THE POLISH WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1920, Page 7

THE POLISH WAR.

BEDS MGK>TUTE«J SOTKENOER. HEAVY LOSSES. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, August 23. Dispatches from Warsaw report that •the Bolsheviks are retreating along the entire battlefront. A Vienna report says that the Russian northern army is negotiating for * surrender.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. New York, August 24. Advices received at Paris from Warsaw state that eight BolsEevik divisions were annihilated and eight cut in halves. The Poles captured 40,000 prisoners and 200 guns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RETREAT BECOMES A PANIC. London, August 24. The situation in Poland 5s extraordinary for, while the Russians are still attacking in the Luxemburg area and also on the Vistula, north-west of Warsaw and near Plotsk, German accounts report that the Red retreat in the centre and along the East 'Prussian border in the direction of Grodno has become a panic. Under pressure of Polish cavalry, the Bolshevik commissariat, herds of cattle, cavalry and infantry are a mixed mass, fleeing homewards. Whole regiments have flung away their weapons. The officers are using their revolvers, vainly attempting to restore order.

AT.TJES CONFERENCE.. Lucerne, August 24. Mr Lloyd George and Signor Gioletti received press representatives. Mr Lloyd George declared trjat the meanh of re-victualling Poland through Danzig must be preserved under the Treaty of Versailles. Signor Giolitti saia that he did not believe there was* a single point on which the Allien were not unanimous.—Reuter. Washington, Aug. 24. Polish official circles state that Poland will speedily assure the United States that Poland's victorious armies will not pursue their advance beyond the Polish ethnographic! boundaries.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. •;_.. ' DISCIPLINE FAILS. Danzig, August 23. ..Bolshevik discipline, hitherto of the besty is reported to have gone to pieces. The troops are retiring by any means of transport, regardless of their officers. Refugees are entering Germany to the number of 500 daily. There is evidence that the Russian railway service is almost at a standstill. The Reds apparently marched all the way to the outskirts of Warsaw. The leader* admitted to civilians that they must have peace, because the rollingstock was giving out and the soldiers' dress and footwear were Sn a bad state/ —Times,

POSITION REVIEWED. London, August 24. The offensive pf Pilsudski and Haller continues. If the Polish armies can close the gap between Grodno and the German frontier the destruction of the Red Northern Army is assured. Two Red armies already \have been wiped out by the closing of the Mlaw bottle-neck. Two others, consisting of 65.000 men, are now retiring in an easterly direction, closely pursued over marshy ground, which forbids a hasty retreat. It is estimated that 100,000 Red prisoners have been taken already. A scheme is on foot to use them in the building of new railways in Poland. Ten thousand Reds also are interned in East Prussia. Another splendid achievement of the offensive is the freeing of the two railways between Warsaw and Danzig, enabling the Allies to supply Poland with munitions with which to complete the victory. DETAILS OF FIGHTING. The Morning Post correspondent was an eve-witness of General Pilsudski's recapture of the city of Warsaw early on the morning of the 20th, after an astonishing bombardment by the 3rd Divsion. He says that the Poles fired ten shots to one.fired by the Bolsheviks, though the Reds were using guns with a longer range. When the retreat commenced the Reds in great numbers forsook the ranks and plunged into the general wilderness, wMcli is characteristic of the district, in search of food. When the Poles entered, bTeathless and perspiring, they expected a big fight for the railway station, but, the enemy had fled.

The P6les' one enquiry was, "Is Warsaw safe?" When told "Yes," the news Was greeted with frenzied cheers. Practically all the Polish civilians had evacuated the city, only Jews being left. They were on friendly terms with the Bolsheviks. At least 'SOOO Jews accompanied the retreating Reds to Russia. The correspondent says that, coincident with the Polish successes, a strong movement is developing not to press the advantage too far. The moderate Polish leaders urge that the troops should entrench on the Lloyd George line and agree to the loss of Vilna rather than risk war with Lithuania.—Aus.-N,Z. Cable Assn.