Evening star., 1920-01-15
ASSISTANCE Of j. s.
FORPOLAND URGED
BY WAR SECRETARY
Tells Committee Surplus Mill
tary Supplies Would
RepeI B0Isheviki.

Recommendations that the United
States furnish surplus military sup
plies to Poland to aid it in repelling
the westward advance of the bolshe-
wiki have been made to the State De-
partment by Secretary Baker.
In making this announcement today
to the House ways and means commit
tee. Mr.. Baker interrupted Gen. Tasker
H. Bliss, a former member of the Su-
preme military council and the Ameri-
can peace delegation, who had told the
committee that general revival of war
in Europe was not improbable" unless
Poland could check the Russian boil
Shevik armies.
The War Secretary also said that
the allied governments were consid-
ering participation in the movement
to aid the Poles.
Gen. Bliss told the committee that
the Russian armies were far better
equipped than the Poles, who were
"the only bulwark against boil
shevism.'
Describing Poland as "the possible
storm center in Europe, Gen. Bliss
declared that when "a whole people
are brought to starvation" they may
make war on a neighbor having food
and SO renew the confiagration that
we had hoped had died out"
The bolsheviki, Gen. Bliss continued,
are regaining coal, oil and grain lands
in the old Russian empire, and will
soon be able to care for themselves.
regardless of any blockade"
The committee is considering a pro-
posal by Secretary Glass of the Treas
ury to advance $3.50, 100000 to Poland,
Austria and other European countries
for food relief. If such a loan were
made. the allied governments should
be required to aid Poland in a mill
tary way, Gen. Bliss said.
Military men believe the bolsheviki
Will not try to press eastward beyond
Lake Baikal to fight the Japanese,
Gen. Bliss said. and that. instead of
sending armies toward India or Tur-
propaganda" there. This he d pointed
out. indicated a westward movement
of the bolshevik armies.
PoInnd's Position Emphasized.
Possibility Of Poland pressing
against the Russians also was empha-
sized by Gen. Bliss, who said the
peace conference delayed fixing the
east eastern boundary of Poland until De-
upon a tentative boundary. Polish
armies. he added, then were 2SO to
$3.50 kilometers east of the eastern
boundary of their country.
whether the policy of Poland will
precipitate situation dangerous to
the whole of Europe"
The westward movement of the boil
sheviki, however. is not the only fac
vivai of war" Gen. Bliss ti said. es-
planning that conditions within sew
eral European countries might cause
an upheaval Europeans, he said, are
more prone than Americans to blame
ment, and without food or shelter
would turn against what might be
the best government"
Following Gen. Bliss. Secretary
Baker said food relief from America
would protect the civilization of the
world" He declared chaos in Europe
would affect America industriaIIy by
cutting off supply Of raw materials
that could be obtained only there, and
would seriously affect the ten billions
ments.
The situation in Austria was likened
to that in Poland by the Secretary.
who also touched on conditions in
Armenia.
Turning to Siberia, Mr. Baker said
most of the population there was
within thirty miles of either side of
the transsiberian railroad and that
distress was largely due to the in
adequacy of railroad equipment.
Thirty thousand box cars on rail-
road sidetracks in Siberia, Mr.. Baker
said. are occupied by persons who
fled eastward from Russia to escape
the revolution.
Most of the distress in Europe is
in the cities. Mr.. Baker continued,
declaring that infant mortality in
Budapest last January was S12 per
for those admitted to the
state dIspensary. Elsewhere in En-
ropean cities similar conditions pre-
vailed, he said.
At the close Of the hearing Chair
man Fordney announced that the
would meet Monday to act
finally on a bill authorizing loans for
the food relief.