VICTORIOUS POLAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 285, 26 August 1920, Page 5

VICTORIOUS POLAND

WILL DICTATE PEACE - NOTE TO RUSSIA FROM BRITAIN AND 'ITALY TEEMS NOT IN ACCORD WITH ASSURANCES By Telegraph-Press Asßociatlon-Oopyrleht (Rec. August 26, 0.20 a.m.) ' London, August 24. The "Morning Post's" Warsaw correspondent learns authoritatively that the Polish delegation at Minsk has been instructed to reject the Russian Soviet's terms. Poland will dictate peace.—Aus.N.Z.. Cable Assn. London, August 24, A communique from Lucerne emphasises the complete agreement between Britain and Italy as regards the need for the Te-establishment of world-wide peace, and the steps the two Governments have taken to restore communication between Russia and the outside world. It declares that Mr. Lloyd George and Signer Giolitti heard with profound regret that the Soviet Government, in spite of repeated official assurances to the contrary, sought to impose on Poland conditions incompatible with national independence. Tho Government (if Poland is based on the choioe of the whole adult malo population of tho country, without distinction of class. The 60-called civil army, to be drawn from one class onlv, which is referred to in the fourth condition of the Soviet terms, Is only, an indirect method of organising a force .to overthrow by violence this democratic constitution, and to substitute for it a despotism of a privileged few, who may be absorbed in the ! doctrines of Bolshevism. If tho Soviet Government,, notwithstanding the punishment which its aggression is encountering, continues the war inside Polish territory, no free Government can either acknowledge or deal with the Soviet oligarchy. The -British and Italian Governments am alarmed at tho indefinite prolongation of the present state of conflict among the nations, as until these conflicts cease the betterment of agriculture-and industry the in-] terchango of commodities in the different; lands on which the economic life of tho nations depends cannot come into full operation. The British' and Italian. Governments have therefore united in u-ging that every effort should be made to bring to a conclusion the existing conditions of strife between the t. A tions.-Reuter. IN ACCORD WITH FRAr-CE'S r PRIN.CIPLISS. Paris, August 24. M. Mil'lerand has sent a Note to London, stating that the Ar-flo-ltalian message to the Bolsheviks is not contrary to the principles of France, and stating that he desires to meet Mr. LJbyd George and Signor 'Giolitti.-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. RUSSIA'S REPLY REQUIRED BY TO-MORROW. Lond'ii, August 24. Mr. A. .1. Balfour ' (British Foreign Minister) has nottneel Knmeneff that a reply to the rVo 'from Luaerne is required by Friday-A.us.-rt Z. CaWa Mn. : COMPLETE UNANIMITY CP AIDES. Lucerne, August 24- ', Mr. Lloyd George and Signor Giolitti • received press representatives. Mr. Lloyd ■ George declared that means for revictual- : ling Poland through Danzig must be ■ preserved under :he Treaty of Ver--1 sailles. Signor Giolitti said he did not . believe there was u single point on which ■ the Allies were not unanimous.—Aus.- ' N.Z. Cablo Assn. 1 OFFENSIVE CONTINUED REDS' NORTHERN ARMY IN DANGER London, August Zt The offensive by the armies of Pilsudski and Hallei- continues. If the Folish armies can clise tho gap between Grodno and the German frontier, the destruction of the Northern.Russian army ia assured. Two Red armies have already been wiped out by tho closing ot tho 'Mlava bottleneck, and two others, consisting of 05,000 men, aro now racing in an easterly direction, closely pursued over marshy ground, which forbids . a hasty retreat. It is estimated that 100,000 Red prisoners have already been taken. A scheme is afoot to use them in building vow railways In Poland. Ten thousand Red troops have also been interned in East Prussia. Another splendid achievement in tho offensive is the freeing of the two railways between Warsaw and Danzig, which enables tho Allies to sup. ply Poland with munitions with ivhioh to complete the victory. The '"Morning Posfs" correspondent was an eye-witness of Pilsudskis recapture of the city (? Brest Litovsk early on the morning of August 20 after the 3rd Division's astonishing bombardment. The Poles fired ten shots to one of the Bolsheviks, though the Reds were using longer-range guns. When the retreat commenced, great numbers of the K«a troops forsook the ranks and pronged into the general wilderness which is characteristic of the district, m search of food. When tho young Poles entered, breathless and perspiring, they expected ■ a big fight for the railway station, but , the enemy had fled. The Poles' one inciuiry was, "Is Warsaw safe?" and when they we™ told it was, the news was greeted with frenzied cheers. Practically all the Polish civilians had evacuated the city, and only Jews were left. They were on friendlv terms with the Bolsheviks, and at least five thousand Jews accompanied the retreating Reds to Biissm. Dispatches from Warsaw state that tho Bolsheviks are retreating on the entire battlefront. , _ A Vienna report states that the Russian Northern Army is negotiating for a surrender.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. •■ Paris, August 24. Advices from Warsaw state that eight ■ Bolshevik divisions have annihilated, and eight are reduced br half, lhe Poles have captured 40,000 prisdnors and ;• 200 guns.-Aus.-N.Z. able Assn. EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION ■ BOLSHEVIKS' PANIC-STRICKEN FLIGHT. r London, August 24. The situation in Poland is extraordinary. While the Russians are still attacking in the Lembcrg area, and also on the Vistula, north-west of Warsaw, and near Plotsk, German accounts report that the Red retreat in the .centre along the East Prussian border m the direction of Grodno has become a panic under the pressure of the Polish cavalry. , The EoTshevik commissariat, herds ot cattle, cavalry, and infantry in a mixed mass are fleeing homewards. . Whole regiments have flung away their weapons. Officers use their revolvers msTain attempt to restore order.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - BOLSHEVIK DISCIPLINE BROKEN. London, August 23. The Bolshevik discipline, hitherto very gooa", is reported to have gone to pitces.-Trfiia the troops are retiring by anv means of transport, regardless of their officers. Refugees are .entering Germany at tho rate of 500 a day. There is evidence that the Russian railway servico is almost at.a standstill. The Reds apparently marched all the way 'o ' the outskirts of Warsaw. Their leaders : admitted to civilians that they must have pence because the rolling-stock is giving oul, and the soldiers clothes an<l footwear nre in a bad state- The , Times." THREE RED DIVISIONS LAY DOWN ; ARMS ' TWO OTHER DIVISIONS HEMMED IN. (Reo. August 25, 5.5 p.m.) i Warsaw, August 24. i Three Red, divisions have ,been surreuiided on the East Prussian frontier,

