New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-20
Reply to British Offer
Says Arnistice Will Be
Arranged With Poles
if Allies Accept Terms
Note Is Written
In Sarcastic Vein
Unconditional Surrender
of General Wrangel and
His Forces Is Demanded
From The Trtoune's European Burea.

demanding an immediate armistice be-
tween the Poles and the Bolsheviki on
threat of giving Allied aid to the
Polish armies.
1t is understood that the reply offers
acceptance modified by number of
conditions. 1t says that if the Allies
will accede to these reservations the
fighting on the Polish front will end
as soon as the military como to an
agreement.
LONDON, July 20 (Tuesday).-The
reply of the Russian Soviet govern
ment to the British note concerning an
armistice with Poland rejects in sub
stance the British peace proposals, ac-
cording to "The Times" which to-day
publishes summary of the Soviet
answer.
The document is very long, and "The
Times" assumes that it will be pub
lished soon by the government.
The Bolsheviki decline to come to
London for the suggested peace con-
ference, according to "The Times" be-
cause they say Great Britain is not
impartial. They also object to the ad-
mission to the conference of delegates
from the Baltic states, saying Russia
already has made peace with them
AS to Poland, the Bolshevik govern
ment points out that the proposed
armistice line is unfair to Poland, and
that by direct negotiations the Bolshe-
wiki are prepared to grant Poland a
much more favorable frontier.
The Bolshevik reply refuses fatty to
entertain any conditions regarding the
forces of General Wrangel and the
the unconditional surrender of these.
The tone Of the reply is sarcastic,
"The Times" says, which declares it is
aimed at driving a wedge between Po-
land and the Allies by stimulating
Polish dissatisfaction with the British
proposal. "The Times" adds that it
believes the reply will make it more
difficult for Great Britain to enter into
trade relations with Russia.
The, text of the reply was received
by the Foreign Office o-day.
Polish Populace Flees Before Reds
WARSAW, July 10 (By The Associated
Press).-The Bolsheviki in their west
ward push have reached the vicinity Of
the former Russo-German pattle-lins
on the western edge Of the Pripet
marshes. Here the Poles are making
stand and heavy fighting is in pro-
gress at various points.
The Bolsheviki have brought up
armored trains from the railroad lead
! ing southwest from Minsk and along
another railroad extending through the
marshes from Mozir and Kalenkovi:che.
The Poles are Withdrawing to the
south and southwest from the railway
| junction of Ida, which has been occu-
in the direction Of Grodno.
This Bolshevik sweep across Lithu-
ania is giving the Soviet forces pos
session of a rich harvest, as they are
occupying thousands of acres planted
! by the Poles, the grain and hay now
standing in stacks. The Polish popula-
ton is fleeing before the Bolshevik on
rush, the peasants crowding the roads
with their livestock and vehicles loaded
with household goods.
Refugees Being Removed
The food in the warehouses at Bielo-
, stok, stored there for the use of the
children who are fed by the American
relief association, is being loaded upon
cars for shipment to a safer place.
The refugees in the Bielostok region
are also being removed as precau-
tionary measure.
1t is said in Polish quarters that the
retreat on the northern front is be-
ing continued in an orderly way, &C.
cording to plan. The Poles, it is de-
clared, lost little rolling stock and
not a single working locomotive. 1t is
at Ida that the railway gauge changes
from the Russian broad gauge to the
standard width.
All the Bolshevik attacks along the
southern front have been repulsed.
The Soviet troops have been repeated
ly attempting to break through here,
with Lemberg as their objective. Cen
eral Budenney is using cavalry for the
fantry likewise is attempting to force
various rivers and other fortified
stretches of the old Russo-German
line. These attempts, however. have
been unsuccessful.
Poland's preparations to continue
the fight, despite her reverses, par
ticularly in the north, continued dur
ing Sunday and Sunday night. The
negotiations conducted from London
with the view to bringing about an
armistice have not affected the work
of the General Staff.
In military circles it was said that
identifcations of prisoners from
various Russian units had shown that
In excess Of eight Bolshevik divisions
were on the front, more than half of
them in the front lina, the others in
support. On the northern front the
reserve divisions are being moved
westward on the heels of the advanc-
ing troops, while in other sectors they
are being brought forward as the
needs demand.
Americans Feed Refugees
1t is estimated that 100000 refugees
who have fled from districts invaded
by the Bolsheviki are being fed on
one meal daily by the American Relief
Association. In majority of the re-
gions, including Bielostok and Brest-
Litovsk, the relief association is CO.
operating with the Polish Red Cross.
Thousands Of refugees are arriving
in Warsaw daily by train. They are
being distributed through various parts
of Poland by the relief association,
which is acting as clearing house.
Thousands are assembling at the rail-
road functions in towns west Of the
fighting front.