The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-17
Clearing out Polish Corridor.

0ACaIIng Out 1OtIsAl
Paris. Aug. 1.-THE French foreign
office this evening reported successful
Polish counter- offensives from Thorn
to clear out the Polish corridor and
along the entire southern front.
4 London. Aug. II. 90 a. m.).-War-
saws fate was being decided today in
a fierce battle on a front Of nearly
200 miles. A strong Polish counter
attack was developing SUCCESSFULLY, ac-
cording to unofficial advices received
here today from points in Poland
within sound of the cannonadins-
The last direct word from Warsaw
was the official communique issued
late yesterday. These say the Poles
have driven the Russians back across
the river Bug between Vlodawa and
Prubieszow, and that a successful Pol
ish thrust had been carried out in the
direction of Mlawa
Red Dead Left on Field.
An effort by the Russians to en-
circle Warsaw by breaking thru the
Polish lines at Platosk and swinging
around the city, first marching south
and then southeast to join the Red
lines on the east side of the capital
was defeated after a bitter battle. The
Bolsheviki made such progress at first
that they issued communique an
nouncinG the city was surrounded.
Later the tide turned and the Russians
were smashed They lost all the
ground they had gained and left hun
drcds of dead and wounded behind
Cavalry. French tanks and fleet
of armOred motorboats carrying quick
firing guns are all involved in the
great struggle for Warsaw
The cavalry has repeatedly come
into contact with the Cossa cks, bloody
hand to hand fighting resulting.
Tanks V1neftr Ifunf
rying over the fields by the scores. In
this branch of the fighting the Poles
have all the better of it The armored
mOtOrbOats have done good service
wherever the Reds tried to cross the
river Bug. Their cross fire, coming
from both up and down the stream,
rendered attempts at pontoon building
almost suicidal.
Discredit Reports of Capture.
Reports of Warsaw's fall announced
officially on Sunday by the BoIsheviki
staff at Wilma, where the news was
celebrated, according to Kovno
despatch to the London Times, by a
great demonstration, are not con-
firmed from any source and are vir-
tually discredited by the Times. which
alone printed them. All special ad-
Vices-none of which, however are
dated later than Sunday-concur in
the statement that Warsaw was then
held by the Poles who. according to
some OF these reports, were fighting
so stiffly and successfully that the
menace 10 the city was decreasing.
Russian attacks. however, were be-
ing constantly renewed. and the sever
ity was dwelt upon by all dispatches.
the struggle being said to be especially
fierce in and around Radzymin. which
had changed hands five times and was
at last reports held by the Poles.
Warsaw's Fall Matter of Hours.
The influence OF French assistance
in directing the defense OF Warsaw Is
mentioned in some reports. and it is
stated that the approach OF additional
French help may lend a hopeful as
pect to the Polish resistance This
prospect. however, is not universally
accepted and in some quarters the fall
of Warsaw is declared TO be only 4
matter of hours The transfer OF gov
eminent offices to Posen began or
Sunday. but the governments actual
departure from the capital is not as
yet reported.
In the meantime. the Russian armies
are rapidly progressing through the
Polish corridor and are said to be
within fifty miles of Danzig. Nothing
Is known Of the peace negotiations at
Minsk beyond the statement made by
Earl Curzon. secretary of state for
foreign affairs. in the house of COM
mons yesterday. in which he said It
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