POLISH RISING IN SILESIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 283, 26 August 1919, Page 5

POLISH RISING IN SILESIA

AREA OF INSURRECTION EXTENDING

HUN REPRESSIVE METHODS AT WORK

GREAT BITTERNESS

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. August 25, 9.40 p.m.) London, August 25. The correspondent of the "Morning Post" in Poland repudiates the German allegation of the Bolshevistic character of the Silesian strike. The miners publicly declared their willingness to work provided the German owners opened mines which were closed, allegedly because they were unprofitable. The miners also urged that Allied or Polish troops should be available to protect them from the excesses of the German troops. General Horsing, the German Dictator, declared that the revolt was Bolshevistic in character, and he attempted to stamp it out ruthlessly by the perpetration of cruelties and tyrannies reminiscent of Belgium, apparently deliberately fomenting rebellion, and so rendering a plebiscite impossible. He issued a proclamation forbidding the right to strike, and decreeing that anyone in possession of arms would bo executed without trial. Nino youths wero shot summarily on August 21 as a repressive measure. The entire population-, of two mining tillages was driven: into Germany. General Horsing threatened to deport the male populations of several villages, and proceed*in» to carry out the threats oil a wholesale scale when the Poles, led by a priest, revolted. Tho troops fired and several were killed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. The area of the insurrection is rapidly widening. Tho insurgents are using captured arms, ammunition, stores, and crowbars. The Germans dispatched armoured trains and cars on August 16 to quell the rising and protect tho dcfence force. Two thousand Poles, armed with only one hundred rifles, fought tho armoured train for hours. The Germans brought up artillery and aeroplanes on August 17, and a brigade of marines arrived at Kallowitz on August 18, wliern heavy artillery firing occurred. Tho troops ultimately overcame the centres of resistance. Great bitterness prevails.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PAN-GERMAN CRITICISM. (Rec. August 25, 9.40 p.m.) Berlin, August 23. The Pan-German Prussian Conservatives charge the Government with feebly handing over German interests in Upper Silesia to the Entento Powers.—Aqs.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ALLIED COAL COMMISSION APPOINTED. (Rec. Augu:;t 25, 9.40 p.m.) Paris, August 25. The Supreme Council has appointed a Commission to superintend tho production and distribution of coal in Upper Silesia. Tho Commission will include Polish German members, in addition to Allied dele-gates.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.