The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-02
Many Lives Lost in Upper
SiIesia Is Report.
German Insurgents Only Res
PEELED When Tanks Used.
THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL
Polish Forces Withdraw Fol-
lowing Renewed Attacks.
Women Volunteers Are Swell
ing Ranks of Rebel Army.

Oppeln, Upper Silesia, June 2.-
Starving Polish insurgents have turned
on friendly French soldiers and many
lives have been lost in brief skir-
mishes, according to reports here to-
day.
The most serious break occurred at
Kattowitz, where a French supply
train was rushed by a mob of hungry
Poles Drivers of the lorries were
brushed from their seats while the at
tackers looted the supplies.
French guards opened fire. The
rioters replied instantly Only after
several lives had been lost, did the
looters withdraw.
Insurgents Impatien
Other encounters were reported
here, indicating the plight of the in
surgents and their growing impa-
! tience with the French.
Meanwhile, the Germans have con-
tinued to harass the French From
the first they have charged the
French were trying to help Poland oh
tain the major portion of Silesia. At
Beuthen this i'll feeling flared into
active fighting.
More than a thousand Germans
there. angered at the supposed favor
| itism for the Poles, made rush for
the French garrison. Within a few
| moments they had surrounded the
volver fight which broke windows but
! did little other damage.
Tanks Repel Germans.
| A number of French tanks were
\ stationed in the barracks yard and
| the Germans, having captured the
sentr:es, attempted to seize the ma
| chimes. The tank crews, however, re-
PEELED the attacks with revoivers and
| a threat to use their machine guns.
The Germans retreated to adjacent
| houses whence they continued to di-
rect revolver fire on the garrison.
The tanks broke up the attack with
machine guns. The Germans left a
! number of dead.
j Tle situation at Beuthen is reported
by neutral refugees reaching here to
/ be grave. The German population of
1.-THE city is declared to be desperate.
Food supplies are running short and
there has been much looting during
recent nights.
t., All wire communication between
Beuthen and Kattowitz. farther south.
has been interrupted since Monday.
Germans and Poles have been engaged
in a battle near Gross-Strehlitz, just
east of the oder river and south or
IOppeln.
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
fives miles west of Gross-Strehlitz, ana
were taken to KrappitZ, a town on
the west bank of the Oder.
Women Are volunteering.
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
ir7er
weapon to the PosnowitZ front.
Advices received here state the Car
mans in control of the city of Glel-
WITT about ten miles northwest OF
Beuthen, have mined the town and
will wreck it If the Poles attempt to
capture the place. Members of the
Black Watch constituting a part of
the British force sent into Silesia, have
reached Stubendorf. about six miles
northwest of Gross-StrehlitZ. and Pol
distance away. French soldiers are In
undisputed possession of Gross-Streh-
ilitz.
| 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
, | considerable lawlessness and lootine
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 be-
, gan German protective organizations
which have been secretly organized II
, towns in the territory occupied by the
! Poles. would go into action and would
, attempt to prevent the destruction cf
property.
. The industrial situation in Upper
Silesia. with the exception Of the
Mystowitz district. is said to be cha
: ,otic.