Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-06
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MARYLAND and Virginia.
The Russian-Polish Crisis.

b" Better news comes from warsaw,
which few hours ago was IN panic
with prospect of early evacuation. A
Polish counter offensive against the
Russian advance has been developed
with such success that the red forces
have been checked and driven back
between the Narew and Bug rivers.
1t is unsafe to regard this, however,
as a definite checking of the bolshevik
armies. The Poles have rallied before
and have later yielded to superior
pressure. 1t is possible, nevertheless,
that the recent so-called stiffening of
the Polish lines by allied officers is
now producing its effect.
~ 1t is reported in London that the
Russian soviet has refused the British
call for halt of the advance into
Poland, the Moscow government de-
claring that the armies would not now
obey an order to halt, and will only
be content when they reach Warsaw.
Guy, II udS DtCH otdttN, was
promised to the red troops for loot
If it is true that the soviet govern
ment makes reply on those terms
there may be ground for hope, even
despite the sinister prospect of looted
Polish capital. For evidently the Rus
sian armies are not in state of real
discipline Unless the soviet is lying
in this excuse it does not really con-
troll the troops, but simply starts them
going with the bait of pillage. A force
so handled does not make for success
in campaign in which the opposition
is adequate in numbers and spirit 1t
is more of mob than an army.
:, A dispatch from Berlin states that
the German government is "deter-
mined to prevent by all means the en-
tente from sending troops through
Germany to help Poland" This was
stated by DR.. Simons in the reiehstag,
with the intimation that if necessity
arose Germany would fight to prevent
"such violation" of territory. Shades
of the scrap of paper! There is a
great difference between the Belgium
Of 1914 and the Germany of 1920
Germany may have technically some
right to object to the use of her area
as passageway for troops reaching
Poland, but to claim it as DR.. Simons
is now doing in the name of the gov
eminent is virtually to declare in favor
Of the bolsheviki as against the alli-
snce. 1t is true that Germany has re-
lations with the soviet government,
with mutual diplomatic representation,
as result of the treaty of Brest-
Litovsk. But is Germany willing as
government to declare for the soviet
as against the allies in this crisis un-
less 1t has, in truth, as is alleged, a
secret treaty with Moscow, as indicated
in the dispatches printed yesterday
This question of Germanys unwil-
inagness to permit allied troops to cross
to Poland, however, is still academic,
as no decision has been reached to
send troops. The British premier has
stated in the house of commons that
the government has sent no uItimatum
to Moscow, but that it is still pressing
the soviet to conclude an armistice
with Poland on fair terms and agree
to negotiate for peace at the proposed
conference. 1t was significant that in
the course of his talk in commons the
premier was closely pressed by aues-
TONERS who sought an assurance that
Great Britain would not become in
volved in war with Russia without the
consent of parliament.