and laid down their arms en masse. Fifty ] thousand prisoners have been taksn. Two other divisions and a cavalry corps aro hemmed in.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assa. ADVICE OF MODERATE POLISH LEADERS AGAINST PRESSING ADVANTAGE TOO .PAR. London, August 24. The "Morning Post's" Warsaw corres- ? undent says that, coincident with the 'olish successes, a strong movement is developing againt pressing the advantage too far. The moderate Polish leaders urge that the troops should entrench on the "Lloyd George Line," and that the people should agree to the loss of Vilua rather than risk war with Lithuania.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Washington, August 24. ' It is stated in Polish offioial circles hero that Poland will speedily assure the United States Unit tho victorious Polish armies will not advance beyond the Polish ethnographic boundaries.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. wrangelYoffensive FURTHER SUCCESSES. (Rec. August 26, 1.20 a.m.) London, .August 24. An official conimuniquo states that a third attempt to drive Wvangel back at Perckop failed. Wrangcl has taken six thousand prisoners, and thirty-four guns. The whole bank of the Dnieper is freee 1 from the enemy. The Black Sea coast has been occupied from Adlor to Satchi, while"troops have landed in the Kuban region at the mouth of tho Don. Wrangel has issued a proclamation declaring that ho. will not abandon tho struggle until Russia is freed, and an All Russia National Assembly has been convoked.—Reuter. LEAGUE OF TRADeImONS' MANIFESTO "RUSSIAN REVOLUTION THREATENEJJ." Rotterdam, August 23. The International League of ' Trade Unions has issued a manifesto, signed by Ma\ W. Appleton (president), M. Joupaux (vice-president), and the secretaries, addressed to tie workers /if all countries. It declares that the Russian revolution is attacked and threatened. All counterrevolutionary attempts must cease. No trains or steamers carrying munitions must move, no soldiers must be transported, food supplies must be withheld, ! and munitions not manufactured. . The ' leaguo requests) members to take 1 the ', necessary steps for powerful action, even ' a general strike. The manifesto says: 1 "The twenty-seven million members of the league alone have power to save the ! world from a repetition of wars and cruelties. Let 'war against war' be the cry uniting the workers of all countries." 1 —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.