The Hartford republican., 1921-03-18
WAR LOOMS LARGE
IN old WORLD, NGW
Troops In Readiness For
Clash On Polish-Ger-
man Frontier.
BY Robert j. Prev.

| sLOnuOn, MdTcn l0.-lne stage II
being set for another conflict in Eu-
rope. Tonight the Polish legation
in London handed out a statement
which follows:
There is a considerable concentra-
tion of German troops on the entire
German-Polish frontier. The troops
surpass in number the entire forces
allowed to Germany by the treaty of
peace.
"This news proves that a decision
has been made by Germany not to
abide by the result of the Upper
Silesian plebiscite in the event that
the result is favorable to Poland"
That there is also a Polish move
directed toward upsetting the results
of next Sundays plebiscite is seen in
the declaration of Sidney Osborne, an
American and author of "The Upper
Silesian Question and Germany's Coal
Problem"
Osborne declared to Universal
Service last Sunday that the Germans
are in possession of information that
the French general, Nieddel, is pre-
pared to invade Upper Silesia with
Polish troops Immediately if the peo-
pie decide to remain with Germany.
In view of the fact that all previous
plebiscites. have been preceded with
charges Of similar character, Univer-
sal Service refrained from distribut-
ing the sensational statements made
to it Sunday pending some kind of
confirmation.
Now, however, since the Poles have
issued their accusation against the
Germans there can be. no objection
to disclosing the counter charge,
while emphasizing the fact that both
need fuller confirmation. Osborne de-
clared:
Some months ago General Med
del confided to friend that he had
received secret instructions from the
military party in Paris to invade Up
per Silesia If the plebiscite should go
against the Poles.
'In preparation for this move fif-
teen Polish divisions have been con-
centrated on the western frontier.
The interallied commission has,
roughly, one division in Upper Silesia
to preserve order pending the result
of the vote. Recently the British de-
tachment was strengthened to four
or five battalions at the request of
the Germans.
"An Italian general is in command,
but the majority Of the allied troops
are French. The French militarists'
policy is to deprive Germany of Up
per Silesia, which is much more valu-
able to Germany than is the Rhine
district,
"All indications are that the terri
tory will remain with Germany If the
result of the vote is respected. 1t
is vital to Germany that she retain
her coal and iron If she is to continue
to exist as an industrial power.
There is not the slightest doubt
that Europe is on the brink of an tn
er serious clash which will come
within week unless the Upper
Silesia vote is respected by both
Sides"
Thousands of Silesians Return to Cast
Votes.
Breslau, Silesia, March 15.-More
than 100000 Of Upper Silesia's ma
tive sons and daughters from all sec
tions of Germany already have reach
ed their respective voting precincts
in the plebiscite zones. Their pres
ence is injecting the home population
with unbounded enthusiasm and has
served to give German hopes a Nigh
ty impetus.
The policing arrangements for Sun
day next, the voting day, now have
been perfected. They call for the
united services of the plebiscite po-
lice the military forces and officials
of all branches of the government
One of the novelties of voting day
will be the balloting by inmates of
jails and other penal institutions, who
are eligible. These also will be Civ
en- one German and one Polish bal
lot. The valid ballot will be depos-
ited in ballot box while the other
one must be burned in the presence
of the officials, this procedure vary
ing from that employed in the open
voting throughout the plebiscite
zones, where both the valid and de-