SILESIA TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1921, Page 2

SILESIA TROUBLE

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SITUATION IN SILESIA. LONDON, May 9. The “Times” says that the situation in Silesia is hourly becoming worse Only a miracle can save the country from a bloody civil war, with probably the added horror of anarchy among the insurgents, owing to the appearance of a number of rivals to Korfantz the dictator. Meanwhile the rebel dictator, accompanied by his faithful henchman, Troop Commander Doliva who formerly was a German cavalry officer, has his headquarters at a small inn in a village near the Polish frontier. In a mood of restless satisfaction, he boasted to interviewers that he would soon , bring Poland to heel. The Silesian railways have resumed running. The mines will start to-mor-row. Korfantz seems to be unaware that lie is sitting on a powder mine, with the time fuse ablaze. COUNTER RISING. LONDON, May 10. The “Daily Express” correspondent at Oppeln states that the armed German civilians there now number 18,000, and they are increasing every hour. Something like a counter insurrection by the whole German population, is beginning. Fighting is taking place eight miles away. The French, he says, are apparently unwilling,»to take efficient measures to restore order. ALLIED ATTITUDE. LONDON, May 9. In the House of Commons, Mr C. Haras worth stated Polish insurgents had overrun the whole of the.Silesian plebiscite area, to the river Oder. The Allies were considering proposals for a' settlement and steps were being taken to strengthen the police. The Polish Government had been requested to close the frontier and to prohibit assistance or encouragement of.the insurgents. Mr Lloyd George said: “It was unfortunate the Incident should have arisen when the German Government was making up its mind on the disarmament question. Britain was doing her utmost to bring -pressure to bear on the Polish Government.’' * '