Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1920 — MILLION RUSS DESERT ARMY [ARTICLE]

MILLION RUSS DESERT ARMY

Soviet Forces Suffer Heavily From Desertions—so,ooo in Petrograd. MORALE IS REPORTED GORE Rifle Strength of Bolshevik! Reduced More Than Half by Polish Drive— Poles Defeat Reds on Front South of Brest-Lltovsk. i . Washington, Sept. 10. —Rifle strengtt of the bolshevist army on the Polish front was reduced by more than onehalf as a result of the Polish counteroffensive, according to reports received tn official circles. The soviet armies, the advices stated, have suffered heavily from desertions, the total number of nnapprehended deserters In Russia being estimated at approximately 1,000,000. with 50,000 at large in Petrograd alone. Russ Force Crushed. Warsaw, Sept. 10' —Successes by Polish troops against Russian bolshevtki on the front south of Brest-Lltovsk are reported tn an official statement Issued here. It is stated that soviet forces operating between Kalmionka-strumllova and Bysk have been defeated with heavy loss and that Polish troops have crossed to the eastern bank of the Bug and occupied Juklanowka, crushing enemy forces concentrated In that vicinity. Prisoners numbering about 200 have been taken in this section, It Is said. Bolshevik columns attacking the Polish lines south qf Bysk have been repulsed by brilliant counter-attacks, and fighting continues between Chedrown and Rohatln. Polish forces which had been compelled to withdraw slightly in this section have begun a new advance. The situation along the Dniester river Is calm, the statement declares. Peace Parley at Riga. Latvia has given the necessary guaranties to the Russian soviet government. and as a result a bolshevik peace delegation will go to Riga to meet Polish representatives. Prince Sapieha, Polish foreign minister, was notified, by George Tchltcherin. Russian bolshevik minister of foreign affairs. The latter, however, did not mention the date when the soviet representatives would leave Moscow. Russ Evacuate Hrudieszow. London, Sept 10.—Russian bolshevik forces fighting against the Poles southwest of Brest-Lltovsk have evacuated the city of Hrudieszow, 20 miles west of the Bug river, under pressure from Polish troops, says an official statement issued in Moscow yesterday. The statement admits soviet troops In that region have been withdrawn to the eastern bank of the Bug river.