New-York tribune., 1921-05-05
Italians Lose l3 Dead in
Pitched Battle With In
vaders at Rybnik, but
Expel Them From Pless
Germans Are Being
Driven Across Line
All Large Towns in Indus
trial Region Reported
Held by Polish Forces

bEhL1N, May a (By The Asso-
,ciated Press) .-Semi-oficial advices
received here say that all the large
towns in the industrial region of
Upper Silesia are surrounded by
Polish insurgents, while Richters-
dorf, suburb Of Gleiwitz, and
Kieferstadtl have been occupied by
rebels. Various places in the Dis
trict Of Orsenberg are reported to
have been similarly occupied
The Polish flag is said to be flying
from the town hall of Rybnik, but
the Italians have expelled the insur-
gents from Pless and arrested some
Of their leaders.
Rebels Hold Bank of Oder
The whole Of the right bank of the
Oder, in the Ratishor area, is in the
hands of the rebels. The authorities
have regained possession Of Myslo-
witz.
OPPELN, Upper Silesia, May 4
(By The Associated Press) The
Italian forces at Gross Strehlitz to-
day opened with artillery fire on
Poles who were attempting to oc-
cupy the city. The Poles replied
with field guns.
Colonel Bond, British control officer
at Gross Strehlitz, 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.
Colonel Bond, who has approximate
ly 200 Italian troops, also reported that
he probably could not hold out long.
Organized Polish forces, estimated at
10000, have occupied all Of Upper ST.
lesia south Of line running from
Kosel to Tarnowitz. with the exception
of few large towns, and are moving
further northward, according to in
formation supplied by a member Of
the inter-Allied representation here.
Pitched Battle at Rybnik
To-day, according to this source, the
Poles are marching into Gross Streh-
litz, north of the line mentioned. in a
we'll ordered manner, using motor lor-
ries, and being supplied with rifles,
machine oTns and DYNAMITE
Italian troops at Rybnik, we'll south
in the plebiscite area, comprising q
regiment of infantry and two machine
gun companies, are surrounded by
5000 Poles, and pitched battle has
been going on for several hours, the
informant said this afternoon.
The Italian known dead are three
officers, one of them of high rank, and
twelve privates.
Polish members of the plebiscite po-
lice disarmed the German members,
who were taken across the border,
after several Of the Germans had been
killed, it was added. The force itself
has ceased to function.
No Opposition From French
The informant declared the French
troops and the British control officer
were not offering opposition and that
the EOleS naQ not mao Ci&SHeS WlCn Luo
French. The British officers were said
to disapprove Of the situation and we're
other sources, notably Paris and War
saw dispatches, have reported the
French as taking an active part in deal
ing with the Polish insurgents.)
The main body of Polish forces IL
said to have crossed the border in
motor lorries at 2 o'clock Monday
morning, taking possession of the bor-
der towns, blowing up important rail-
road bridges and cutting telegraph and
telephone wires. They drove out the
German residents, it is declared, meet
ing with virtually no resistance. Adal-
bert Korfanty, the Polish plebiscite
commissioner, was at that time in
Warsaw, it is said. He learned Of the
Paris report then being circulated that