. During a street procession the participants shouted "Down with Lloyd George," "Long Live France," and made threatening demonstrations outside the British and Italian Consulates. Allied troops have been or dered to arrest Korfantz and disperse his followers.

The proclamation of martial law had little effect. Shooting continues in most of the southern area of Upper Silesia, which is in the possession of the Poles. An Italian major was killed during the fighting in Pless, and two Italian officers were assassinated at Lublinitz, and at Michlowitz insurgents killed the manager of Prussian mines.

British official circles view the Upper Silesian outbreak as a very serious movement, which is considered to ibe a determined and, systematic attempt to anticipate the decision of the Supreme Council in connection with the recent plebiscite by forcibly seizing the disputed areas.

In the House- of Commons^ Mr Cecil Harmsworth (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) announced, in connection with the disturbances in Silesia, that the" British and other Allied Governments had adopted a policy of strict impartiality.

A Berlin correspondent reports that the j|shting and destruction in Silesia has been exaggerated and highly coloured, by the German authorities. There has been minor destruction and a few collisions between the Allies and

insurgents at Beuthen, but the prompt

and energetic measures taken 'by the J inter-Allied Commission are calming the situation and no further disturbances are feared.

A wireless message from Warsaw states Korfantz has been relieved of office for exceeding his powers. Korfantz appointed Doliva to-the military command and the latter ordered the suppression of the German secret military organisation and exhorted the population to exercise tolerance and loyalty to the Allied troops.