The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-14
POLES PREPARE
LAST DITCH FIGHT
Warsaw Citizens Swear to Re-
fuse Surrender.
BOlSheviki Invaders Are Slowly
Drawing Closer.
HEAR GUNS At CAPITAL
Soviet Agents Work Fast in
Propaganda Drive.
Already Have LOOsened PeO-
pies Faith in Generals.

Moscow, Aug. 14-"Both wings of
our army are continuing the move
ment encircling Warsaw" the Russian
war office announced today I'VE
have occupied Bezhan. Vengroff and
Lukoff."
London. Aug. 14-The Russian
army is continuing its drive to the
north of Warsaw and has closely ap-
preached the River Vkra, which joins
the Bug close to its confluence with
the Vistula near Novogeorgievsk.
northwest of the Polish capital it is
shown in Fridays official statement
from Moscow. received today.
Warsaw, Aug. 1.-THE Russians at
tacking Warsaw have worked well
toward the rear of that city's defenses
and are attacking Plefsk within
dozen miles of the Vistula northwest
of the Polish apitaL according to Fri
day nights official Polish communique
available early today.
The roar of artillery on the battle
front could be plainly heard in War
saw Friday afternoon. The Russians
have brought up artillery in the re-
gion of Radzymin, just south of the
Bug. Observers say, however, that
the enemy has not yet in position guns
heavy enough to reach this city with
their fire.
Poles Are Determined.
With the Reds reported only twenty
miles from Warsaw on the north, 10O,-
600 people gathered here last night
and swore to defend the city to the
last drop of blood
The howl of the guns could be heard
in the distance IS the great throng as
sembIed. There were many armed wo-
men in the crowd and soldiers who
had been invalided back, but were go
ing out to the front again to resume
the fight.
Despite this loyalty to the nation. 1t
is evident that the great mass of the
people have lost faith in the army
leaders and in the government Pol
ish BOlsheviki are busy behind the
lines and they boast that the Red
tide" is rising.
Marshal Pilsudski, once nationa!
hero and leader of the armies. is close
ly guarded for fear of assassina ton.
The remainder of the Polish armi-
stice delegates were to cross the lines
Saturday morning The delegation is
presided over by Under Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Dombski. Newspaper
men were going with them
Start New Drive.
Backed by France, General WrangeI
has started an extensive invasion on
the Crimean front to draw Red troops
away from Poland, according to unof-
ficial advices received here today.
Wrangel was reported to have de-
feated the Thirteenth Bolshevik army,
taking four thousand prisoners. Gun
boats under his orders bombarded
Vtchkoff in an attempt to open the
Dnieper river
Three French cruisers were ordered
to Odessa today to protect French and
Brazilian sailors on the ships Batavia
and Alegretto which the Bolsheviki
are holding at that port. The Reds
hold the steamers on the ground that
they were carrying contraband to
General Wrangel. anti -BOlshevik lead
er in the Crimea. The French scout
ship. Kiloboy. was ordered today TO
report at Constantinople, there to
await the orders of General Wrangel.
Cooperate With Poles.
ARRANGEMENTS were made at War
saw today, according to dispatches
from that city. for Poland and Wran-
gel to cooperate to the fullest extent
against the Bolsheviki A representa-
tive of Wrangel has established head
quarters in Warsaw
French strategists do not believe
that last ditch defense of Warsaw
is necessary it was learned today.
General Weigand. the French adviser
in Poland, refused to take command
of the armies because he differed with
Marshal Pilsudski who insisted that
the capital be held to the last
The diplomatic split between France
and Britain over Russia was believed
to be widened today by the French
note to America announcing that this
countrv had aligned its Russian policy
with that of the United States