New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-09
Copyright. 1890. New York Tribune I,

frontier right down to Grodno, with
both Of the towns, which are on the east
bank Of the stream and control the
crossings. Polish claim to occupy Wilma,
the great railway center a few miles
east of the Niemen, as an advance posi-
ton, is equally in conformity with the
provision in the Treaty of Versailles
which establishes a neutral zone east
Of the Rhine and permits Allied occupa-
ton Of the bridgeheads.
A B0lsheuisf Boulevard
| This front is complicated by the
Lithuanian question. The frontier be-
tween the Poles and the Lithuanians,
speaking ethnically, approximately fol-
lows the line fixed at Paris, but until
Lithuania is established as q self-sus-
tanning state, capable Of defending it.
self against Bolshevist invasion, Lithu-
ania is bound to remain as a boulevard
of Bolshevist advance, as it proved in
the recent operations. Therefore, Polish
occupation of Kovno, Grodno and Wilma,
as measure Of self-protection, without
political purpose, is clearly defensible.
From Wilma southwark the natural
line of defense is that on which the
Germans terminated their great inva-
sion of 1915. The halt on this line was
not primarily due to Russian resist
ance, but to the fact that any further
extension of the advance would have
involved dangerous expansion of the
front and a similarly reckless elonga-
ton of lines of communication. With
due regard to rail communications,
which were enormously improved after
the Germans dug in in 1915, it would
seem that the Polish front should rest
upon Wilma, Baranowitschi and pinsk.
South of Pinsk it would take advantage
of the great Pripet Marshes and the
line of the Styr or Goryn River to the
old Austrian frontier behind the zbrucz
River, with control of the old Russian
triangle Of ortresses-Rovno, Dubno
and Lutsk-so famous in the Brusiloff
| campaigns.
The Military Front
On the military side such a front
would give the Poles absolute protee-
ton for their northern flank behind the
N1emen from the East Prussian from
tier down to Grodno, with an advance
position marked by the Wilma River
from Kovno to Wilma and the old Ger
man line from Wilma southwark. The
center would be largely covered by the
Prlpet marshes and the river systems
down to the fortress of Rovno, while the
right or southern flank would rest upon
the Rumanian frontier and stand behind
the Zbrucz. Such front would NOT
only be the strongest conceivable, from
the military point Of view, but it
would, in addition, be the shortest.
Finally, it would be che best served with
railways, as result Of German construc-
ton during the three years German
armies held this line.
To stand upon the so-called "ethnic
frontier" is impossible, because this line
has not only been drawn without regard
to railway lines, crossing them with sic.
nificant disregard, but in addition Il il
lar Zoo long for the scanty Polish mum.
bers. Moreover, the work Of 3ortifytns
II would be far greater than the task
Incident to recognising the old Ger.
man defenses, which were the result OF
more than four years Of German indus
try and are provided with good lateral
roads and even with military railways.
It would be che height Of folly for
the Poles to repeat their mistakes Of
the apring and seek 70 regain che lines
Of shs Dwina and shs paisper, whieA, In
eufHs anyolvs en- enossaasas expansion
Of tho trent. Bot it would be ecsally