The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-06-02
WELL PLANNED ATTACK MADE
ONBEUTHEN BY FORCE OF NOT
Less THAN THREE THOUSAND
No French Casualties Reported Situation in ST.
lesia Extremely Grave-Germans Said to Have
Mined Town Of Gleiwitz and Will Wreck
It If Pole Advance.


Oppen. June 2.-French soldiers
forming the garrison of Beuthen, near
the old Polish frontier, have been at
tackled by forces organized by the
German inhabitants. Reports state
the Germans numbered 5000. the
French used tanks and are said to
have gained the upper hand. There
have been many German casualties,
it is reported, but the French suf-
fered no losses.
The situation at Beuthen is com
plicated by the presence OF Polish in
surgent forces. The French began a
fight with Germans in the outskirts
Sunday and when the Germans We're
attacked the Poles rushed to their
assistance The situation at Beuthen
is not clear but it is said the French
refused the preferred aid as they are
holding the Poles from entering the
town.
Attack Well Planned
The attack, it is said. was well
planned. Telegraph and telephone
wires between French headquarters
-sirnd the barracks were cut, sentres
were driven back and the headquar-
tiers detachment surrounded. Tanks
were rushed to the scene, and the
/ Germans who were armed with pis-
tolls attempted to capture the city
but were driven into adjacent build
ings from the windows of which a
hot fire was opened. Tanks charged on
the buildings, firing volleys through
the doors and windows.
The situation at Beuthen is report
ed by neutral refugees reaching here
to be grave. The German population
is said to be desperate. Food supplies
are running short and there is said
to have been much looting during re-
cent nights.
Wires Interrupted
All wire communication between
Beuthen and Kattowitz, further
south, has been interrupted since
/ May
Refugees arriving here say the
French at t5kattowitz have killed a
: number OF Poles who attempted to
loot two motor lorries loaded with
food and it is declared there were
some French casualties.
Germans attacked the Poles at
Posnowitz and forced the insurgents
to withdraw from strong positions.
German dead and wounded were re-
ported at Krappitz. When farm wag-
ons with German dead entered Krap-
4 pitz the populace was so excited that
Baron Won Plees, commander of the
German volunteer organizations there,
had difficulty in controlling them.
Saw German Dead
The correspondent of the Associat'
tn xxrl1n fhnCn
wagons entered and saw the German
dead, which ranged in age from 10
to so, when the bodies were removed
from them. The improvised amDu'
lances which brought the wounded
were parked in the courtyard of the
castle. The women began organic
ing last night, for service at the front
Many women. in mems clothing are
driving wagons and automobiles, some
: Of them carrying army revolvers in
their belts. The Germans are send
ing every man possessing any sort OF
weapon to the Poanowitz front.
4S Town Is Mined
Advices here state that the Ger
mans at Gleiwitz have mined the
town and will wreck it if the Poles
attempt to capture the pace. Mem
hers of the Black Watch constituting
a part of the German forces sent into
Silesia, reached Stubendorf about si1
miles northwest of Gross-Strehliti
and Polish sentries are on duty only
short distance away.
French soldiers are in undisputet
possession of Gross-Strehlitz.
It is reported in German circles
here that orders have been issued by
the Poles to destroy everything a:
they retreat, should the Germans ad
vance. officials have advices indi
eating the possibility of considerable
losses in fighting in the next few
days as the Poles are losing, contro
of the situation. The Germans in
formed the British that as soon al
the allied advance began German pro
tective organizations, which have
been secretly organized in towns il
the territory occupied by Poles
would go into action and attempt t.
prevent the destruction of property
The Industrial situation in Uppe
SiIesia, with the exception of th'
Myslowitz district, is said to be cha
otic.