SHORT-LIVED SUCCESS

Southland Times, Issue 18830, 25 May 1920, Page 5

SHORT-LIVED SUCCESS

POLES DRIVEN FROM KIEFF

BOLSHEVISTS’ C€UNTER OFFENSIVE (Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Ails. & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuters.) LONDON, May 21,

An authoritative commentary on -he Polish operations shows that to attain the Dnieper line the Poles advanced on a front of 250 miles to an average depth of from ten to 15(1 miles in sixteen days. There is no confirmation of the reported capture of Odessa by the Ukrainians. Referring to Siberia it states that the Reds attacked the Japanese east of Verkhnciidinsk, and were defeated with the loss of 300 killed. The Japanese casualties were two. The quality of the Siberian troops is of the poorest description. They showed no inclination to fight. Other Red forces are assembling south-west of Nikulaievsk.

A Bolshevik: communique state.'. "We are energetically advancing in the Polal.dc region ami have reached a line ten miles southwestward of Pohusk, and occupied several villages. Further west we forced the Tchcrnitka River. There was stubborn fighting on the right hank of the Bcresina River. We occupied several villages. A particularly fierce engagement in the Ihumen direction resulted in our favour. Elsewhere the advance is developing satisfactorily,” POLISH SUCCESS SHORT LIVED. KIEFF RETAKEN AFTER BOMBARDMENT. NEW COMPLICATIONS THREATENING. LONDON, May 24. (P.ceeivcd May 24, 10.10 p.m.) The Daily Express states that Pilsudski’s success was short lived. Lemberg reports that the Reds recaptured Kieff in the afternoon after a six hours' bombardment. Poland threatens to make war in Czechoslovakia, and there is a danger if war commences that Hungary may intervene, crush Slovakia, and establish a common frontier with Poland. DWI NA-BERESINA FRONT. FURIOUS BOLSHEVIK ATTACK. VIGOUR NOT SUSTAINED. (The Times.) LONDON, May 21. A Warsaw correspondent reports that the Bolsheviks' counter-attack against the Poles on the Dwina-Bcresina front was u furious affair, resulting in the flattening out of a salient. After the first sudden onset, however, the Reds again showed poor morale leaving the commanders unable to exploit the success. The continuance of heavy fighting is expected, but the Polish staff is satisfied with iho situation. FIGHTING AT KIEFF. REPORTED RECAPTURE OF THE SUBURBS.

LONDON, May 21. Berlin reports that the Bolsheviks using shock troops and heavy artillery - reoccupied the suburbs of Kieff. A “BUFFER STATE." EX-RED LEADER’S ANNOUNCEMENT. ALLIES REQUESTED TO EVACUATE SIBERIA. (Reuter's Telegram s .' PEKIN, May 21. The ex-Bolshevist leader Krasnochkoff, Styling himseif Foreign Minister, has notified the Allies' High Commissioners in Siberia of the formation of a buffer state called Verkhncudliisk, eon.-lsting of territories eastward of Lake Baikal and including Kanischatka and Paghalien. Krashnoc-hkoff requests thr evacuation from Siberia of all the Aided forces, including the Japanese. It is believed the movement is inspired from iioccow, but it is not taken seriously. FAILING TO INVOKE THE LEAGUE. LAMENTED BY LORD ROBERT CECIL. LONDON, Mey 2.2, (Received May 21. 10.25 p.m. l Lord Robert Cecil, in an article in the Standard, deplores the failure to utilise the League of Nations to prevent the renewal of war between Poland and Russia. lie considers the talk about the powerlessncss of the League fantastic. He declares that if the Government, with the power of the Empire behind them, were earnest in parrying out the covenant Britain could lead the R-nrlfi. BRITISH AND FRENCH REFUGEES. A CHAPLAIN'S ADVENTURES. LONDON. May 22. Two hundred and thirty English and 120 French refugees have arrived at Southarnp4on from Russia. They include the Rev. Frank North, chaolain of Moscow since 1011, He was put in gaol twice and his house searched seven times. He was deprived of 105,000 roubles belonging to (he church, and ai so 12,000 roubles collected for the British poor in Moscow. There are still thirteen British in prison at Moscow. His wife's jewellery was taken but was redeemed before leaving, end then taken again at the frontier. All the women were stripped naked while being .--c.-Thi-d. PERSIA. THE BOLSHEVIST AGGRESSION. ANOTHER LANDING. PATHS, May 22. There has been a further Bolshevik landing in Persia at Ghazni in breach of the armistice. Soldiers transported hy small war vessels without warning .-helled the town. Troops landed and seized roads and communications-. BoLh'-vik.s marching from Enzeli and Ghazni, threaten to encircle Ilesht, to which & small British force has been compelled to retire. UNREST IN GERMANY. ANOTHER RISING PREDICTED. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, (Reuter’s Telegrams.) BERLIN, May 22. Maximilian Harden, writing in Die Zukunft, predicts that another re-actionary revolt is imminent. The danger centres are south ami north-east Germany. The Kappists are encouraged by Government leniency. A thousand ex-otricers are awaiting the signal. The workers are not likely again to gave the Government. Harden adds: “Bavaria is a favourable ground for re-action, being unwilling to remain in an empire wherein she has little freedom.”

The newspaper Vorwaerts has revealed the formation of a military organisation directed against reduction of the army, and also aiming at cutting the ground from under the German Soldiers’ Union, which, during the Kapp revolt, placed 90,000 members at the disposal of the Government. The committee appointed by the Ministry of Defence to make investigation has disposed of 2S cases of officers accused of connection with the Kanp rebellion, including Vice-Admiral von Trotha and Rear-Admiral von Levitzow, who have been dismissed from the service. Twenty five others have been relieved of duty. The National Assembly has completed its task. Ebert, in a message, congratulated the Assembly in laying the foundation in chaos. They would be remembered in history as the first builders of the German Republic. He issued a warning against conspiracies against the State. It is reported that information has recently been secured indicating a. revolutionary agitation by the Right and Left Nationalists.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DISSOLVED. THE REICHSTAG ELECTIONS. BERLIN, May 23. (Received May 24, 3,50 p.m. I The National Assembly ha- been dissolved, making way for the first Reichstag of the Republic. The < lections will take place on I June 6. I The only work of note done by the Assembly was the drawing up of the Republican constitution. EAST PRUSSIA. A MILITARY CRISIS. JUNKERS ARMED TO TME TEETH. (United Service.} BERLIN, May 24. (Received May 25, 1.20 a.rn.) I An acute military situation has arisen in \ East Prussia. The Junkers cherishing separatist [Jans are armed to the teeth, and are believed to have tampered with the Government troops concentrated there. GREEKS AND TURKS. A DECISIVE ENGAGEMENT. ATHENS. May 22. Greek troops routed 400 Turks occupying a s'rong position in Messogoda Pass near the Meander river. The Turks' losses were heavy. THE HUNGARIAN TREATY. SIGNATURE NEXT WEEK. PARIS, May 23. Hungary will sign the Peace Treaty next week at the Trianon Palace, FRENCH REPARATION COMMISSION. M. POINCARE’S SUCCESSOR. PARIS, May 22. M. Dubois has succeeded M. Poincare as President of the Reparation Commission. FAMINE PRICES IN GERMANY. SYDNEY, May 24. Harold Sturrock, formerly of Leipzig, and a prisoner of war in Germany, writing to friends in Maitland, says famine prices are ruling in Germany. Suits cost £45 to £100; shirts, tios; socks, 40s, and neckties, 50s. Food also is abnormally high. Meat is 30s per lb and eggs 2s each.