New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-16
Soviet Batteries Open
Fierce Fire on Capital;
Populace Fights Brave
ly in Defense of City
Nation Nearly Cut
Off From the Sea
Foreign ENJOYS Move;
Peace Farley at Minsk
Believed to Have Begun
From The Tri0uno's European Burca,

IRON 1he Ir16uhe's European BircG1
Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Aug. 15.-Russian bat
teries from three sides are lombard
ing Warsaw with 6-inch shells, &C
cording to reports received here to-
day. Fall of the capital is momen-
tarily expected.
Last night and early to-day ter
rife fire was hurled upon the city.
First the Red batteries on the hills
to the north got the range, and later
other batteries to the east and south
joined in the fire, All the foreign
ambassadors left Warsaw yesterday.
Populace Is Fighting
Correspondents in the Polish cap
ital report that the inhabitants are
displaying calm under the ordeal Of
fire, and on all defenses to the city
gallant resistance is being offered
to the Red assaults. The civil popu-
lation has taken up arms, and is
making good its promise to defend
the city to the last gasp"
Reports from Germany agree with
those received here that the Poles are
fighting heroically in an almost hope
less effort to stem the Red tide
Early yesterday morning the Boil
sheviki completed the capture of the
town of Soldau, and by a swift cavalry
movement established Soviet troops in
possession of the Polish corridor to
Danzig. They have nearly cut off Po
land from the sea, and vital battle to
achieve or prevent this is being fou1ht
east of Thorn, to which the Poles re-
tired after the defeat at Soldau. near
the German frontier The Polish staff
is anxious also to prevent the Boil
sheviki from joining territorially with
Germany.
Infantry Attacks Difficult
This fighting is insignificant, however.
when compared with the battle for
Warsaw itself In the final assault
upon the city the Reds have been pre-
vented from making full use of their
cavalry, and the really splendid chain
of Notifications made infantry assaults
most difficult. The Red infantry has
never shown the dash and fighting
ability displayed by the Soviet cavalry.
When the Red artillery established
its range upon the city from three
sides there came lull in the firing
Then between fifty and a hundred air
planes whined over the city. The in
habitants who had displayed consid-
cradle calm, as one German correspond
ent described it, during the long range
compartment ran terror stricken into
cellars during this aerial threat Bat
the Red airmen contented them selves
with dropping thousands of leaflets
These contained a manifesto to the
Polish workers and soldiers, urging
them to proclaim a Soviet government
and thus make further fighting unnec-
essary.
Poles Fighting Bravely
The Polish army is fighting bravely
against the cavalry where they are IN
actual contact, but behind the lines and
in the capital, Bolshevik propaganda is
not entirely Ineffective
Julian Marchnewski who placed him
self at the head of the Polish Soviet
government which was formed last
week at Bialystock, is now with the
Russian Third Army, which is con-
upon the northern defenses
of Warsaw. The Bolsheviki are plan
ing to set Marchnewski up as virtual
Soviet dictator in Warsaw when they
effect the capture of the city.
General Latinik, Military Governor
OF Warsaw, still expresses confidence
that he will be able, to save the CAPT.
tai. despite the violence of the attack
and severe pressure on three sides.