The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-02
FRENCH GAIN
UPPER HAND
ON GERMANS
Forces Forming Garrison Of
Beuthen Charge With Tanks
When German Inhabitants
Attack-Poles Skirnaish.
ALL WIR ES ARE CUT
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
OPPELN, June 2.-French soldiers,
forming the garrison of Beuthen,
city in southeastern Silesia near the
old Polish frontier, have been at
tackled by forces organized by the Ger
man inhabitants of the town. Reports
state the Germans in the fighting num-
bered 5000. The French used tanks
in charging the Germans and are said
to have gained the upper hand. There
have been many German casualties.
it is reported. but the French have
not suffered losses.
The situation at Beuthen is COM
plicated by the presence of Polish in
surgent forces around the city. The
Poles began a fight with Germans in
the outskirts of the town Sunday, and
when the French were attacked the
Poles rushed to their assistance. Re-
ports from Beuthen are not entirely
clear, but it would appear that the
French commander refused the prof
fered aid, as it is said the French are
holding the Poles from entering the
town.
Well Planned Attack
The attack by the Germans on the
French is said to have been well
planned. Telegraph and telephone
wires between the French headquar-
ters and the barracks were out, SEN
tries were driven back and the head
quarters detachment was surrounded.
| Tanks were rushed to the scene and
the Germans, who were armed with
pistols, attempted to capture the ma
| chimes, but were repulsed and were
driven into adjacent buildings, from
the windows of which hot fire was
be aho xL>
buildings, firing volleys through the
| doors and windows.
The situation at Beuthen is reported
by neutral refugees reaching here to
be grave. The German population of
! the city is declared to be desperate.
| Food supplies are running short and
there has been much looting during
recent nights.
All Wires Cut
All wire communication between
Beuthen and Kattowitz, further south,
has been interrupted since Monday.
Refugees arriving here say the French
at Kattowitz have killed a number of
Poles who attempted to loot two mo-
tor lorries loaded with food, and it is
declare there were some French cas-
| ualtieS.
Germans and Poles have been en-
! gagged in a battle near Gross-Streh-
| litZ, just east of the Oder river and
/ south Of Oppeln. The Germans have
| attacked the Poles and have forced
the insurgents to withdraw from
strong positions.
German dead and wounded have
been removed from the scene of this
fight which took place at Posnowitz.
about five miles west of Gross-Streh-
| litz, and were taken to Krappitz, a
| town on the west bank of the Oder.
| The correspondent of the Associat-
ed Press was at Krappitz when these
wagons entered the town, and saw
the dead, who ranged from Is years
to so. removed from them. The i'm
| provised ambulances which brought
! the wounded from the scene of the
| fighting were parked in rows in the
court of the castle at Krapitz.
| Women Volunteer.
Women began volunteering last
! night for service at the front A num-
Der of women wearing mems clothing
are driving wagons and automobiles,
some of them carrying army revolvers
in their belts. The Germans are send
ing every man possessing any sort of
weapon to the Posnowitz front
Advices received here state that the
Germans in control of the city Of Glei-
witz, about 10 miles northwest of Beu-
then have mined the town and will
| wreck it if the Poles attempt to cap
ture the place. Members of the Black
! watch, constituting a part of the Brit
! ish forces sent into Silesia have reach
| ed Stubendorf, about six miles north
west of Gross -Strehlitz, and Polish
sentries are on duty only a short dis.
tance away. French soldiers are in
undisputed possession of Gross-Streh-
litz.
Orders to Destroy.
1t is reported in German circles here
that orders have been issued by the
Poles to destroy everything as they re.
} treat, should the British advance.
Allied officials have received ad-
vices indicating the probability Of con-
siderable lawlessness and lootirg in
the next few days since the Poles are
losing control of the situation The
Germans informed the British that as
soon as the allied advance began Ger
man protective organizations which
have been secretly organized in towns
in the territory occupied by the Poles.
would go into action and would at.
tempt to prevent the destruction OF
property.
The industrial situation in upper
Silesia, with the exception of the Mys-
lowitz district, is said to be chaotic.