The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-17
POLES ARE READY
FOR WITHDRAWAL
Hundred Rebels Killed When
Germans Take GOgOlin.
Berlin Claims SiIeSian Coal
Fields Badly Needed.
FRANCE TRIES FOR HARMONY
RumOred Poland Now Yielding
to Pressure of Entente.
BRAND Still Firm But Wants
Farley With Lloyd George.

OppeIn. May 1.-THE Polish ex-
ecutive committee in Silesia. of which
Adalbert Korfanty is president. has
telegraphed to the interallied commits
sion here stating the insurgents now
are ready to retire sufficiently to in
sure immediate cessation of hostilities
with the Germans. provided the
ground they abandon is occupied by
allied and not by German troops.
IF the Germans attack in Upper
silesia there will be fearful murder.
People will seize axes-anything to
defend themselves" Chief Wolney of
the Polish plebiscite commission, de-
clared today.
Wolney bore out statements of other
Polish leaders that they hoped for
German attack German residents of
insurgent territory counselled their
people to forbearance, if they hoped
to avoid a massacre.
Germans Killed 100.
More than 100 Polish insurgents
were killed by German irregulars at
Gogolin, where the Germans assumed
fun control today. German losses
were trifling.
Ths engagement was bitterly fought,
Polish snipers using machine guns
and rifles on the Germans who fill
tered into the city nom the open
country.
The engagement at Gogolin was the
most important of numerous skir
mishes between the two forces.
The Germans continued to fight as
irregular forces in conjunction witil
the Italians.
I<orfanty Issues UItimatum.
Kattowitz, Upper Silesia, May II
Adelbert Korfanty. leader OF the Pol
ish insurgent movement in Upper
SHesia, issued an ultimatum to the
Industrial interests in the district to-
day directing them to sign specially
issued Polish Silesian paper currency
to relieve the money stringency
brought on by the refusal of the Ger
man reichsbank to transport 25O.OO0,-
600 marks into the district to pay the
miners wages. While awaiting a re-
ply Korfanty is strengthening his
frontier forces, leaving only sentinels
to garrison the interior towns.
The German interests object to the
proposed special currency issue on the
ground that under existing conditions
such money will be rated at a lower
value than Polish money and that
ultimately it would become worthless.
Poles Strengthen Position.
Berlin. May. 17.-Polish insurgents
strengthened their hold on Upper ST.
lesia today according to reports here.
Italian soldiers who have been hold
ing the Poles away from the south
eastern cities of Pless and Rybnik,
were compelled to withdraw, being
outnumbered. Polish forces also en-
tered the nearby town of Nikolai.
Pending an allied decision, no Ger
man troops are being sent into Upper
Silesia but officials are planning on
further appeals to the allies on the
basic that Germany's reparations obli-
cations will be endangered if she does
not have the rich coal region as one
of her assets.
A report was circulated here that
the Polish government is yielding to
allied pressure and attempting to have
the insurgents withdraw partially from
Silesia.
France Wants Harmony.
Paris. May 1.-THE French gov
ernment today indicated semi official
ly a desire to restore harmony with
Great Britain.
While Premier BRAND met with his
ca binet to draft his views on the di-
vision of Upper Silesia, declaring he
would not abandon his support of a
partition which would give the bulk
of the coal lands to Poland, it was in
dicated that he would be willing to
compromise.
Indications were that the govern
ment will show its readiness to agree
with Great Britain on the awarding
of several cities TO Germany, cancel
ling plans to give them to Poland. It
was indicated that Italy may be asked
TO suggest a plan of partition which can
be accepted by her allies without loss
Of dignity. The inter-allied plebiscite
commission was asked to submit its
report by Saturday.
The premier called his cabinet min
listers to the Elysee early in the day
for a long session. He employed all
his eloquenCe to win their full ap-
proval of his policy of supporting the
Poles against the Germans in the final
division of Upper Silesia.
BRAND read the declaration he will
make to the chamber Thursday when
he will ask for a vote of confidence
before meeting Lloyd George for the
crucial struggle.
BRAND asked his colleagues to ap-
prove his outline of Frances ''unalter-
able position"
There was a hint today. however.
that BRAND and Lloyd George are
much closer than their public state
ments would indicate. according to un-
official sources.
FOREIGN TRADE CUT HALF.
Hoover Declares u s OIL SupuIv VIII