RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1920, Page 2

RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

BY Electric Telegraph—Copyright,*

SOVIET ANSWERS ALLIES. LONDON, August 26. The Soviet has sent a reply to Britain and Italy. It is a long document. It is described as of propaganda character.

It describes the Lloyd George-Giolitti Lucerne Note to Russia ,as 4 piece of propaganda directed against Bolshevist institutions. It was an act of interference with Russian.affairs. It was suclms to justify corresponding Soviet action.

The reply describes the Russian proposal for a civic militia for Poland as a concession inasmuch as it would be a supplementary armed force to the Polish Army of 50,000. ,

Russia declares that the attitude of the British Government is dictated by the view that the workers must by nature be animated with a doctrine of Bolshevism.

The reply continues: “Although our '■interpretation of this point in our peace terms is thoroughly justified,; Tve nevertheless are willing to remove this —the only—Tpoint of divergence, in order to establish a full understanding. Regarding the terms of peace with Poland, the reply declares that the Soviet never considered the Russian terms as an ultimatum, and has always been willing to discuss terms with Poland, wherewith the Soviet is alone treating for peace. Therefore any understanding which may be given in this connection will be - given to Poland alone.

In view of Russia’s earnest desire to attain important results for the world’s •welfare, and for peace, arising from Peace, with Britain, the Soviet is willing to inform the British Government that the Russian Government has resolved to make a concession on this poi'nt and does not insist on the cause referring to the arming of a workers’ civio militia in Poland, thus securing a full agreement with Britain. The remainder of the reply is a defence of the Soviet against charge of its being an oligarchy.

The reply declares that “all the States which have a form of government different from the Soviet are the true oligarchies.”

RUSSIAN POSITION.

ON THE FRONTIER LINE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, Aug. 26. A German correspondent at Willenberg telegraphs that it is an amazing scene to watch the unending stream of Russians afoot or on horsebapk, with guns, baggage, wagqns, goods, chattels and sometimes even ' wives an 4 children pouring through Willenbprg, day and night. Fighting by -the frontier is proceeding under fhe eyes of thousands of German spectators occupying a position on the flanks of the combatants.

RUSSIA’S DISASTER-

(Received this day at 8 q.c|.) LONDON August'26. ’ An official military review declare? \ the Polish counter offensive Against tlie Reds was completely successful. The Red armies are retreating in djsr orderly condition from the Prussian frontier to the Upper Bug. The Polish northwest army )iaye reached a line from Mlawa, Prozasnysz, Ostrojenka, and Lomza, completely cutting off the Bolshevist fourth army between Warsaw- and Thorn. Three divisions of this army surrendered with divisional staffs also the Fourth Army’s Btaff, while two divisons and a cavalry corps are now surrounded eastward of the Vistula Further Polish troops have arrived at Strisbourg and Soldau, finally closing the last loophole of escape of the Red right wing. Tlie main Polish blow under General PiLsudski’s personal direction, operating northward between Ivangorod and Cliolm was a complete surprise. Here the Poles advanced twenty five miles on a | front of 125 miles in four days, while since the 20th. August their advance has been even more rapid, making the total depth of the advance over 120 miles in eight days. Southward, the Bolshevik attack upon - Lemberg was frustrated, counter attacks compelling the enemy to retreat northwards.

The Soviet ariny in ethnographical Poland comprised twenty-one divisions of w-hich six have been entirely destroyed. Eight lost fifty per cent of their strength and the remaining seven suffered heavily and are rapidly disintegrating.

POLISH CLAIMS. \ ' LONDON, August 25 The Polish staff reports claim that the whole of the Red Northern Army has now been accounted for. The only Red military forces left are those that are in Volhynia, and in Galicia and Budeny’s cavalry. The “Lokal Anzieger” war correspondent says that Red regiments are still crossing the German frontier with full war material. Russian ordnance of every kind is being heaped up within the German frontier in indescribable r quantities. i ,

GENERAL WEGGAND RESIGNS (Received this day at, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 27. Tlie “Daily Chronicle’s” Warsaw correspondent says General Weggand is leaving Warsaw and returning to Paris. It is rumoured this is a protest against the non-execution of his ’ plans, particularly in the north, wh§re four Polish armies facing the west are hemming in six thousand Russians against the German frontier, instead of cpntiuujng attacks upon flip rftreating Russians.

Keutor's telegrams. (Received This Day at 8 a.ni.) LONDON, August 26. While sonie continental correspon r dents are featuring the possibilities of the formation and equipping of a fresh Bolshevik Amy for a npu’ offensive against Warsaw, it is clear that neither British nor French military experts ~ entertain such an eventuality. It must be remembered that Polish captures exceed seventy thousand, and a further sixty thousand have been disarmed in German territory, while the war material (including three hundred guns of these forces already captured) is falling into Polish hands daily.