Evening star., 1922-06-04
ROW OVER WILMA
HALTS COMMERCE
Llthuanians Bar Way of
Poles to Sea Due to
CIouded Title.
BY A. n. DECKER.

Especial Correspondence of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.)
WILMA. May 2.-In Genoa the Lith-
uanian representatives have protested
against the continued occupation of
Wilma by the Polish forces. But as
far as the Poles are concerned the in
ctdent is considered closed. Gen. Zeli-
gowski seized the city, a form of
plebiscite was held and the delegates
elected formally declared Wilma to be
united or reunited to Poland.
a large Polish force is in the city
and the administration is in the hands
of the Poles. The occupation extends
about fifty kilometers (thirty-o -one
miles) beyond the city. as to in
clude the important railroads, the
protecting hills and the Viliya river.
which flows into the Niemen.
Wilma is important because it is one
OF the centerS for trade with Russia.
and the Nieman affords an outlet to
10 the Baltic at Memel. where the
French are still sitting tight and not
talking too much about their occu
patton.
The Lithuanians wish to make Wilma
their capital. as ii was during the
days of the Lithuanian empire, when
Iithuania extended to Odessa. Be
cause of the conflict over Wilma the
Lithunians at kovno are barring the
way to the sea. The entire Lith
uanian frontier is closed to the Poles
without any likelihood of its being
opened in the near future.
City Owned by jews.
While the Poles declare wilma is
definitely in their hands. and the
I.ithuanians are hoping war between
Russia and Poland will give them
the city, the Jews are the real own
ers. They compose over half of the
population and seem to control all the
resources.
Pole Will tell you that Wilma does
not include more than per cent
Lithuanians, while Lithuanian esti-
mates the proportion of the Poles to
be about . per cent. Probably the two
nationalities are evenly divided, each
having about 20 or % per cent.
The culture is undoubtedly Polish.
and the religion. other than Jewish.
is ardent Roman Catholic. The uni
Nersity is Polish, very old and very
we'll known. The inhabitants talk
Polish ana Russian with equal facii-
ity. not e speak of Hebrew and iid-
dish. Just now they are all brush
ing up their Polish, for policy de-
mands il.
A neutral zone was arranged be-
tween the Lithuanian and Polish
business of partition is in the hands
of the league of nations. but de-
cision does not seem imminent.
Timber Trade Blocked.
In itself the Wilma incident is not of
great Importance. but the continued
unfriendliness between the Poles. and
Lithuanians blocks the wood trade
between Poland and the Baltic.
The north of Poland is heavily
wooded. including one vast forest
owned by the state. Ordinarily the
timber was f1oated down the Niemen
to Memel. where ships freighted ii
west. Rail shipment is too costly.
hut some is moving via DanziS.
This closed frontier is only one of
the handicaps to Europe'S reconstruc-
ton, but it helps to explain why
progress is so slow along the road TO
recovery.
A tourist could spend a pleasant
day at Wilma. visiting the mound
where pagan fires were kept burn
ing: studying the many old Roman
Catholic churches and Greek ortho-
dox churches. the latter now partly
troops for their religious devotions.
One shrine. the Ostra Drama
chapel, contains wonder-worktn
image of the virgin, in an arch over
q principal street. The street is al
ways filled with kneeling wOrshiperS.
The archway. which is a sixteenth
century gate. provides an element of
harmony in a city of religious con-
trasts. for the image of the virgin is
sacred to both Poles and Lithuanians.
Noted battle-ground.
The Joint distribution committee
has a strong representation in Wilma,
and the Methodist mission has
opened a branch.
wilma, according - history, has not
changed much since 1923. when it
was made the capital of Lithuania.
IT has been fought over by Swedes.
the Baltic barons. Russians, Cos
sacks. Poles and Lithuanians.
Napoleon made it his stopping place
on the way to and from Russia.
The houses are still marked with
machine gun bullets from the last
fight but otherwise life is pursuing
It's easy-going course.
The next invasion is expected to be
business men seeking to develop
trade with Russia.