Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-11

IN BITTER BATTLE
ON ledge OF KEW
Airmen Help Capture City.
Bayonet Struggle on
Dnieper's Banks.
By the Asseciated Press.


WARSAW. May 1o-Polish forces
were engaged Sunday in an effort to
establish bridsehead positions on the
east bank OF the Dnieper, beyond
kiev, which city was taken from the
bolsheviNi Saturday by Polish and
Ckrainian troops The crossing Of the
river opposite kiev was marked by
hand-to-hand fighting. The bolsheviki
were engaged In an attempt to in
trench themselves in the hills, and
stood their ground in an effort to pre-
vent the kiev victors from making
passage Of the river The first Polish
detachment, to cross the bridge at
kiev was met near DIE easterly side
by soviet detachment.
Fall Into Dnieper.
Roth sides used their relies as they
approached. Then. as the two forces
met. they brought their bayonets into
play and in a number Of instances the
wounded, fighting. struggling soldiers
fell into the Dnieper.
Last accounts from the Polish army,
received late Sunday night. said the
east bank of the Dnieper with consid-
cradle close infantry fighting in progress.
In addition the soviet forces were using
machine guns and continuing their ar
tillery bombardment of kiev from the
hills commanding the river district for
a distance Of many miles.
American Flyers Active.
Members Of the Kosciusczko aerial
squadron. under command Of Maj. p
4 prominent part in the air lighting
which resulted in the bolsheviki being
driven out of kiev The Americans
made repeated raids against soviet
forces. dropped bombs along railroads
and turned their machine guns upon
Twice during the drive toward Kiev
the Americans moved their headquarters
near the front.
WARSAW. May . (by the Asso-
ciated Press,.-The military economic
and political convention signed by
Poland and Ukrainia just before the
opening of the drive toward Kiev is
understood TO have provided for a
Polish outlet to the Black sea.
Such a southern outlet has been a
Polish ambition dating far back in the
national history. just as was seaport
on the Baltic.
In assisting in the reorganization
Of Ckrainia. und erthe leadership of
Cen. Petlura. Poland. according to the
minister in the Ckrainian ministry.
which Will be composed principally of
experts in order to help the new state
obtain footing in its fight for exist
ence.
Poland. the understanding is. will
have virtual control of the railroads
through the vast stretches of wheat
country from which the bolsheviki
have been deriving benefit during the
period Of their occupation and which
the soviet forces are still fighting to
hold In the south.
1t Is understood that the military
support that Poland agrees to give
Ckrafnia is promised for a ten-year
period.
Poles to withdraw.
In recent proclamation Gen. Pill
sudski. the head Of the Polish state.
announced that the Poles would with
draw as soon as the Ukrainian state
was safely established and an inya-
sion from the east is prevented.
There are few bridges across the
Dnieper. particularly in the north but
It 10 understood the plan is to estab-
lish A number of bridgeheads. the
most southerly Of which, at Kiev. is
within the region still held today by
the bolsheviki. and from which the
soviet artillery 10 Smelling the Poles
in the Kiev region.
The plan regarding the territory
farther east along the Dnieper, in the
iron smelter districts, has not been
announced. 1t is the understanding.
however. that Poland agrees to assist
Gkrainia in all possible wars to free
Poland. it is added. will not send
troops to the east bank Of the
Dnieper. and 1t Is understood that abe
agrees to withdraw all tho Polish
forces at the drst request Of the
Ukrainian government.