The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-20
Occupy Minsk After Cessation
of Hostilities Despite Orders.
Gen. ZeligOwski Refuses to
Eyacuate City of wilma.
WAR ON REDS HALTS MONDAY
Gen. Pilsudski, President of
Poland, Orders Army to Quit.
Bolsheviki Throw Every Re-
source Against Gen. Wrangel.

Warsaw, Oct. 2o.-Polish troops,
'disregarding orders, have occupied
Minsk. Under the Russia Polish ar
mistice all hostilities have ceased.
The entry into Minsk was made by
the Polish troops after the cessation
of hostilities. according to advices
here. The Polish authorities stated
that the commander of the troops
which entered Minsk had specific or
ders not to go into that city.
Under the armistice agreement,
Minsk was TO be Russia. 1t is fifty
miles back of the line as agreed upon
In the Riga conference.
War To Halt Monday.
General Pilsudski, president of
Poland, has addr> ssed manifesto
to the army in connection with the
cessation of hostilities with Bolshevikf
Russia at midnight Monday after near
ly two years of war.
He urges patience as the actual
treaty of peace is not yet signed and
expresses the hope the soldiers will
develop the same energy in works of
peace as upon the battle field.
He has already proposed to the gov-
ernment that part of the territory for
which the soldiers fought should be-
come the property of those who served
fighting for her life.
Relations Are Strained.
Relations between Poland and I.ith-
uania are becoming more strained ac-
cording to advices from NJ KamenislSi
Polish minister of Letyia, who has
been attending the conference of Baltic
states at Riga, on the eve of the return
to Paris of the League of Nations com
mission which has been attempting TO
reach a solution of questions arising
between Poland and Lithuania. Threats
nave been made by the latter nation
to intern all Poles as reprisal for
the occupation of wilma by General
Zeligowskrs army
AS consequence many Poles are re-
ported to be leaving for their native
country. Iithuania, according TO M.
kameniski, is determined to oppose
Poland I'M every way possible. A Lith-
uanian army, says a dispatch from
Grodno, is being mobilized, men up to
the age of as being called to the coiors.
German officers are acting as instruc-
tors it is said.
Allied Powers Dcfied
& London, Oct. 20.-GeneraI Zeli-s
gowski. holder of wilma, has defied the
powers to dislodge him.
NO force can compel us to retire;
we would rather face death" Zeli-
gowski told a correspondent of the
Post
I'VE came here as civilians rather
than soldiers. We are here as the
owners and defenders of our own land.
No force can compel us TO retire until
the people of wilma themselves deter
mine their destiny"
The Polish government, 1t was
learned today, insists that it has no
intention of violating any agreement
with the allies in permitting Zeli-
gowski to remain in control of wilma,
and will endeavor to have the city de-
termine whether 1t shall be Polish or
Lithuanian by a plebiscite.
Germans Help WrangeI.
Sebastopol. Crimea, Oct 2O.-Severe
fighting continues along the Dneiper
and northeastern front in the vicinity
of Nikopol. Leon Trotzky, Russian
Bolsheviki minister of war is report
ed to be bringing up ten divisions Of
communist forces which will not sur
render as easily as the ordinary troops
heretofore used on this line.
1t is asserted numbers OF former
German officers in the Baltic prov,
inces are offering their services TO
General Baron Wrangel. head of the
anti -Bolsheviki South Russian govern
ment.
Plan Naval Demonstration.
Paris Oct. 20-A naval demonstra-
ton in the Black sea is planned by the
allies, the foreign office announced
today. The demonstration. the nature
of which was not disclosed. will be
made off Trebizond. Asiatic Turkey, in
behalf of the Armeniang