BOLSHEVIK WAR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 205, 25 May 1920, Page 7

BOLSHEVIK WAR

COUNTER-ATTACK AGAINST POLES

REDS DISPLAY POOR

MORAL COMMANDERS UNABLE TO EXPLOIT SUCCESS By Telegraph-Press Asßociation-Oopyriirht London, May 21. The "Times" Warsaw correspondent reports that the Bolshevik counter-at-tack against the Poles on the Dvina and Beresina. was a furious affair, lesultiug in the flattening out of the Lepel salients. After the first sudden onset, however, the Reds again showed poor moral, and left their commanders, who were unable to exploit the success. A continuance of heavy fighting is expected, but the Polish Staff is satisfied with the situation.— The "Times."

London, May A Bolshevik communique states: "We aro energetically advancing in. the Polotsk region, haying reached a line ten miles south-west ot Polotsk. We occupied several villages further west. _ We' stopped and forced the Tchernitza River. Stubborn fighting occurred on the right bank of tho Beresina River. Wo occupied * several villages. A jxirticularly fierce engagement in. tho direotion of Ihuman resulted in. our fayour. Elsewhere the advance is developing satisfac-torily.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SUBURBS OF KIEFF REOCCUPIED BY REDS. London, May 22. Berlin reports state that the Bolsheviks, using shock troops i.nd heavy artillery, have reoccupied the suburbs of Kieff.—"The Times." PILSUDSKI'S SUCCESS SHORTLIVED REDS RECAPTURE IvIEFF. (Rec. May 2-1, 10.10 p.m.) London, May 21. The "Daily Express" states that -Pilsudslri's 6ucces9 was 6hort-lived. Lembert. reports that the Reds recaptured Kieff in the afternoon after a six hours' bombardment and heavy fighting—AusN.Z. Cable Assn.. FAILURE TO UTILISE LEAGUE TO PREVENT RENEWAL OE WAR. (R«6. May 24. 10.25 p.m.) ' London, May 28. Lord Robert Cecil, in an article i in the "Standard," deplores tho failure to ■utilise the of Nations to prevent a renewal of the war between Poland anl Russia He considers the talk about the powerlessness of the League t» be fantastic, and declares that if the Government, with the power of the Empire behind them, were in earnest in carrying out the covenant, Britain oould lead the world.—Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.

BUFFER STATE IN SIBERIA

EVACUATION BY ALLIED FORCES REQUESTED. Peking, May 21. The ex-Bolshevik leader, Krasnochkoff, self-styling himself Foreign Minister, has notified the Allied High Commissioners in Siberia of tho formation of a buffer State called Vershneudinsk, consisting of the territories eastward of Lako Baikal, including Kamschatka and Sakhalin. Krashnoohkolf requests the evacuation of Siberia, by all the Allied forces,, including the Japanese. It is believed that tho movement is inspired from Moscow, but it is not taken seriously.—Reuter.

RED FORCES ATTACK JAPANESE AND ARE DEFEATED WITH HEAVY LOSS. London, May 21. It is stated that tho Reds attacked the Japanese east of Verskneudinsk, and were defeated with tho loss of 300 killed, The Japanese hadi two casualties. Tho quality of the Siberian troops, was of the poorest. They showed no inclination to fight. ■ Other Red forces are assembling west and south of Nikolaievsk.—Aus.N.Z. CkCble Assn.-Reuter. FURTHER mm IN PERSIA FORCE-MARCHING- UPON RESHT. Paris, May 22. There has been a further Bolshevik landing in Persia, at Ghazin, in breach of tho Armistice terms. The troops were transported by. small war vessels, and without warning shelled tho town, Tho troops landed and seized. the roads and communications. . The Bolsheviks aro inarching from Enzelli and Ghazin, and threaten to encircle Resht, to which the small British force has beon compelled to "'retire.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

REFUGEES REACH ENGLAND EXPERIENCES OP A CHAPLAIN AND HIS 'WIFE. London, May 22. Two hundred and thirty English and 120 French refugees have arrived, at Southampton from Russia. They include the Rev. Frank North, who has been a chaplain in Moscow since 1911. He was ■ put in gaol twice, his house was searched seven times, and he was deprived of 195,000 roubles belonging to the Church, and of 13,000 roubles which he had collected for the British poor in Moscow. There are thirteen British subjects in prison in Moscow. Mrs. North's jewellery was taken, but wag redeemed before tney left. It'waa taken again at the frontier. All the women were stripped naked while they were searched.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. POLAND~ANr PEACE PRESIDENT HORRIFIED BY FRUITS OF BOLSHEVISM. The determination of Poland to resist by force the threats of' the Bolshevist loaders was expressed by President Pil-. sudski in an interview about the middle of March Ajrith the "Petit Parisien." It forms interesting roading in view of tho recent developments. "Poland," said the President, "wishes for peace, and is' desirous to start penco discussions, but we shall not allow ourselves to bo forced into such discussions by threats of tho Red Army. I thought that the Bolsheviks would discuss peace with us without any ulterior motives. 1 was willing to begin such discussions in

the same spirit, and had no intention to oxploit our advantageous position by supporting our arguments with the forco of arms. I did not want peace enforced by <juv guns and bayonets. Unfortunately, the Bobhovik attitude gives me the impression that they do not want real peace, but wish to forco peaco from us undor tlio threat of their fist, us they did with the Estonians. "I am fully' alive to tho fact that tho Jtolsheviks are concentrating numerous forces on our front. But tliey are.mistaken if they think they can frighten

us by offering a sort of ultimatum. Our army is ready, and litis my full confidence. If threatened, our. army can threaten as well. Nor do I fear tho famous Bolshevik propaganda which to many men appears to bo so frightful. It will not succeed in Poland. Thore may bo local disturbances, but the creation of , a general revolutionary movoment is impossiblo because of the fact that we are too near to Russia and can judge tire rosuits of Bolshevik experiments for ourselves. Even tho most radical elements . in Poland are horrified bv the chasm into which the .Bolsheviks have thrust Russia, Thfc Bolshevik propaganda may endeavour to profit by certain internal difficulties, which during the present economic situation are hard to evade, but will never establish a communistic systorn. , i i* ■ "Countries further Temoved may believe in the beauty of Lenin's regime, but wo are too near. Our views am stead). \\c are horrified at tho awful situation caused by Bolshevism in Russia.