Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-05-05
Officer at Gross-Strehlitz
Uses Artillery On
Invaders
5000 ATTACK 200
Civil War is Feared Polish Frontier
is Observation-Disclosures Blame Poles
For Trouble

Oppeln, upper ollcald, h"S -
Col. Bond, British control officer at
(;ross-Strehlitz, reported to British
headquarters here tonight that ne
orened artillery fire on 1000 to 1900
Toles attempting to occupy the city
The Poles brought up light field
pieces and are replying.
Col. Bond, who has approximately
200 Italian troops, also reported that
nc probably could not hold out long
A British sergeant-major has been
,nortally wounded. A crowd of Ger
rams attacked Pole in the streets
cf Oppein and beat him to death be.
tore the police could interfere.
10000 in Invading Army.
Organized Polish forces, estimated
at 10000, have occupied all OF Upper
Silcsia south of line running from
Kosel to Tarnowitz, with the eNcep.
ton of few large towns, and are
moving further northward, accord
ing the information supplied by a
member of the interallied representa-,
ton here.
Italian troops at Rybnik, well
.outh in the ple5iscite area, comprls-
:,.g regiment of infantry and two
MACHINE gun companies, are sur
rounded by 5000 Poles, and, q, pitched
hattie has been going on for several
nours, the informant stated this att
crncon.
The Italian known dead arc three
Ulcers, one Of them of high rank.
and twelve privates.
The main body Of Polish forces Is
said to have crossed the border IN
motor lor1ies at o'clock Monday
morning, taking possession of tha
torder towns, blowing up important
J.: ilroad bridge and cutting telegraph
and telephone wires. They drove out
lie German residents. it IS declared,
meeting virtually with no resistance.
AS the Poles advanced the plebis-
cite police turned out, and the Polish
policemen are reported TO have made
short shrift of their German COM
rides. who were forced to hand over
tteir arms and were conducted to
the border and driven into Poland.
Those who resisted were beaten or
shot.
The Germans are reported form.
ing in Rosenberg, twenty five miles
from Oppelu. either for defense or q
counter drive.
Interallicd officials heard of the in
weston with considerable concern.
Mai. S. Watts, British representa-
tive, said: "If the Poles keep up
trcir advance we will have civil war.
So far there has been no serious
fighting. but now it looks probable" !"
The French authorities appear
hopeful of re-establishing the gov.
c,nmcHt. and say that the invaders
will be expelled. But the fact Is
pointed out that the whole country is
overrur, and the task will be very
difficult, If not impossible. as the
peasants in the newly occupied re-
sicn are known to sympathize with
the Poles and are much better or
ganizcd than the German residents
in the towns. The Poles also feel no
fear OF French opposition. On the
ether hand. it is said thew believe
that their action meets with taci.
approval Of the French.
The Germans bitterly charge the
French with permitting the move tc
mature long after it was known tha,
AdalbeTt Korfanty. Polish plehiscits
commissioner, was planning to drive
out the Germans.
The German support their charge,
hy pointing out that. since the Brit
:Sh soldiers wcru withdrawn. onIr
their control officers remaining vii,
Cen. Lerond, the Polish frontier ha,
been uneuarded, although the strict
est control was maintained on RI
,.orth frontier over the Germans, an
that. further, the French soldiers no
where attempted TO contest the &C
vance.
They say also it IS known ths
korfanty was in Paris three weel
ago. where. they alleee. it was lear,
cd he conferred with Premier Brian
before returning to Warsaw, short