Evening star., 1921-05-10
NEW TOWN FALLS
IN COUP Of POLES
Insurgents Push on Across
Oder to KoseI-Popula-
tion FIees in Terror.
GERMANS Encounter FOE
Patrols Near Ratibon in Pursuit of
Alleged Slayer-Hard Fight
at Rail Station.
BY the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
OPPELN. Upper Silesia, May 10
| 1nsurgent Polish forces have crossed
| the Oder and captured the town of
Kosel. after hard fighting. The pop
ulation is fleeing in panic.
The French control officer took ref
uge in the kosel barracks and the
Poles opened fire on him there, ac-
ports.
Numerous casualties are reported to
have occurred at the krandrZin rail-
way station when the Poles drove out
the Germans after three days contin-
uous fighting.
German Patrols Cross River.
RATIBOR. Upper Silesia, May 10
German patrols crossed the Oder river
into Upper Siiesia just before day
light yesterday morning and captured
six Poles, one of whom was suspected
OF killing number of Germans.
The leader Of the patrol. civilian
| twenty-three years of age. declared
the Pole had admitted the killings
When asked what he was going to do
about it, the patrol leader said:
He was taken ten PAGES away and
two men were detailed to attend to
hm-he disappeared, but probably could
. be found floating down the Oder"
Italian troops here declare they have
lost severely in recent fighting against
! the Poles. and appear to be greatly in.
! censed. They are declared to have shown
unkindness toward Polish prisoners. who
are generally being handed over to them
| by their German captors Ammunition
has been received here from Bres,au and
from Oppeln, and German citizens are
being armed and told to defend them.
selves
hterallied Forces Powerles..
| BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News
Copyright. 1921.
! RATIBOR, Silesia. May (delayed)
The interallied forces are powerles.
! to maintain order against Korfanty':
| Polish insurgents. who are well organ.
lied and equipped. enabling them to hold
the positions seized by them following
| the general strike that began on May 9
Korfanty holds the entire country
region east of line following the
Oder river from Oderberg to Ratibor
kosel and Gross StrehlitZ, completely
cutting off the industrial region from
kattowitz to Beuthen. All the cities
are held by interallied troops with the
aid of German militia newly formed
and with posts established at the en-
frances to the towns. All the villages
are held by the Poles. Hence the
cities are cut off, making it question
Of only few days when they must
capitulate if Korfanty is able to hold
the routes.
Thus far the fighting has not been
serious, the casualties being few For
example. in the region of Ratibor the
Germans report ten killed and forty
wounded The Polish losses are sup
posed to have been higher because
Polish troops tried to cross the Oder
under the fire Of the Germans on the
west bank.
The interallied garrisons in the
cities are in precarious position. The
troops in Rybnik. cut off and out
numbered. cannot hope to resist II at
tackled seriously. The Poles evident
ly are intrenching against a reaction
by the Germans and allies If they are
left alone a week it Will require heaVy
fighting to dislodge them.
Hitherto the losses on both sides
have been unimportant, but unless
diplomatic action brings about the
departure of the Poles there will be
real war.