ADVANCE ON MEMEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16941, 16 January 1923, Page 5

ADVANCE ON MEMEL.

WHOLE DISTRICT SURRENDERS. by Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, January 14. Advices received in London state that the leader of the insurgent movement. in a parliamentaire to the French Commissioner at Memel, informs him that the whole district has surrendered without bloodshed, and that the hostility is aimed not at the French or the Allies btit at the German directorium, from which non-German members were recently withdrawn. Memel, which was formerly a portion ol Northern Germany, has been under Allied control since the signing of the Peace Treaty. A cable last week stated :—The Riga correspondent of * ! Tlie Times” states that several thousand Lithuanians, including disguised regular Lithuanian soldiers, are attempting a siege of Memel, which was ceded to the Allies by Germany, and as yet is unattached to any country. A Novno message states that Memel’s native population formed a Supreme Council of Defence and demanded inclusion in Lithuania. The Allied Cornurging the citizens to maintain calm, and promising to resist the raiders, vho are three miles from Memel. French troops, numbering 200. and police arc entrenched. Allied airships are also expected. The Lithuanian Premier, in a message to the Minister at London, eonfirms the rising, and demands a union of Memel. with Lithuania. He denies that Lithuanians are taking _ part. _ . Berlin reports state that Simon Citia has been appointed temporary President of Memel. Lithuganjad. They penetrated the neutral zone and oecuoied the village after a struggle with local military.