Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-09-07
Defeat of Russian Armies in
Poland One of the Greatest
In History.
HUNDRED THOUSAND CAPTURED
America spd Asfs Warn Poles to Stop
at Frabtier-5rI,zfn 70 Recognize
EGypt's lndependence-Cox Ac-
cuses Republicans of Try.
Ing to BUY Presl-
dencv
BY EDWARD w. PicKARp.

Lie week clOSeu WIN IOuT OI lue
five soviet Russian armies that at
tackled Poland practically destroyed or
dispersed. The Reds, it was estimat-
ed, had lost nearly 100000 prisoners
and about 10000 others had been
killed. Many thousands had been
forced across the German border,
where they were disarmed and in
terned-or were supposed to be, If the
Germans did their duty as neutrals.
The Russian cavalry and infantry that
escaped from the Polish pincers re-
tired on Grodno and Ossowiec and such
reserves as they had were brought up
to the latter place. 1t was expected
that the Reds would put up desper-
ate fight in the marsh country there to
preserve contact with the East Prussia
border and to keep the Poles from
forming a junction with the Lithuan-
ians.
The last real effort Of the Red army
Of the north resulted in three days Of
fierce fighting in the Narew valley
between Lomza and Ostrolenka, the
Russians trying to force their way
across the road to Bialystok. The
Poles captured the river crossings, and
next day another of their forces adj
vanced along the Prussian frontier to
Myszynies. The Reds were caught be-
tween these forces and had to sur
render
OF all the invaders of Poland, only
General Budenny's forces, mostly cav
airy, appear to have escaped. They
were operating in Galicia toward
Lemburg, and when the fate of the
soviet adventure was certain they
made a rush forward with the inten-
ton of destroying the great oil wells
10 that region. They reached the out
skirts of Lemburg but were driven
away by volunteers and few regu-
lars. AS they retired they destroyed
villages and crops and carried off all
implements, furniture, clothing and
animals.
Unbiased observers describe the
defeat of the Reds as one of the great
est of military disasters and say the
campaign that brought it about was
of surprising interest. They agree
substantially concerning the utter rout
of the soviet armies, but in this they
are contradicted by such bolshevik
leaders as have been heard from and
by some Germans. These assert that
the retreat of the Reds has been con-
Quoted in an orderly manner, that they
saved most of their supply trains and
that the number of casualties has been
greatly exaggerated by the Poles.
II now the Poles can restrain their
enthusiasm and ambition all may be
well with them. They have been
warned by the United States, France
and probably Great Britain that they
must not again attempt an invasion Of
Russian territory but must stop their
advance at the ethnic border of Poland.
If they disobey, the allies will with
draw their support. The French for
eign Office, while agreeing that the
Poles must not try to seize any Rus
sian territory, admits the exlgencies
OF the campaign might make 1t neces-
sary for them to cross the frontier
temporarily.
The entente allies came into full &C
cord concerning the Polish question
last week. much to the surprise of
Germany, and probably TO its dismay.
They really adopted the policy Of
France and 1t is supposed Lloyd
George was brought to this view by the
persistent attempts Of the Reds against
British rule in various regions and by
some Of the terms they tried to force