The Washington herald., 1920-12-10
LATEST NEWS FLASI1EDBY CABLE
FEAR And DEATH
GRIPS WILMA UNDER
BANDIT GENERAL
Zellgonski's Troops Ride
Roughshod Over Peo-
pie of Big City.

WILMA. Dec. s.-vilna under Zell-
Gonskis rule has become a dead
city OF 10000 inhabitants. Jews
and Lithuanians fed at the Lith-
uanian bandits approach. Under
their rule now conditions in the
place are unbearable. Lawlessness
is reigning in the city. the $4,000
citizens not venturing out at night.
as murder and robbery are rampant.
Rumors of an organized criminal
gang composed of escaped convicts
and outlaws are current.
These people are Poles. but they
wish no association with Poland.
They are self-styled 'federalists,"
rebelling against the Kovno govern
ment, yet wishing to retan Wilma
and make a greater Lithuanian
state in the midst of historical
frontiers.
They desire national autonomy in
this state and count on the White
Ruthenian territory of Minsk seek
ing Incorporation. They hope for, a
federal union of Poland-Lithuanfa,
but for the present their only aim
is a greater Lithuania.
The Jews also favor federalism,
as they fear the Poles violent anti
! Semitism and wish to remain with
the tolerant Lithuanians at any
price. They sympathize with the
federal solution of the question as
seeming the only way to avoid
Polish annexation. The causes OF
this inclination toward a greater
Lithuania are also of an economic
character. AS the largest city in
Lithuania and the storage place
along the commercial route to Rus
sia, via Kovno and Dvinsk, a great
future awaits Wilma. In Poland it
would take a secondary place and
lie away from the main routes to
Russia; moreover, it would suffer
because of the hostile feeling be-
tween Poles and Russians. which a
change OF rule in Moscow will not
decrease.
The Polish intellectuals fully
realize they would pull together In
a greater Lithuania, for Lithuanian
intellectuals are entirely lacking
because of the historic oppression of
Lithuanian culture in Russia.
The solution, If admitted, would
probably stand a good chance on a
EcleEcnuuIn- DuI the ucpdibd e Va
the Polish troops before the refer
endum takes place is essential to
prevent intimidation of the people
At Wilma little trouble was taken
to maintain the Illusion of independ-
ent action by Zellgonski. In War
saws official circles il was known
that the action had been prepared
there three weeks IRE v.cusly. and
the troops styled themselves simply
as Polish" Regiments and divi-
sions were sent by the Polish Gen.
Rydzsnigly. who captured Kiev.
Close cooperation existed as re-
CARDS war material between Poland
and ZelIgonski. Gen. Ns'Jky had
Just been sent by ZeAEOrski as
Polish inspector general.
The Polish languagS lis spoken
almost exclusively ~ tine viIlages
and on the railroads Jetvy cen Riga
and Wilma. The UnfdNOrable eco
Of occupation is distinctly percepti-
BILE. Food is scarce and dear. Of
ncials draw no salary: schools can
not subsist. At Nowosenciany a
Polish school is established, with
200 students. Dances were arranged
weekly to raise money for the main
tenance OF the school.
Many peasant dwellings were re-
spected by Bolshevists. while large
manor houses were barbarically
looted and destroyed. The villages
are inhabited by Polish speaking
Lithuanians.
(copyright, 1920. Public Ledger Col