The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-06-07
Local Organization Will
Ora d u a lily Take
Charge of P Ii c e
Work and British Will
Relinquish In Its Fav-
or-General Won Hof-
ner Dehed rench Ul-
tlnatum.

Oppeln, June 7.-Detachments of
the Royal Irish infantry, the first Brit
lsh troops to cross the lines established
by Polish insurgents in Upper Silesia,
detrained at Cleiwitz yesterday They
assumed control of the city, and will
be in charge of the garrisoning and
policing of the district. in future
The troops consisting of one ba-
tallion, with field equipment, entered
Gross Strehlitz, northwest of Gleiwitz.
1t encountered the first Polish out
posts. Machine guns had been
trained on the station by the Poles,
but when the British appeared the
Poles withdrew and were not seen
again. The train was held there for
some time so that the officers could
investigate a report that the track
further on had been mined. This re-
port was found to be false and the
train proceeded being molested at no
point.
French non-commiSsioned officers
accompanied the British
Hoefer Refused to Obey
While these troops were on the way
to the storm center of Upper Silesia,
General Won Hoefer, commander Of
German defense troops, bluntly de-
clined to comply with the French ulti-
matum to withdraw his forces from
the front between Krappitz and Ko-
sci, where the Poles have been driven
back for several nils. He promised,
however, to prevent further advance
by the Germans, unless provoked by
the Poles"
It has been learned by allied Off
cials here that from 5000 to 1000 Ger
mans who were liberated in the ter
ritory taken over by the defense or
CARNATIONS, volunteered to serve with
the Germans and that eacn man pro-
duced weapon with which to fight
against the Poles.
1t is learned from British sources
that the probable plan for the pacifi-
cation of Upper Silesia will be to gar
rison all the large industrial towns
in the plebiscite area with. British
troops. 1t is said that sufficient
forces are available for this service
and that, in addition local police
forces will be formed of citizens of
known good character" The British,
it is understood, will gradually re-
linquish the policing of the district
to this organization.
The British troops will probably eX-
tend their authority northward
through this occupied area, disarming
the 4'oles as they proceed.
1t was realized that this will fail
: to disarm any considerable portion
of the Polish army which is expected
to resort to the old practice of con-
cealing weapons and biding its time
for another contest, but it is believed
the course decided upon is the only
one open, pending the decision of the
boundary question.
Even after the supreme council
decides how the country shall be par
titioned, it is considered certain here
that neither the German nor the Pol
ish population will remain quiescent
and that force will be required to put
the verdict into effect.
The continued advance of the Ger
man volunteers, whose strength is
growing, is daily expected, either on
provocation or on some pretext, re-
gardless of British advice to which the
Germans generally so far have lis
garrison any towns, the Germans may
tened.
Before the British have decided to
carry out their pacification plan which
is expected to include the creation
of industrial districts, thus holding
Gen. Won Hoefer to his promise to dis
band his troops as soon as order is
established and security is guaran-
teed.