DISORDERS IN SILESIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17556, 23 August 1920, Page 5

DISORDERS IN SILESIA.

- FRANCO-GERMAN CLASH. 20 KILLED: 70 WOUNDED. ALLEGED HELP TO POLES. - By Telegraph—Press , Association—Copyright .;_."■■: ■- :;.'.. (Received : 1.15 »an.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Aug. 20i *~ Accounts from Berlin of the ? conflict between "French troops ? and German workers at Kattowitz, in Upper Silesia, | state that the Germans declared that the | French assisted Poles to cross German | soil to reach Poland,' thus violating German neutrality. Their protest took " the form of a general one-day strike. Demonstrators march in procession with an escort of French cavalry. The mob killed a French soldier, whereupon the French troops fired machine-guns and threw grenades." The German casualties were 20 kiDed and TO severely wounded. The French had 9 killed. The mob murdered Dr. Milewski, a Polish leader, and flung his body into the river. The Inter-Allied Commission proclaimed a state of siege. The town is now quietening. ; : A later massage states that German security police are holding the French quarters at Kattowitz. Two thousand Italian troops have arrived to replace the French troops. Hie Italian commander informed the security police that they came to protect them against superior Polish forces. It is now -stated that the Inter-Allied Commission has adopted an attitude of strict neutrality and has intimated its intention to disarm'all troops crossing the boundary and to prevent supplies of munitions crossing the plebiscite territory^ >-' The Vorwaerts assert that the Nationalist elements on both sides will endeavour to use the Kattowitg disorders to create a new Franco-German crisis. - * It is reported in Berlin that 2000 Poles have occupied many villages in the neighbourhood of Kattowitz._ , Advices received in Paris state that further demonstrations have taken place at Kattowitz.' Armoured cars fired at a menacing crowd, killing seven.