REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 17

REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA.

(By Cable.)

EXODUS FROM WARSAW

LONDON, August 15. The Daily Chronicle correspondent at Warsaw reports that when the Polish army's retreat upon defensive positions became known the result was a great exodus. The hotels, cafes, and business centres were strangely deserted, only the diplomatic representatives remaining. The Italian Minister and the Papal Nuncio and others have gone to Posen, whither the Government intends to go if it becomes necessary to evacuate to prepared where it awaits the Bolshevist attack.

PuED ATTACK REPULSED. LONDON. August 17. The Daily Express Warsaw correspondent states that on Sunday a Bolshevist patrol crossed the Vistula south of Thorn, threatening to turn the Warsaw defences. The Polish cavalry forced them to recross. The Bolshevist artillery heavily bombarded Stanislova, eight miles east of Warsaw. The artillery began to advance, but a Polish division attacked and compelled the enemy to retire. Fierce fighting continues at Radzymin, and the final result is still in doubt. The Poles in the south-west seem to have had the better of the fighting, but it is over early to say what will be the outcome.

A message from Warsaw reports that the Poles have recaptured Radzymin (15 miles north-east of the capital). Latest advices from Warsaw state that the immediate danger has been removed. The Poles finally held Radzymin, compelling the enemy to retire six miles. The Polish communiques a v e optimistic, and declare that the Bolshevist attack has been broken and the enemy retreating in confusion, the Poles following up along the entire front. POLES EVERYWHERE VICTORIOUS. LONDON, August 18. A Bolshevist communique states: Fierce fighting is proceeding north-east of Novogeorgievsk. General Trotsky, addressing the Moscow Soviet, admitted that the advance of the troops was held up before Warsaw. The fate of the revolution, however, would be decided on the Polish front, although General Wrangel's front was acquiring primary importance through French aid. A Warsaw message reports that three Bolshevist divisions were annihilated on the Warsaw front. The Poles are victorious everywhere, except on the extreme left. WARSAW, August 19. The Poles took prisoner 10,000, and many more are coming in. It is reported that the Reds have evacuated BrestLitovsk. August 18. Polish aviators are heavily bombarding the road behind the Bolshevist line, which is crowded with transport. The Polish counter-offensive, which was launched round Thorn, is succeeding steadily. The Reds are retiring under heavy fire. SUCCESS OF FRENCH STRATEGY. LONDON, August 18. The Guardian's Warsaw correspondent reports that French influence dominates the entire strategy of political views n Poland. The French General Staff planned the whole defence. General Wtrangel's agent, M. Savikoff, now has his headquarters at Posen, where he is assisting in an anti-Bolshevist campaign. The remainder of General Denikin's army, many thousand strong, besides a force of Cossacks, have arrived in Poland and aro offering their services, while numerous Russians who were former supporters of the Czarist regime, after acting as propagandists are spending money freely whicn is largely supplied by France. POLICY OF EXTERMINATION. STOCKHOLM, August 16. The Bolshevist organ Izvestia publishes an order issued by the Soviet authorities at Kieff ordering no forbearance towards the population of Poland. The population of the Endre districts have almost been completely annihilated. The rich farmers were exterminated and all the agricultural produce seized. Anybody found in nossession of a single cartridge is executed. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. LONDON, August 15. The Central News Agency learns authortatively that the Polish delegates have reached Minsk. The newspaper correspondents accompanying the Poles were not permitted to cross the Bolshevist lines, despite the Bolshevist announcement that open diplomacy would be observed in the armistice and peace negotiations. No news of the negotiations is expected to reach London before Tuesday. August 17. The Minsk Conference has ooened. The London Daily Herald's Minsk correspondent states that the Bolshevists will recognise tho national existence of Poland, and will not interfere domestically nor add to their published demands. A Moscow wireless message says: The Minsk Conference has opened. M. Danishedsky, presiding, outlined Russia's pacific policy, and emphasised her respect for Poland's independence, and her right to determine her own form of government. Russia would accord Poland more territory than the Entente did, but must demand from the landlords of Poland greater guarantees against attack than from •worker peasants. August 18. M. Kameneff says that the Poles did

not continue the Minsk negotiations on Wednesday. ' August 19. The Rumanian Government has decided to maintain strict neutrality in the RussoPolish war. PETROGRAD, August 20.

According to an official Moscow message the Soviet's original terms were submitted at a second sitting of the Minsk Conference yesterday. LO-nDON, August 20. According to a Berlin wireless the Polish delegates at Minsk rejected the disarmament conditions, unless the Bolshevists disarm.

