ACTION OF POLISH COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1918, Page 5

ACTION OF POLISH COMMITTEE.

SECURING SAFETY BY HOLDING HOSTAGES. MURDERS IN LITHUANIA Petrograd, Fob. 8. General Krylenko's capture at Moliileff was a precautionary measure, the result of the Bolsheviks arresting the Polish Military Committee, which' was engaged in organisation of a Polish army. The Russian Commander-in-Chief and his staff are regarded as hostages for the committee's safety. The Bolsheviks are opposing the idea of a separate Polish army, which would fight against the Germans with its own officers, though half a million Poles are included in the Russian army. When the Bolsheviks ordered a Polish army corps to march against Ukraine forces the Poles flatly refused. The Bolsheviks then attempted to disarm one regiment, murdering two officers with revolting cruelty. Simultaneously numbers of disbanded Russian soldiers committed murders in 'Lithuania, which is largely peopled by Poles, and pillaged hundreds of estate's and sugar refineries, outraging and killing all who resisted. The aged Prince Snnguszko was assassinated and Jiis palace destroyedThe Polish troops vigorously intervened in favor of their countrymen and maohine-guns were used in the conflict. The Poles arc determined to defend the Governments of Vitebsk, Mohileff. and Minsk against the Petrograd anarchists. Thus far the Poles have always gained the upper hand over the Bolsheviks, owing to their superior discipline and arms. A FINNISH SUCCESS. AFTER ELEVEN DAYS' FIGHTING. Received Feb. 11, 1.30 a.m. Stockholm, Feb. 10. The Finnish White Guard captured Kuopio after eleven days' fighting, taking 500 of the Red Guards prisoner.