The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-05-08
K0RFANTY READY
TO RAZE SILESIA
Warns He Will Lay Waste
Country if Forced to.
Evacuate.
SPEAKS TO AMERlCA
Fighting for Self-Determlna-
ton. Says Leader Of
Polish Rebels.
PEAKS TO AMEklCA

speoial cable 10 TnE NEw lorK HERALD.
COPYRIGHT, fgsf. bg THE NEW YORK hnRnp
BEuTHEN. May 7.-'If we ere forced
10 evacuate Upper Silesia we VIII
leave II a pile of ruins so not one
brick remains on the other. Michael
Korfanty dictator of the Polish insur-
gents. told THE New YORK HERALD
correspondent last night. I'VE are
fighting the fight of another Ireland.
he went on, "and to America we say
you propagated the phrase self
determination and we intend TO defend
this principle to the last drop of our
blood"
The heaviest fighting since the up
rising took place yesterday at Gpten-
rnorgen. where the Poles sustained
600 casualties. This town is head
quarters in Upper Silesis of the
Orgesch. Germany's Illegal militia.
The Poles captured II, although the
resistance was desperate.
The correspondent was the first
newspaper man to reach the head
quarters OF the leader Of tie Polish
uprising and he talked with him for
two hours. korfanty moves with his
staff from town to town. He Is In a
buoyant mood, defiant and clearly is
cut to compromise the Allies to the
$4,000 insurgents and his followers
say they can raise 100000 more.
The e0.0oO are not yet all armed. but
supplies are coming rapidly from Po-
land Forty per cent. of the insurgent
officers served as officers in the Ger
man army and their commandcr-in-
chief. Volewn. a wealthy proprietor OF
a printing establishment in Beuthen.
was a Hussor from Posen. An attempt
to obtain arms from the arsenal at Os-
trawa was frustrated. although the
building was attacked by thousands
on the whole the Polish Government
ls fairly passive and the French appar-
emily have completely abandoned the
frontier control and sentries are no
longer posted TO prevent intercourse.
The result Is there Is free gun running
and transportation Of supplies.
The insurgents have a well organized
army and at Grosstrelltz the correspon-
dent saw Red Cross commesary and sig
nal corps units. The troops, using siege
methods, are occupying the outskirts Of
cities and are cutting off the water, gas
and electricity. There was fighting yes
terday In Kattowitz. where a cart filled
with rifles was driven into town and
arms distributed among civilians. IL led
to an immediate attack by the French.
There was desultory firing for several
hours afterward,
Korfanty gives simple explanation
OF his own dismissal by the Polish Gov
crnment 1T was for making excessive
he said. IF I had not
been discharged the Warsaw Govern
ment would find itself nj war with Ger
many and would lose Its good standing
with the Allies. determined on an up
rising when learned the Allied Com
had recommended giving Glei-
witz TO Germany and leaving Poland
only Pless and Rybnlk. That meant
only % per cent. OF the downtrodden
people would be free
II hope to be able TO avoid conflicts
With tho Allies and am optimistic Of
being able to move them to negotiate
with us. I have Issued orders that
where allied troops make resistance our
men arc TO withdraw. They withdrew
at Kattowitz and Beuthen when the
Allies resisted"
This last statement In only partly
true. as there was fighting ct Katto-
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