The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-08-07
BOLSHEVIST THRUST
INTO ASIA MINOR
American Legation Given Permission
to Leave Persian Capital-Allies
Plan to Aid Poland.

WASHINGTON, Aug (Associ-
ated Press) Soviet Russia has fol-
| lowed up its successes against Poland
with thrust into southwestern Asia
and its forces are threatening the Per-
sian capital, Teheran. This rather un.
expected move by the Bolsheviki is be-
lieved by some officials and diplomats
here to be directed against British and
French domain in the Near East and
Asia.
News of the Soviet army's advance
south and west of the Caspian sea was
conveyed yesterday in official dispatches
from John l. Caldwell. American
minister to Persia, and the American
consul at Tabriz. The minister asked
permission of the state department to
remove the American legation from TIE
heran in view of the preparations of
the Persian government to evacuate
the capital, while the consul asked au-
thority to move from Tabriz. Both re-
quests were granted.
Official observers here conceded that
the opening of a new theatre of war
fare by the Bolsheviki had complicated
an already grave situation in Europe
and the Near East. They also were of
the opinion that this latest develop
ment would serve to hasten a decision
by the allied governments as to gener-
al measures to be taken to check the
Soviet menace.
At the state department it was
stated that communications had been
received from the allied governments
outlining a tentative course of action
looking to the aid of Poland, and it
was assumed that these were among
the subjects discussed by the depart
ment officials with the president.
Official dispatches to both the Polish
legation and the state department yes
terday indicated a slight Improvement
in the situation in Poland. This Off
cial communication was received by the
legation from Warsaw.
"Our counter action in the region of
Brody is developing satisfactorily. We
occupied SraHislawczyk and Brody.
The line of the river Bug is in our
hands In the fighting in the region
of Wilma we advanced and defeated
Bolshcvik regiments. The attacks on
Nabirz are repulsed. Countless refug-
ees from the territories occupied by
Bolshcviki are filling the country and
especially Warsaw. Food help is neces-
sary. The feeling of civilian popula-
ton and volunteers good.
An announcement by the state de-
partment said:
"That the determination of the Po-
lish government not to be stampeded
into an unnecessarily hurried exit from
Warsaw and to resist to the utmost
the Bolshevik offensive that continues
to be directed against the capital de-
spite Polish readiness for an armlstlce
was indicated in a despatch received
yesterday by the state department from
the American legation in Warsaw
''The despatch. WHICH was dated
Aug. 3, showed,'' the announcement
continued. Tsfhat the Polish govern
ment, while not overlooking the pos
sible necessity of evacuating the old
capital. was firm in its purpose to fight
the enemy to the last.
"'The department s information
tended to Indicate that the Bolsheviki
were purposely avoiding definite COM
mitments with respect to the opening
of armistice negotiations in order TO
prolong the hostilities and carry the
fighting through to Warsaw
While not looked for at this partic
ular time, the Bolsheyik thrust into
the Near East had been forecast by
military authorities here. They had
not expected, however. that it would
be undertaken until the fight against
Poland had been concluded.
Military experts are of the opinion
that in their advance into southwest
ern Asia the Bolsheviki will undertake
to unite with the Turkish Nationalists
and other disconnected Moslem ele-
ments i'll a supreme effort to take adj,
vantage of the existing unrest in that
part of the world to undermine the Sc
curity Of the British and French in the
Near East and Asia.
According to official advices to the
state department, Lenine has offered
10000 troops to the Moslems for the
promotion, in conjunction with the Ma
tionalists of Egypt, Turkey, Arabia,
Mesopotamia and Persia, of a united
military effort against British and
French interests.
A unit of the army already has en-.
tered Armenia and is expected to con-
tinue its advance in the direction of
Mossoul. an important Near Eastern
Nationalist stronghold where forces of
Turkish and Egyptian Nationalists are
reported to have planned to converge.