The New York herald., 1921-06-05
SLESIA CLOSED ZONE
Is MUCH Ikea SIEVE
Troops and Adventures of
All Kinds Pour In From
Both Sides.
ARMS NOT GIVEN UP
Germans Occupy Industrial
Centres and Rail functions;
Poles in Country.
ALLIES ARE TOO FEW
Dangers Of Enlarged Conflict
Grow as Settlement of Ques-
tions Is Delayed.
ALLIES ARE TOO FEW

Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
copvt0ht, 1891, by THE New YORK HERALD.
OPpELN. June 2 Delayed) The
Poles assert that the request or the
Allies that they cease hostilities for
three days has caused them to receive
as their sole reward a German attack
and the loss of several villages. The
German volunteer troops whom THE
NEW YORK HERALD correspondent ques-
toned deny ever hearing the mention
of an armistice and assert that 1t is
their intention to clean up the Poles
in the immediate future.
The facts are that the de facto
armistice began with the entry OF
allied troops into the fighting zone
and will exist only where the Allies
exert their authority. The French are
refusing to recognize the German vol
unteer forces and have left contact
and negotiations with them to the
British, while they are monopolizing
the negotiations with. the insurgents
and virtually are giving guarantee
of their compliance.
The neutral zone scheme would sepa-
rate the belligerent forces by establish
Ing British garrisons on the German
side of the fighting zone. The scheme
as outlined by Gen. Lerond is the most
likely to obtain the approval of the
French and the insurgents.
French and Poles See Danger.
The French and Poles here agree that
the German counter offensive is the
greatest menace to the realization of
the present steps in uniting the indus
trial triangle of Upper Silesia with Po-
land.
Gen. Lerond repeatedly asserted that
the German volunteer units imminently
endanger a peaceful Polish settlement of
the Upper Silesian dilemma. A neutral
zone therefore would be a barrier leav-
ing the insurgents masters of most Of
the disputed regions.
Adalbert Korfanty. Polish insurgent
leader, said that with this barrier estab-
lished he regards the military phase Of
the operations to be virtually over. and
will begin giving the region an admin
istration.
The British have admitted the neutral
zone principle. and could hardly have
done otherwise with the handful Of
troops available. The Germans in the
volunteer army including General
Hoefer, declare they are convinced they
could suppress the insurrection IL they
got free hand: but being hampered,
they are obliged to compromise so long
as the French threaten to occupy the
Ruhr valley. The Germans therefore
gave oral assurances not to undertake
offensive operations
The Immediate scheme, although COR
responding to the French and Polish
political programme, is but temporary
palliative and not solution. The Ger
mans and Poles continue getting re-
endorsements from their respective coun-
tries, because frontier closing is not Wig
orously enforced by either side. Both
belligerents insist on keeping their arms
and refuse to withdraw from the re-
gions captured.
The neutral zone scheme Is also only
palliative because the real conflict
centres about the industrial triangle and
there an ambiguous situation continues
the Germans occupying the important
cities and the railroad functions while
the insurgents hold the entire country
side. The danger since the uprising
lies In the fact that German local bands
have been reorganized with thousands
of refugee reenforcements and despite
the constant requisition Of arms by the
Allies still have supply of rifles and
machine guns.
Fighting would He Serious.
Fighting here would involve much
bloodshed and would endanRer the In
dustries OF Upper Silesia. Gen. Lerond
admits this new danger. but declares
that counter mea sures are only possible
with large garrisons and these probably
Will not be sent in time French ex-
perts say that the present allied forces
are too small to control the situation.
The Industrial triangle could be cut off
and were concentration made here IN
preference to the establishment of
neutral zone the Polish and German
forces would come closer together and
the danger of n general war would be
greatly increased. visit to the dis
puted region and conversations with all
parties to the occupation OF the indus
trial area make IL seem that strong
allied police force is the only way by
which the Allies can avert a conflict
which already is brewing.
THE NEw YoHN HERALD correspondent.
who crisscrossed the entire fighting
zones of both the German and the Po-
lish insurgent sides Tuesday. encoun-
tered desultory fighting and further
military preparations. in the Polish
section between Ujcst and Gross streh-
litz general movement Of British and
French troops occurred. Indicating the
intention of the insurgents to leave GER
tain villages to the French.