The Washington herald., 1920-10-12
WILMA SEIZURE
DUE TO LEAGUE,
POLAND CLAIMS
Soldiers Feared Settlement
Willy-Nilly by World
Pact Mission.
ACTION UNAUTHORIZED
Gen. Zellgonski, Leader of
Movement, Takes Stand
Like D'Annunzio.
ACTION UNAUTHORIZED
(Washington Hern1d-PubIic Ledge,
Service. Special Cable Dispatch.D

Warsaw, Oct. 11.-Poland today
asks the world to suspend judg-
ment on Gen. Zellgonskrs Fiume
exploit at Wilma until the facts are
established, and asks that consid-
Grafton be given to conditions sur
rounding the happening. That is
the burden of a statement issued
by Count Przezdiecki, chief of the
protocol division of the Polish For
eign office. speaking for his gov
ernment today.
The Poles have had no word from
the Lithuanian government yet he
said, other than a message received
| Saturday. which set forth that a
Polish army was advancing toward
Wilma, to which the Poles answered
| by saying no orders had been given
for such a demonstration.
Trial Is Demanded.
The trial of Gen. ZellgOnski is
demanded by Gen. Sikolski, head OF
the army. Count Przezdiecki said
that in passing judgment certain
| facts should be understood; they
are not presented for extenuation
but rather for explanation. Gen.
lZellgonski and Col. Bobicki, his
! chief of staff, both are natives ol
the Wilma territory, and the me1
who followed them are natives also
he said. His army originally was
recruited in defense Of the territory
and the soldiers were distressed first
by the Red massacre Of 1000 oi
their relatives in Wilma, by the later
acts of the Lithuanians making re.
| priSals against their relatives while
they were fighting the Reds, and by
the latest Lithuanian act appro,
lpriating their property for their re.
cent activities. The league of ma.
tions mission, which seems anxiou.
to settle the whole Polish-Lithu
anian problem. the fate of Wilma
and other matters alleged to be out,
side its competence. excited tn,
men, who thought they must NOV,
now or. not at all
Permanent Boundaries.
i In answer TO the question whethe
early settlement of the Wilma Ques
tion would not have obviated tn
trouble, Count Przezdiecki said thar
unfortunately until the real statu
of Lithuania is established, perma
nent boundaries are impossible
Poland, to a friendly sister nation
could make many concessions. bu
to one dominated by the Reds or b!
Germans, a different attitude wa
necessary.
Amicable arrangements with th'
7 F.l,
up to the seizure of Wilma, The Su
walki mission had agreed to a par
tial demarcation of the line Prime,
Sapieha had just proposed. Tht
Poles had just furnished a safe con
duct to seven Lithuanian militar!
trains from Poland to Lithuania.
wilma was taken at 5 o'clock Sat
urday afternoon. Gen. Zellgonsk
had moved on the city from tn,
west, cutting the railroad line. Al
early dispatch from a French Off
GER. as yet unidentified suggested
that wilma would be considered ,
free city. The capture OF Win;
was made known in Warsaw b!
Gen. Sikorski. who transmitted mes
sages received from Col. Bobioki
. and Gen. Zellgonski. The latte
wired:
Like D'Annunzio.
"InasmuCh as the line of the ar
mistice was disadvantageOus to us
residents of wilma, Grodno and Lid;
territory, l have decided. with arm
in hand, to defend the rights o
self n-determination Of compatriots.
have high command of the soldier
; who are natives of these terrific
ries. My conscience so dictates.
do not see how il is possible 4
act otherwise. I ask for my dis
[ missal from the Polish army"
Col. Bobioki, the chief of staff
also a native of wilma, tendeTe,
his resignation.
Copyright. 1920 by Public Ledger Coz