Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1920 — TWO RUSS ARMIES ARE ANNIHILATED [ARTICLE]

TWO RUSS ARMIES ARE ANNIHILATED

Poles Wipe Out Large Force of Bolshevists in Drive. FOE ON OUTSKIRTS OF CITY American Women Relief Workers Called Into Tiflis for Safety as Result of Capture of Baku by Reds. Ben.e, Switzerland, May 7.—Reportr that two Russian bolshevlst armies have been routed and virtually destroyed In the Polish-Ukrainian offensive against Kiev, the capital of Ukralnia, seem to be confirmed by dispatches received here. Reports, which are taken with some reserve, indicate the soviet forces h%ve been forced back to the outskirts of the city. Bolshevist troops were thrown into a panic by the rapid advance of the Polish and Ukrainian armies and retreated precipitately from some parts of the front, leaving large quantities _ of arms and ammunition on the field, it is said. Ukrainian peasants In territory still held by the bolshevlkl are declared to be in rebellion. Reds Lose Fortified City. Warsaw, May 7.—Fighting between the Poles and bolshevik! for possession of Kiev, capital of the Ukraine, continues day and night. In tiie entire semicircle of the Kiev bridgehead the Polish Infantry is in contact with the bolshevik Infantry. The Poles are slowly pushing back the enemy In the face of machine gun anr artillery resistance. Polish cavalry, operating In the offensive against the bolshevik!, have occupied Nkvlra, hi the Polish thrust toward the Dnieper. Skvira, which Iles fifty miles east of Berditchy, and Is about sixty miles southwest of Kiev, was a stronghold, protected by worse along the near-by river and on the hills. The Polish communique announces that two red divisions which were cut off from the retreating bolshevik army last week were annihilated. The fighting Is continuing, the statement says, the bolshevik stubbornly defending their positions, although the Poles are making some progress. Americans Called to Tiflis. Batum, Caucasia, May 7. —All American woman workers with the American committee for relief In the near East have been ordered Into Tiflis by Col. William N. Haskell, In charge of operations, as a result of the capture of Baku by the Russian bolshevik!. A few women engaged In relief work north of the Caucasus mountains have been sent here. Georgia has refused to permit Armenian railroads to obtain oil. In con--B<?quence railway traffic has been virtually suspended nnd the shipment of relief supplies has been Interrupted. Labor unions here have announced they will refuse to allow stores of clothing, food and supplies to be taken out of the city. Danger of the entire Caucasus region turning bolshevlst Is causing great uneasiness among business men here.