Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-08-18
Poles Fighting Desperately to
Hold Warsaw, Counter-At-
tack and Force Bolsheviki to
Withdraw Advanced Lines.
MANY PRISONERS FALL
INTO DEFENDERS HANDS
While Cannon Boom Outside
City Peace Delegates Prepare
For Conference chaplain,
Leading Soldiers, Is Killed.

Warsaw. August 17.-Reports OF
Polish military successes came to
Warsaw today while the population
was eargerly awaiting news from
the peace meeting at Minsk. The
only report of the delegates was a
they had reached Minsk.
A successful counter offensive was
launched on the Warsaw front Mon
dav under leadership of President
pilsuski as commander n-chief.
On the norther front where 10
bolsheviki divisions are striking to-
ward the Vistula and on the War
saw front it was announced today
tina: the Reds have been driven
back at several points.
Polish movements, aided by heavy
artillery ere forcing the bolshevik;
gradually to withdraw from places
where for DAYS pressure upon the
capitol has been greatest.
Ir the fighting near Radzymin,
northeast Of Warsaw. the Poles took
naIy prisoners, including a bolshev-
tx commissar and brigade COM
mahder. During the battle a Polish
chaplain lgnacy Korupka, was kill
ed while leading the attacking forces
clad in his church robes and with a
crucifix in his hands. Five Polish
officers were also killed and II
wounded.
French tactics are being used.
The Poles are bringing into play
batteries placed for the capitol's de-
tense line and are awaiting COM
pletion of the arrangements to strike
at the soviet with rush of artillery,
followed by infantry attacks.
London, Aug. l7-Warsaw is still
held by the Poles. SO far as dis
patches Disclose The latest soviet
comnunique daes not claim the city
is captured, while the Polish state
nlent of Monday represented the de-
tenders making successful resist
ancc.
Reports of the city's fall. an
nounced Sunday by the bolshevik
staff al Wilma, according to a Kovno
dispatch to the London Times, are
not confirmed and are virtually dis
credited By thu Times. which alone
printed them. All special advices-
none dated later than Sunday-con-
cur that Warsaw was then held by
the Poles, wh1 were reported fight
ing so successfully that the menace
TO the city was decreasing.
Reds Renew Attacks.
Russian attacks were being con-
stattly renewed, and the severit&
was dwell. upon by alt dispatches,
the struggle beng said to be esDe-
c,ally fierce around Radzymin,
which had changed hands FIVE times
and was at last reports held by the
Poles.
The influence of French assistance
in directing the defense of Warsaw
is mentioned, and it is stated that
the approach of additional French
help may lend a hopeful aspect to
the resistance. In some quarters,
however, the fall of Warsaw is de-
clared to be a matter of hours. The
transfer OF government Offices to
Posen began Sunday, but the gov
ernment's actual departure is not as
yet reported
Russian armies are rapidly
progressing through the Polish cor
ridor, and are said to be within SC
miles of Danzig. Nothing is known
OF the peace negotiations at Minsk
beyond the statement of Earl Cur
zon in the House of Commons YES
terday that it was known that peace
conversations were proceeding