RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1920, Page 2

RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

By Klectric Telegraph—Copyright )

THE POLISH RETREAT. WARSAW, July 21

The Rods have reached the Peace Conference frontier lines of Poland and Suwalki. Fierce fighting is taking place in Pripet region. A Red offensive is expected towards Kovel. Phj roads from Grovno to Reval are crowded with fugitives. Desperat effort i have been made to stimulate Polish recruiting, including school boys.

POLES HOLD OUT. (Received This Day at 8 n.m.j

WARSAW, July 21

Despite repeated attacks Btidenys troops on the Galician frontier seem sufficiently protected. The Poles also securely held tile approaches to Brest Litovsk. Obstinate battles are being fought in the Upper Nemen and Eastern approaches to Baranovitcli, while the Poles firmly held the central region of Pripet. Last week’s fighting shows the Bolshevik push has spent itself. Everything {mints to the situation becoming stationary.

RUSSIAN MISSION. LONDON, July 22

Krassin and the other Russian trade delegates are remaining at lteval, in Russia. It is doubtful whether they will proceed to London to re-open trade discussions until some arrangement is made with Russia regarding Poland.

PRISONERS IN RUSSIA. (Received this day at 9.20 a.m.) CHRISTIANIA, July 21

Captain Nansen, who has returned from Russia, states there are still two hundred thousand, mostly Centr'd European prisoners, in Siberia an! Turkestan. Fifteen thousand prisoners in Siberia can be sent home via Vladlen.stock, if tonnage is available. WARSAW THR EATENKD. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, July 21. Kovno telegrams state three Bolshevik armies have been thrown into Lithuania. All are marching by different roads to Warsaw. It is reported a stronir national spirit prevails. Th« Bolshevik general declared: We are not Bolsheviks, but Russians fighting Russian national enemies. POLAND’S DEFENCE. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 22. The ‘ Daily Express” Warsaw correspondent states there are no signs that the Poles are ready to consider an armistice. Many volunteer regiments have been formed in answer to General Pilsudk’s call to arms, including a battalion of peasants armed with scythes Countless refugees from the liattle ; c gion are flooding Poland. Bolsheviks are fiercely striving to capture Grovno, and the froces on the Niemen river. THE POLISH SITUATION. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT. "Received this dav at 9.20 a.m.! LONDON, July 22. - Regarding the Polish situation, Hon Lloyd George’s comments thereon are the outstandng topic of the day. The “Daily Telegraph” says the Poles musl be saved. Marshal Foch consistently declined to encourage the Polish offensive on the ground that Napoieon’s example was a warning to lesser geniuses not to emulate the invasion of Russia, but he will go to Poland if the Bolshevik invasion continues, in older to organise the Polish rear defences which are neglected, like those of Italy in 1917. This will show the Bolsheviks that the Western Powers cannot be flouted with impunity.

The “Chronicle” says if the Soviet’s reply be for war, we and our Allies will have no option but to take up the challenge. ' The “Daily Express” remarks that war with Russia would tax to the limit tlie resources which the Allies mobilised in 1914 and 1918.

The “Daily News” strongly objects to the League of Nations intervening in Poland now. There is nothing to discredit the League more than declining to lift a finger to restrain one of its members from a piece of lawless buccaneering then intervening at the moment the folly of that member began to recoil on its own head. The Allies must bo'clear of the matter,

AK-UIbTICE PROPOSALS REJECTED A SIGNIFIC ANT RED ADVANCE. • Received this dav at n. 20 a.m.) LONDON, July 21. The ‘’Morning Post’s” Warsaw correspondent says the news that the Soviet Government lias rejected the arinie lice proposals conies as a relief after.a period of restless uncertainty. Fighting is now actually occurring at Grodno and Kovel, while Bolshevik cavalry are reported at Bralystok, the evacuation whereof is progressing. The most significant news to-day is the crossing by the Bolsheviks of the line of Congress Poland, and the invading of territory which is admittedly Polish in population. Bolsheviks have now formed contact with East Prussia and penetration is effected over the Nieumcn river. There is little likelihood that the Bolsheviks will receive cooperation and sympathy in East Prussia, which is reactionary, but the fact that communication is. 'established between Soviet Russia and Germany is regarded as an event of the first consequence.