RAPID SPREAD OF SILESIAN REVOLT.

KORFANTY’S ARROGANCE.

The situation in Upper Silesia is rapidly becoming more grave. M. Korfanty, formerly the Polish member of the Plébiscite Commission, who has been dismissed by the Warsaw government, has declared himself civil and military governor of the region, and is apparently attempting to set up a provisional government of his own. It is alleged in Berlin that the whole of Upper Silesia is for the time being in the hands of the insurgents, and the forces at the disposal of the Allied Commission are inadequate to deal with the outbreak, which shows every sign of being well organised.

The fighting at Pless and Rybnik on the night of Mondaytuesday between Italian troops and rebels appears to have been a very serious affair. The Italians lost 15 killed, including four officers, and 50 wounded. In other conflicts, the French troops have also sustained casualties.

Reuters Agency learns that the insurrection appears to be making considerable headway. Its object seems to be to gain control of the whole of Upper Silesia, and thus forestall any decision arrived at by the Supreme Council on the result of the plébiscite. The insurgents appear to have reached a line extending from Gleiwitz to the Cosel Canal. They are in possession of Oppeln, Gleiwitz and Beuthen. In Rybnik alone, there are no fewer than 3,000 Polish rebels. On Thursday morning, French troops in the eastern part of the Oppeln area disarmed 80 rebels, taking three machine-guns from them. The rebels engaged French and Italian troops yesterday at Gross Strehlitz. Generally speaking the situation remains unchanged in the industrial areas.

From the Polish legation, Reuters learns that the Polish government is doing its utmost to calm the Polish population in Upper Silesia with a view to stopping the armed rising. Having only moral influence at its disposal, the Polish government, confronted with the task of finding a really effective means to this end, finds the problem beset with much difficulty. However, every precaution is being taken to prevent any communication between Poland and Upper Silesia, and orders have been given to keep the frontiers between the two countries strictly closed. There is hope that these efforts of the Polish government will have a pacifying effect.