New-York tribune., 1920-01-16
looking at it. Fixing of the boun-
d q ries of Poland hu tho raace cnnfer-

LOOKING AT IL. flXlnE OF tne UOuH-
daries of Poland by the peace confer
ence was delayed until December 2,
and then they we're fixed only tenta-
lively. Before that the Polish govern
ment had encroached upon the terri
tory of Lithuania and Galicia and had
moved eastward in purely Russian ter
ritory, where there was no resistance
to oppose the advance.
"By December 2 the Polish forces
occupied a district from $50 to $50
kilometers long east of the boundary
fixed by the peace conference and were
pushing on to point where any gov
ernment would be bound to resist.
The Polish boundary question ulti-
mately will be settled, but the question
now is whether the present position of
Poland will precipitate q situation dan
gerous to all Europe.
~ do not believe the Polish force of
10000 men without outside military
assistance, which they are not likely
to get from the Allies, will be able to
withstand an assault of the Bolshevik
armies, which are. known to be we'll
trained, we'll equipped and we'll fed
The situation in Poland is such that
it is not likely that the people could
withstand the Bolshevik influence if
the country shoul pe overrun by an
army, despite present enthusiasm for
their new government"
General Bliss said the past conduct
Of the Polish army might have been
taken as provocative, but he had no
knowledge of the situation in that
respect since December 2, but the Po-
lish army originally was organized
in the belief it would fight military
Germany"
Speaking Of the Bolshevik forces,
General Bliss said all his informa ton
showed they might be able to put an
army of 100000 men on one front
well equipped and we'll led" "They
have enormous quantities Of ammuni-
ton and supplies left after the revo-
luton .and their gun factories have
been working steadily since that time, y
he said. He added that the Polish
army is poorly equipped.
Representative Garner, Democrat, of
Texas, wanted to know if it is reason
able to suppose that Polish army of
10000 men could stand up against q
Bolshevik force of 100000.
~ doubt if it could" said General
Bliss.
"Then," pursued Mr.. Garner. at
would be useless for the United States
to provide this food unless the Allies
are going to back UP Poland with mill
tary assistance?"
Il" doubt whether it would be neces-
sary for the United States, but when
the crisis comes the Allies must helm
Poland or risk the danger of invasion
without limit" was the generals
"lf the Allies should refuse to help
Poland" asked Mr.. Garner "the Boil
sheviki could come across Poland and
the Balkans and sweep over all Europe
couldn't they?"
THAT is speculative, but very pos
sible," replied General Bliss. "All the
European nations are very wabbly, and
tevival of general European warfare
Is not entirely improbable"
Answering a question by Representa-
tive Tilson, Republican, of Connecti-
cut, whether the Allies were not bound
under the peace treaty to help Poland
if she we're attacked, General Bliss ex-
planned that the great danger to Pc.
land might be within and that the peo
plies of food and clothing, to kee1
their backs covered and their stomachs
full.
Answering an inquiry Of Represent
ative Hawley, Republican of Oregon
whether Russia is planning westward
move on Poland, General Bliss sale
such move might be made as resul
Of military propaganda to gain domina
tion over new areas or because Polant
provoked an attempt to drive back he
armies.
"If the two forces lock horns," sait
General Bliss, "the victor probably viii
go as far as he can. The Bolshevik
have pretty firm government an,
Lenine and Trotsky have great mill
! tary ambitions"