The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-05-05
UPPER SILESIA IS
NEAR CIVIL WAR
Poles Invade District Reported
Given to Germans and Be-
siege Towns.
HAVE CLASH WITH ALLIES
Italian Regiment at Gross
Strelitz i'm Artillery Battle
With 5000 Poles.
HAVE CLASH WITH ALLIES
Bu me Associated Press.


OPpELN. Upper Silesia, May 4.-The
Italian forces at Gross Strelitz to-day
opened with artillery fire on Poles who
were attempting 10 occupy the city.
The Poles replied with field guns.
Col. Bond. British control officer at
Gross Streiitz reported TO British
headquarters here tonight that he
opened artillery fire on 1000 to 5000
Poles attempting to occupy the city
The Poles brought up light field pieces
and were replying. Col Bond, who has
approximately 200 Italian troops. also
reported that he probably could not
hold out long. A British Sergeant
Major has been mortally wounded.
A crowd OF Germans attacked Pole
in the streets of Oppeln and beat him
TO death before the police could inter
fere.
One report says that French in
fantry. with tanks, have succeeded In
clearing Beuthen and Kattowitz of
rioters.
The French authorities appear hope
ful OF reestablishing the Government
and say that the invaders will be eX
PEELED But the fact is pointed out
that the whole country is overrun, and
the task will be very difficult, If not
impossible as the peasants in the
newly occupied region are known to
sympathize with the Poles and are
much better organized than the Ger
man residents In the towns. The Poles
also feel no fear of French opposition.
On the other hand, II is said. they be-
lieve their action meets with the tacit
approval OF the French.
For the past two days organized Polish
forces have been occupying southeastern
Upper Slesia. where the vote in the min
ing districts and in the small manufac-
turing centres favored Incorporation into
Poland in the recent plebiscite. The large
towns voted In favor Of Germany. A
member OF the interallied commission
here estimated the invaders at 10000
They arc moving northward.
To-day the Poles marched into Gross
Strelitz, north OF the line running from
Kosel TO Tarnowitz, using motor lorries
and supplied with rifles, machine guns
and dynamite.
The Italian troops at Rybnik well
south IN the plebiscite area, comprising
Il regiment Of infantry and two machine
gun companies are surrounded by 5000
Poles, and o pitched battle has been go
ing on for several hours. the informant
stated this afternoon. The Italian known
dead are three officers, ono OF them OF
high rank. and twelve privates.
The Polish members OF the plehisci'e
police disarmed the German members.
who were taken across the border. after
several OF the Germans had been killed
The force itself has ceased 70 function.
The informant declared tho French
troops and the British control officer
were not Offering opposition, and that
the poles had not had clashes with
the French. The British officers were
said To dlsapprovc of the situation and
were threatening resignation.
TAdvices from other sources. notably
Paris and Warsaw dispatches, have re-
ported the French as taking an active
part in dealing with the Polish In
surEentsl
Adalbort Kortantv. the Polish Plchi-
scite Commissioner. learned of tho paris
report that tho Council ~ Ambassa-
ors had decided 70 give only the Picss
prd Rybnik districts 20 Poland This
report which has not been confirmed.
was the signal for Rorfanty 10 carry
out his threat "to chase the Germans
on, of tho country" Armed men ap-
peared on the Polish eide across from
Nvslowltz Kocnlgschuette Beuthen and
Tarnowitz. and tho whole moved into
slcsia ~ 2 o'clock simultaneously.
The Officers began "a tribrting money
among the peasants. whose sympathies
were apparent md ordered the German
residents TO get out. Few persons were
killed, but there was much random
Continued on Second Pocs.