Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-12
OLD MEN AND BOYS
RUSH To FRONT IN
WARSAW'S DEFENSE
Fighting Front Draws Nearer the
Polish Capital as Government
= Prepares TO Leave.
INVADING FORCES
OUTNUMBER DEFENDERS
y Associated Press 20 Every Evening

ny Associated Press 20 Fvery Evening
paris, Aug i2--The Polish armistice
and poaoo delegates left Warsaw Wednes-
tlay evening 20 meet the Russian dele
gates according To dispatch to the Temps
from Warsaw today.
Warsaw, Aug Hundreds Of con-
veyances Of all descriptions loaded with
batbed wire and driven by boys and old
men are streaming through the Polish
capital toward the battle front. Mingled
with them along the roads are endless
trains Of supply wagons which are
guarded by elderly civilians armed with
rifles All able bodied men ere being re-
lieved from other duties so that they may
be available in the fight for the defense
of Warsaw
Women soldiers are hurrying from place
~ place acting as cDuriefs, and French
military mission officers are showing OK
trene activity racing around the city m
automobiles
As the fighting front draws nearer
Warsaw squads of citizens wearing their
ordinary civilian clothing and straw hats.
but armed with rifles. are drilling in many
parts uf the city As the determined look
ing groups pass through the streets many
boys in knickefbockers. elderly men and
wpll-to-do merchants arc 20 be seen side
by side with tho more usual type of
fighter in the ranks Glass distinctions
are being forgotteu or brushed aside.
Newspaper accounts IF the preparations
declnre that the spirit Of the people is to
defend Warsaw. repel the invader and not
~ count the cost in blood.
The government although Il will not
cnncedr that date has been set for the
avaciatnp of the city. is gradually moving
away the important state documents, the
packing of which began several DAYS ago.
Paris. Aug II Dispatches to the Echo
de Paris from Warsaw today represent
the military situation as greatly improved
following the reinforcement ~ the north
ern polish army in conformity with the
advice of General Weypand If the French
rnission. The Polish army IS said to be
at present the equal numerically Of the
Soviet army.
Johannesburg Fest Prussia. Aug. IL
Reports that Nlswa, an important city
on the Warsaw Danrig railway. was taken
by the Russian nolsheviki ON Tuesday
and that Soviet cavalry was within rifle
n1pt gt NHFeHWs tHf 1911 " WHICH W fsas-
! prrted Thursday or Friday, we're brought
here today by correspondent of the
koanigzbqrg Allgefneine ZeitIng
Americans, British and French who are
| fighting with the Poles against the Boil
shrvikl are considered fair game 20 kill
| by the common soldiers Of the Soviet army
| Il is declared by the correspondent, who
SAYS the Bolshevlk have been told these
| fighters are "bourgeoise who should bt
| estcrninated
The correspondent. who spent somC
| time along the Bolshevik front, said hs
| had been given most courteous consideTa
| ton m n representative OF the German
press md conducted him along the from
and permitted him to witness a battle
| between Soviet cavalry and Polish IN
| fantry. Bolshevik cavalry. he said. Is ex
cellently disciplined and equipped witt
machine guns which are operated from
the saddle. The men. however, presented
a ragged appearance.
Continued page y