THE REDS DEFEATED. LONDON. August 19. The Russians are abandoning Lukow and Radzvn, while the Poles now occupy Bialla (south-east of the Masurian marshes) and Brest-Litovsk (both near Warsaw). Official advices state that the Bolshevists are slowlv evacuating Vilta, and withdrawing to Grodno. Schools, hospitals, and waterworks have been returned to the Lithuanians. The Red military headquarters have been moved to Grodno. Advices from Warsaw continue to be mostly enthusiastic regarding the Polish prospects. It is stated that the Bolshevists' speed in retreating equals their pace in advancing. They show considerable panic. The gun teams were demoralised and abandoned their guns in the woods. One correspondent says that, altogether, things are very rosy. Nobody talks of the occupation of Warsaw. At the same time, other reports are cautious as regards the northern sector, and admit that while the Poles may succeed in cutting off the faradvanced'Bolshevists, the right wing continues to advance, and is not affected by events on other portions of the front. The Daily Express's Warsaw correspondent says that the northern Bolshevist armies have suffered a veritable debacle, which will have an incalculable effect on the future of the campaign. The Bolshevists east of the Warsaw-Lava Railway are split into two. One body, numbering 7000, will almost certainly be captured? The others may escape, but it is doubtful. The Poles who advanced through Brest-Litovsk have now cut off the Bolshevists who attacked Warsaw, and the city is waiting to hear every moment news of the capture of thousands of the enemy. Advices declare that the Polish counterattack towards the East Prussian frontier, also the counter attack northwards from Lublin, are continuing with great successes. The Polish line northward represents an advance of about 40 miles, while they advanced east of Warsaw to a depth of 50 miles on a 125 miles front. The question is being discussed whether it is advisable to urge Poland to discontinue to advance on the Russian border. According to a Berlin Poles have' occupied many villages in the neighbourhood of Kattowitz. ITALIAN TROOPS ARRIVE. BERLIN, August 20. • Security police are holding French quarters at Kattowitz. Two thousand Italian troops have arrived to replace the French. The Italian commander has 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 will prevent _ supplies of munitions crossing the plebiscite territory. BERLIN, August 21. According to an official Polish communique, have partially occupied Brest-Litovsk and captured Ciechanof. POLES' VICTORY COMPARED TO BATTLE OF MARNE. PARIS, August 19. Latest advices state that the Poles are advancing on Lukow. If they should succeed in movihtr on Rr&st-Litovsk it is considered that the Reds' retreat will become a rout. Newspapers comnare the Polish victory with the battle of the Marne; Le Matin says the Red army acted the same as the Germans in 1914. General Weygand repeated the strategy of Marshal Joffre and General Gallieni. PARIS, August 20. Le Matin states that the Poles have reached Brest-Litovsk, encircling six Red divisions and capturing 40,G00. It is probable that the Bolshevists have transferred their headquarters to Smolensk. TERMS TO POLAND. . . LONDON, August 15. M. Kameneff, in a letter to Mr Lloyd George, states that despite the rumours emanating from interested quarters indicating Soviet altered terms to Poland, and also despite France's hostile acts rendering peace more difficult, the Soviet Government does not consider it necessary to alter its conditions to Poland, which Mr Lloyd George communicated to the House of Commons on August 10. M. Kameneff adds: The Soviet Government signed peace with Latvia on August 12, and an armistice with Finland on August 13. THE POLISH CORRIDOR. BERLIN, August 16. According to newspaper reports the advance in the Polish corridor continues. Numerous small towns have been entered, including the important fortress of Thorn. The German Government has protested to the Supreme Council against the boundary demarcation of the West Prussian plebiscite area, and declares that it cannot recognise the Supreme Council's decision, which is incompatible with the provisions of the Peace Treaty, and is & con-

tradiction of the right of self-determina tion.

THE REDS IN SOLDAU. LONDON, August 16. The Daily News Berlin correspondent states that several hours' fierce fighting preceded the Russian capture of Soldau in the Polish Baltic corridor. Masses of cavalry poured in, and have since gone southward, apparently in order to participate in the attack on Warsaw. The battle for Soldau was fought close to the German frontier, and was watch 'ft. by thousands of Germans. Heavy' guns bombarded the town all day long. The infantry advanced at dusk, and desperate fighting took place in the woods outside the town. The German burgomaster welcomed the Russian troops, and expressed the Germans' delight at liberation from the Polish terror. The Daily News Berlin correspondent states that tfie Russian commander said: "I solemnly pledge myself that we will not leave this old German territory until it is restored to Germany." Russian military bands played German marches, and the Russians issued a proclamation stating their intention to occupj' the whole corridor. They stated that they would not establish Soviets, but would entrust the civil administration to the former German authorities. The Germans decorated the town with German flags and flowers in honour of the Russians, who were fraternising with the inhabitants. The Russian commander issued stern orders against military offenders, including the death sentence for violence and robbery. The German press applauds these proofs of friendliness and warmly praises the Russian discipline. BERLIN, August 17. Soldau was beflagged when the Bolshevists entered, and bands played. The Bolshevists prohibited the display of flags bearing the portrait of the exIvaiser. LONDON, August 17. Advice from Berlin states that the divisional commander of the Russian troops occupying Soldau has informed the local authorities that he had received wireless orders from Moscow not to interfere with internal affairs. He also declared that there was no idea of introducing the Soviet system if it were not in accord with the wishes of the majority of the i--orjulation. The commander added : " The 1914 frontier will be restored, and Poland will cease to exist. Warsaw will be occuoied by the Russians for five years, and thereafter Poland will again be incorporated with Russia. The Russians will occuny the Danzig corridor, but not the free town of Danzig unless the latter commits a nonneutral act."