SILESIA TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1921, Page 2

SILESIA TROUBLE

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

POLAND’S BID FOR SILESIA

LONDON, May 5

The “Daily Express” publishes telegrams regarding Upper Silesia which indicate that the Polish insurrection there is hourly gaining ground.

The Inter-Allied and German plebiscite troops, it is reported are being overwhelmed by numbers. They are retiring to avoid more bloodshed. The Polish bands have reached the Oder River.

The Polisli ring is tightening around the principal towns and everywhere the Poles are commandeering carts, horses, and foodcr

Tlie Inter-Allied Mission in Silesia are now faced by the problem of accepting the Polish invasion, or of immediately obtaining sufficient reinforcements to gain the upper hand.

POLES RUSH TO HELP. LONDON, May 5 According to the latest reports, 100,000 Upper Silesian Poles have joined the Polish insurgents there. They are advancing on the Oder River. Hie German Reichstag Committee of Foreign Affairs asks the German Government to send regular German troops /to Silesia, but if this is done it is expected that the Polish regulars will also invade Upper Silesia. Indeed it is believed that Poland is only waiting to hear of German troops moving thither in order to take this step. POLAND CONSULTS ALLIES. LONDON, May 5. A correspondent at Warsaw sends messages reporting the Polish insurgents are well equipped, and hold possession of the whole Silesian country within the Korfantz line. They have destroyed the railway leading to Breslau and the bridges over the Oder River. There is every indication that the Korfantz line will he defended against the invaders. The Polisli Government disapproves of the outbreak and intends to ask the Allied Powers to make an immediate settlement of the Upper Silesia, question, as the only means of preventing further disorder.