South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-27
UPPER SILBSIAN
ISSUE A MENACE
TO new REPUBLIC
France and Poland May Be
Drawn Into Battle as, Re
suit of Question.

slasian question has'beeome q sorry
muddIe.
rs is e menace to the economic
aud political ufe Of the young Po-
lish republic.
- Isl threatening 20 ,embroi Ger
mary and France auewand 20 draw
Poland into fresh military opera
uons-
u Eas developed a unique POLISH
character Adelbc-t KOrfanty. Polish
insureeut leader who wants 90 seize
upper SIes.a tor Poland in much
the slmc manner as D.AnuNInziO un-
officially occupied Plume For Italy
Here are the outstanGiug' facts IN
the Silcsian tsngle.
Upper S.lesia lies in the valley Or
the oder river. betTeeu two mount
ainrldges 10 Is rich in coal ond orc
deposits which maze IL a coveted
industrial prize.
Mixed Population.
The population is mixed Poiisn
and German. TwO-dfths of the pco-
pie speak a German dialect. three
ffths speak Polish. All adhere 10
the Roman Catholic church.
II was because OF this mixed ma
ture Of the Upper Silesian popula-
ton that the Versailles conference
decided 10 allow the upper Silestans
10 decide for themselves under what
government they wished % live.
March. 1921. was fixed as the date
Tor plebiscite. Contiugents OF
French. British and Italian troops
were sent TO upper Silesia 70 keep
order until after the plebiscite.
When the ballots were counted, II
was found that they We're FREEDOM
inantIy IN favor Of annexation 10
Germany.
But - while the non-industrial
regions went soidly for Germany.
the coal aud ore districts'cast ballots
overwhelmingly in favor of anneNa-
ton 20 Poland.
We'll" said the Poles. that's
easily settled Give us the coal res
ions that want Polish rule and let
Germany take the rest
Germany Opposed.
no. no." shouted the Germans
'-The whole district belongs 20 us
because the majority Of votes were
for. Germany And besides, If we
don't get the industrial regions. we
cant paw the indemnities the allies
are asking.
From both sides then came charg-
% Of bad faith and attempts 20 in
nueuce the upper Silesian electors
said the Poles. Germany bought
hundreds, OF thousands Of Polish
marks and unloaded them at low
prices on the bourses at Berlin, VI
- IN "a q ~ al 81
Polish currency depreciate In value
and make it appear that our country
is financially unsound. The Germans
spent millions for propaganda IN
upper Silesia.
said the Germans. You Poles
neter intended 90 abide by the pie
b.$.itc if 10 went against YOU. our
Intelligence officers have found cop
les OF plans which your officers drew
up fo- the military occupation OF the
whole plebiscite area.
Allies nterccde.
said the Allies. stop Quarrelng,
Won boys. Wen keep our troops on
MINER Siiesian soil until a decision
has been handed down by our eN-
perts I'm the meantime, neither 81
Won viii have control
That's the Qhcial situation today.
Rlit-Both Poles and Germans are
too impatient 20 walt for the deci-
sion
Adelbert Korfauty was the Polish
plebiscite commissioner i'm upper
II sesia. lie was a popular figure
among the Poles He gathered a
number of followers. and defyinG
the entente troops occupying upper
81 lesia swept down with his men
ana began 20 occupy strategic points
OF course Korfanty is acting en-
tirelv ION his own and has no sane
tirn from President Pilsudski and
TIE official Polish government. But
his opponents can't seem TO see the
difference between an unofficial bay-
onet and an official one.
Germany Makes Threat.
Germany got excited.
.sIooE here" she told the Allies
"T'hls Pole. Kovfauty. is grabbing the
lsnd your p,ebiscire gave 20 us
What KIND az PLAYING do YOU call
that"
And Germany threatened To send
refchswehr or national guard troops
20 upper SUev.a On ouEr Korfanty
and restore order.
eff YOU can't make him behave
We can't she said.
sDont do that said France "tor
Poland is our ally. II German
trooos invade Polish SOIL we can't
remain neutral YouW have 90
nght us. too"
-NVe-re sicl, or war" said England
"IRrs have this Trims over WITH